Cat Arthritis with Gabepentin

[foxxycat]

Hi there I have been to the vets for my 12 year old kitty who has pretty crunchy elbows and they have prescribed gabapentin. I know in humans there are issues with WDs and side effects.

I want to know what do you guys see as side effects? For now her bloodwork is perfect. No issues with kidneys. I am currently working to get them on wet food. its been a year now and they still fight against it. They now will lap the juice but leave the kibble. We feed 4Health from Tractor supply. I want to get them on wet totally but its been a real pain getting them to even eat any wet. The only wet they will touch is fishy. And tried to cut fish out without much success.

We also have tried Dasquin but she refuses it. We will try babyfood and mixing it this week.

What are your thoughts?

 

[stephanietx]

I wish I had some advice for you, but I don't.  We give our arthritic kitty Cosequin, which is for cats. 

 

[goholistic]

My Boo has been on Gabapentin for maybe...two years now (I don't have my notes in front of me)...and he never displayed any negative side effects. He was already showing signs of early kidney disease when we put him on Gabapentin for arthritis, IVDD, and related FHS. He'll be 16 next month. Haven't had his kidney numbers checked lately, but behavior wise he is no different. He is on an all-wet diet. Gabapentin has really helped him, along with other treatments for arthritis (joint supplement, Chinese herbs for pain, etc.).

As far as trying to feed wet food, all I can say is keep trying. Try different flavors/brands and toppers to entice. Boo used to eat kibble as part of his diet, but I stopped it entirely. He was very unhappy about not having his "kitty crack." What helped him to eat wet was finding a treat he loved that I could crumble over top, as well as "kibble powder" sprinkled over top (dry food pulverized in a coffee grinder). I no longer need to use the treats or the kibble powder, and I feed a rotation of various wet foods to keep him interested.

If they like fishy, you could try sprinkling the dried bonito (fish) shavings on top. The "Kitty Kaviar" brand is sold in a lot of pet stores.

 

[foxxycat]

thank you. Last night I mixed the dasquin into a tiny bit of babyfood=and she was not having any of that. Its too big to pill her. I will just keep doing it. I was doing injections of adequin but I just don't know how to do it without hurting her. Ive tried to do it in the scruff of her neck and she still jumps. I know I should just toughen up and do it. Maybe I will try again. She hisses and bites so I thought doing dasquin would be easier. Looks like a once a week shot may be better for her in the long run. I just am so scared of hurting her. She is the most loving cat and forgives me right after but I hate that I am so shaky that I hurt her.

I got a refill on the gabe stuff yesterday so it will be here probably Saturday. This time I got it in chicken flavor so maybe she will tolerate it better. That's great news about not having side effects...the couple times I gave it it made her sleepy,..maybe I will try the Cosequin-maybe she will tolerate the taste better? I just need to get her more comfortable but if the Gaba works then maybe I wont have to torture her daily with the dasquin but I know it needs to build up...will keep trying.

 

[ruthm]

What size needle are you injecting Adequan with? If you are injecting as IM,  people say that the Terumo  harpoon sized needles used for subQ fluids can really sting. A couple of friends successfully used the same syringe used to inject insulin with a smaller needle, 8mm 31g like these: http://relion.com/products/relion-insulin-syringes-0331g-mis

Another friend in Canada is getting acupuncture/accupressure treatments for her kitty and it seems to be working very well.

 

[foxxycat]

Good question. I don't know. They gave me some needles and I noticed that they are not the same thing brand wise as before. I was instructed to inject subskin. I make a tent with the skin and slowly inject where the skin has extra room. One time I did it on her lower back on side by the leg and she tolerant that much better. I'm a whimp and may just bring her in every week for the injection but then again it's probably because I'm afraid of hurting her. Going to try dasquin mixed in fish food. Last time I just smeared it on her side of mouth and let her lick it off. It was less traumatic it seemed than the syringe I used last night. The good news is we only have two more months of winter left so it won't be long until the weather gets warmer. In the summer she explores the back yard all day and night. The winter is tough on her

 

[tomgdrums]

Hi

My 15 year old cat just got prescribed gabapentin. Gave her the first dose just a few hours ago.

