Is Gabapentin Safe To Give to Cats? When used as prescribed and given at the recommended dose, gabapentin is safe for cats. “Gabapentin is not only safe, but remarkably effective,” Fleck Gabapentin is a medication used to treat pain in cats. It is also used as a sedative to help reduce anxiety during stressful situations, like car travel and vet visits. Here’s what you need to know about this common feline medication. In cats, gabapentin is most often used as a pain medication for chronic pain, such as from arthritis. Gabapentin is also recognized as beneficial in reducing the fear responses that a kitty may have to the stress of handling and being examined at the vet. Gabapentin is very effective as a pharmacologic element of multimodal analgesia in patients with chronic pain. The recommended dose for cats and dogs starts at 2 to 10 mg/kg PO q8–12h and may be increased to 50 mg/kg PO q8gh. 8 The veterinarian should re-evaluate patients every 5 to 7 days for potential dose increases. - Gabapentin is a medication that is commonly used for pain in humans, dogs, and cats. At slightly higher doses, it also has anti-anxiety and sedative effects in cats and dogs. How do I give it? - Gabapentin comes in two different forms: a compounded liquid, or a capsule. - Some cats prefer the powder (open capsule) mixed with a small amount of Gabapentin Anticonvulsant • 5–10 mg/kg PO Q 8–12 H Prednisolone Glucocorticoid• 0.5–1 mg/kg PO Q 24 H *Use of meloxicam oral suspension in cats is extra-label; †Approved for short-term use in cat≥.5 lb (2.5 kg) an≥ 6 months of age; §ISFM/AAFP Guidelines recommend administration up to 6 days Giving your cat gabapentin can be a simple and effective way to help manage pain or anxiety. By following the steps outlined in this guide, and working with your veterinarian to determine the right dosage and form of the medication, you can help your cat feel more comfortable and relaxed. Gabapentin is often administered as a pre-anesthetic medication to help relax the cat and reduce any discomfort they may experience during the process. After surgery, it can also be used as a pain reliever to help manage post-operative pain, ensuring a more comfortable recovery for the feline patient. Gabapentin is usually given every 8–12 hours, depending on the condition being treated. The size of your cat: Your vet will calculate the dose according to your cat’s weight. The condition being treated: Pain, seizures, and anxiety all need different levels of medication to be effective. Gabapentin has many useful properties for treating cats beyond use as an anticonvulsant. It is used off-label in cats to reduce situational anxiety, provide pain relief, and is the preferred treatment for a condition called feline hyperesthesia syndrome. Because gabapentin is not a potent analgesic, results are mixed and most studies are based on dosages or dosing intervals lower than those expected to provide an analgesic effect. 14 In 32 dogs with neuropathic pain, gabapentin administered at 10 mg/kg PO q8h with or without meloxicam reduced pain scores compared with presentation baseline. 15 Gabapentin is commonly used in cats to help manage chronic pain, nerve-related pain, and anxiety. It works by inhibiting certain neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help to reduce the perception of pain and anxiety in cats. While Gabapentin is not specifically approved for use in cats by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there have been several studies that have demonstrated the benefits of using Gabapentin in cats for the management of chronic pain, anxiety, and seizures. Buprenorphine has the longest duration of action and is now available in a sustained-release formulation (dogs: 0.03–0.06 mg/kg, SC, single injection; cats: 0.12 mg/kg, SC, single injection). Another opioid, fentanyl, is most frequently administered via a transdermal patch applied at 3- to 5-day intervals on shaved skin. There are also reports of worsening pain after injection in some cats. I agree you want to be careful with the meloxidyl, though an isolated single dose here and there may be okay. We do use gabapentin often in cats to try to help with longterm pain, though it does not address the inflammation part. How much Gabapentin for Cats? According to pet experts and veterinarians, the safe dose of gabapentin for treating seizures in cats is 2-5mg/lb or 5-10mg/kg every 8 to 12 hours. For feline pain, the ideal amount of the medicine is 1.25 to 2 mg/kg every 12 hours.
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