How Does Your Cat Do On Gabapentin For Vet Aggression?

We were given a new prescription and a love letter at the bottom of his report card today for his annual exam. He got his prozac renewed, his scripts for new inhalers, and he knows every time we do this that the needle is coming out for a blood draw. He grows at everyone, and when they all have to restrain him in super burrito the hell breaks loose: Screaming, writhing, demon noises, and evacuated his bladder. Stewart was so upset with strangers that he freaked out in the McDonald's drive thru when the lady took our money, so he booked it to the floor between my feet, and this is where he got a few junk food nibbles and stayed the entire way home. He got his first bath in about three years.

Emma took gabapetin once to see the orthopedic vet and was pretty zonked out at the vet's and for a couple hours afterwards. She only has gabapetin because she was a monster for the cardiologist and now has a caution note on her records. Emma is totally fine for the regular vet (a male). I think she might not like female vets Or just that particular vet.

Just a suggestion but I think you might consider only taking Stewart any where in a carrier. If he's lose in the car he can wedge himself under the brake pedal while you are driving - seen this happen, not good. He can freak and wrap his arms and claws around you head at eye level - happened to my father, also not pretty. he can wedge himself under one of the car seats forcing you to remove it to get him out - happened to my sister. MOST IMPORTANT - he can escape the car while he's freaked out and run away to be lost forever.

A carrier isn't punishment, it's protection.

Here's a similar thread. And there's links to other threads in it.
Gabapentin Before Vet Visit

Kflowers said:

Just a suggestion but I think you might consider only taking Stewart any where in a carrier.

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Our boys are harness trained. I make sure their nails are clipped before we go.
I held his leash while he rode in the floor and would feel if he moved because the leash was along my leg and TMI I don't shave them. He never moved. He doesn't roam the vehicle. Our carriers don't have a restraint system so they don't strap in to make things any safer. This guy is a super boy except when he gets on the exam table.

rubysmama said:

Here's a similar thread. And there's links to other threads in it.
Gabapentin Before Vet Visit

Click to expand...

Ah. Thanks. That is the spider graph of all threads. I'm not entirely level headed since I totaled my car last week. I was on my way to another appointment in our other car - the one I can't even figure out where the unlock button is in side.

I think I'm supposed to finish painting this picture by saying I was the passenger and not the driver when we took Stewart in yesterday. I just finished making a huge batch of raw cat food an hour ago, and I'm loopy.

Carrier or harness, if Stewart is sitting in the passenger seat and the air bag deploys it will do him no good. You just got smacked with the force of one, so you know.

Just a thought/question, I don't see how the harness would keep Stewart from going under the seat, or the brake pedal, or climbing the driver to wrap his arms around him/you. If you trim his claws right before you take him out, aren't you making him more vulnerable if there is an accident and he runs away? I'm not seeing how a harness would protect him in an accident, particularly one where you were knocked out. But then I only used a harness twice. It did not go well.

How about a Cat In The Bag?
Cat-In-The-Bag

It’s basically a way to zip him into a restraint bag with only his head poking out. He gets to see what’s going on and you get to secure him in the car. It even comes with a seatbelt loop. It’s easy to put on and even my vet-angry Krista seemed a little less angry when she was restrained in the bag. This may also make it easier for the vet to handle him.