She seems more comfortable already but also rather sedate which I know can be a side effect.  Have you noticed that side effect wears off after the cat gets used to the medicine?  

I have read that the sedation side-effect eventually wears off after the cat's body gets used to the medicine. 

Just curious.

Thanks!

 

[hatchytt]

I take gabapentin for fibromyalgia. It makes me tired until I get used to it. Probably the same for kitties.

 

[foxxycat]

Yes I have noticed this too. I was able to get gaba in a transdermal gel for my unpillable girl. I'm hoping that it works for her but I don't like using too many meds on an elderly cat. Just trying to keep my old girl comfortable until it is time. This is another cat. The one on gaba is in good health and no issues.

 

[tomgdrums]

Yes I have noticed this too. I was able to get gaba in a transdermal gel for my unpillable girl. I'm hoping that it works for her but I don't like using too many meds on an elderly cat. Just trying to keep my old girl comfortable until it is time. This is another cat. The one on gaba is in good health and no issues.

So for your cat on gabapentin, the sedation effect wore off in a couple days? It is making my cat pretty sedate! Although it also seemed to cause her to eat a little more.

I am also trying to make here more comfortable until it is time. She is my first cat and a great friend. I dont want to make bad decisions.

Thanks!

 

[tomgdrums]

Yes I have noticed this too. I was able to get gaba in a transdermal gel for my unpillable girl. I'm hoping that it works for her but I don't like using too many meds on an elderly cat. Just trying to keep my old girl comfortable until it is time. This is another cat. The one on gaba is in good health and no issues.

Yes I have noticed this too. I was able to get gaba in a transdermal gel for my unpillable girl. I'm hoping that it works for her but I don't like using too many meds on an elderly cat. Just trying to keep my old girl comfortable until it is time. This is another cat. The one on gaba is in good health and no issues.

Hi again,

Sorry for the multiple questions.

How long before you noticed real improvement in the pain for your cat on gabapentin?
Thanks again.

 

[foxxycat]

I have only started it daily 3 days ago. I was afraid of her getting too dependent on it but my vet told me its safe to use daily. yes she walks around more and I caught her eating last night.

I too have tried Gabapentin for arthritis and I didn't like the effects so I quit it. I have heard that the side effects wear off. I don't know how long it takes but having my cat being painfree to me is better than in pain. just try the best you can.

 

[foxxycat]

Well tonight she was walking hunched over. The bf never rold me she was walking hunched this morning. At least I don't have to worry about her getting hurt by falling or something. The transdermal gel came in and I gave her a dose. She is sleepy. Still walking funny.

Part of me wants to drag her to vets but I know that they can't do anything. This will be day #3. Would it make her pain worse?

Its also hot n humid. Now we are getting thunderstorms.

I'm going to restart the lazer therapy for her body. Its a long session for all 8 sites-hips-knees-shoulders-elbows. But it is supposed to help.

I feel bad for my girl. She is nibbling. At almost all her tuna this morning. I will keep giving her the meds and hope it helps.

 

[ruthm]

Are you getting any sense that the gabepentin is helping, aside from making your kitty loopy?  Have you discussed with your vet or tried anything else for pain, i.e. bupe, etc? For example, one friend of mine gives hyaflex and was also giving a product called Duralactin.....I mention these things because they are largely tasteless and liquid and no pilling required and no drowsiness. Cats are expert at hiding their pain, but walking hunching over sure sounds like she is in pain.  Regarding food, when my kitties hint at not eating, I break out a can of Wellness Turkey and Salmon, not because I think salmon and carageenen are good for cats! Only because Wellness has more calories than most other foods and this particular flavor is well liked by most. Are you syringe feeding at all? Sending healing vibes and prayers, I know how worrisome it is with a senior kitty in pain:-( 

 

[foxxycat]

I will ask on Tuesday. I never heard of rhose things. I just checked on her and she doesn't seem as painful. I had just given the meds when I saw her walking hunched. Now she is walking better.

Looks like it takes an hour or so to kick in. I will have to go get some canned food next week. I've spent all money on 4 vet visits this week. I have a case of fancy feast that I just put out a can of food. She ate some treats and this morning she ate tuna. Last night she ate some kibble. She's the same weight as last year.

That's another thing I need to work on. She needs to loose 2 lbs.


But for now she's laying on her side purring away and licking me. She must feel the pain from the incoming storms. Hopefully they are gone now. Sun is back out. Rained for an hour.

 

[foxxycat]

Oh she's eating orijen chicken kibble. Its 450 calories a cup so she doesn't need to eat as much. She ate half a cup yesterday as well as the other food I leave down.

 

[foxxycat]

I pilled Pumpkin face the dasquin last night. The pill popper came in the mail that was meant for

 Floey. So I grabbed some butter=put it in the popper and put her on the floor between my legs with her back against me and held her face gently and tipped her head back until mouth falls open and quickly got the pill down her throat. It went easier than I expected. I followed with 5 mls of water incase it doesn't slide down.

I will do this nightly this month and she will see her new vet next month. For now we are doing gabapentin at night and dasquin orally. I have been able to sprinkle a tiny bit on her food the past two days-she ate it-so I will slowly increase it while I continue to pill her. Hopefully it starts working.

I will for sure do adequan injections this fall/winter. We also have to cut back on amount of food. she is eating way too much but with the recent passing of our old girl 17 yr old Floey=I don't want to rock the boat incase she gets depressed. She wasn't close to floey or any cat in the last few years. I noticed she isn't walking around as much but she Is afraid of my Honeybee as Bee always chases her. So we will see how the pecking order goes this winter. I have often wanted to get another young cat to keep Honeybee away from Pumps but not sure if that is what we should do. For now Honeybee gets bored easily and we try to play with her more often.

In September we will go to the vet in Concord MA and get her xrays and find out how bad it is. If I can get her to loose a pound or two then I want to consider surgery to remove the bone fragments that are causing a ton of pain.

 

[foxxycat]

we are going to the new vet on Saturday. I just want her to get looked at. I don't like how she has been acting. I think she has depression. She barely ate last night. She ate a ton of treats. She is going to the box ok. I am adding miralax to keep the bowels moving.

I had to treat her for fleas or something that was biting her belly-with revolution on the 23 of july. So far she has stopped licking at her tummy but she sleeps all the time and doesn't want to play much. I think the arthritis is really giving her pain.

so we will take the long ride Saturday to see the vet. I have not decided if we should get xrays or ultrasound. I will ask for bloods and urine as its been since April and she had a raging bladder infection and I read about Haemobartonellosis and I want to be sure its not this. so this is the plan:

CBC and chem analysis

urinalysis

possible xray to see progression of arthritis. last xray done july 2015.

ultrasound on tummy for future reference? I may push this out until the fall. She may not tolerate this but hard to say. she doesn't lay on her back at all and they have to put her on her back for ultrasound. so not sure if this is something we should persue or put off. I just fear that what if I miss another sign of cancer? We lost her sister Floey to cancer in July and I waited too long.

So many things to ask about.

Also he knows specialists like ortho vet incase we want to pursue anything to take the pain away like scopiing her knees like we do for humans. I don't know if they do this for cats but I wonder if this would make her senior years more comfortable? so this would be something I would consider if it wasn't too much stress on her. She is petrified of strangers so I am not sure if this is possible.

We also have been switching her onto better quality dry food. she will NOT touch freeze dried foods. For now I hope that her sleeping all the time is due to the heat and her bone pain. the pain meds seem to help but I can only give them at night. That's another reason I want bloods done. I want to be sure it wont put her kidneys in compromise as I know gabapentin can cause a bit of thirsty mouth so to speak.

I wish they could speak to us. At least the summer is almost over. Why can't we have comfortable temperatures? So please send us prayers/ energy or whatnot to get her to enjoy life again. I don't know if she misses Floey but I wont wait like I did with my angel Flash. she was ill for a month and I waited too long. Floey was ill for 2 weeks and I waited too long. But I also understand that we can not control death or birth. I just want her to be happy and content.

 

[tamu708]

 
we are going to the new vet on Saturday. I just want her to get looked at. I don't like how she has been acting. I think she has depression. She barely ate last night. She ate a ton of treats. She is going to the box ok. I am adding miralax to keep the bowels moving.

I had to treat her for fleas or something that was biting her belly-with revolution on the 23 of july. So far she has stopped licking at her tummy but she sleeps all the time and doesn't want to play much. I think the arthritis is really giving her pain.

so we will take the long ride Saturday to see the vet. I have not decided if we should get xrays or ultrasound. I will ask for bloods and urine as its been since April and she had a raging bladder infection and I read about Haemobartonellosis and I want to be sure its not this. so this is the plan:

CBC and chem analysis

urinalysis

possible xray to see progression of arthritis. last xray done july 2015.

ultrasound on tummy for future reference? I may push this out until the fall. She may not tolerate this but hard to say. she doesn't lay on her back at all and they have to put her on her back for ultrasound. so not sure if this is something we should persue or put off. I just fear that what if I miss another sign of cancer? We lost her sister Floey to cancer in July and I waited too long.

So many things to ask about.

Also he knows specialists like ortho vet incase we want to pursue anything to take the pain away like scopiing her knees like we do for humans. I don't know if they do this for cats but I wonder if this would make her senior years more comfortable? so this would be something I would consider if it wasn't too much stress on her. She is petrified of strangers so I am not sure if this is possible.

We also have been switching her onto better quality dry food. she will NOT touch freeze dried foods. For now I hope that her sleeping all the time is due to the heat and her bone pain. the pain meds seem to help but I can only give them at night. That's another reason I want bloods done. I want to be sure it wont put her kidneys in compromise as I know gabapentin can cause a bit of thirsty mouth so to speak.

I wish they could speak to us. At least the summer is almost over. Why can't we have comfortable temperatures? So please send us prayers/ energy or whatnot to get her to enjoy life again. I don't know if she misses Floey but I wont wait like I did with my angel Flash. she was ill for a month and I waited too long. Floey was ill for 2 weeks and I waited too long. But I also understand that we can not control death or birth. I just want her to be happy and content.

Sending prayers and hugs to both Pumpkin face and you. 

 

I have been keeping an eye on my Basil.  I noticed he has been having an increased appetite and seems to be drinking more.  Last night his stool looked a bit loose.  I don't know if I am just being paranoid.  I was reading symptoms online and am fearing he may have hyperthyroidism.  He is due for a senior wellness exam in October, but I may end up having to take him in sooner.  I was also hoping to get him pet insurance (he is 13).  I just hope he gets a clean bill of health.  Basil also seemed to go thru a phase of depression after Sandra passed away even though they were never really close.  I am also changing vets and going to start going to a cat only vet that is about 25 min drive from our home and got excellent reviews. 

Hopefully our babies will be fine.

 

[artiemom]

(((hugs))) for Pumps..and you!!

I am glad you finally found a good vet--and one you trust. That is very important. 

I have no experience with arthritis in cats. The gabapentin, I took when I had shingles. I think it helped the pain a tiny bit. I do know someone else who is using it for nerve pain, constantly. He is having a lot of side effects from it.. mostly tiredness and a feeling of not "feeling with it".. so Pumpkin Face could be going through that also. I know it is a strong drug with a lot of side effects. My own doctor warned me of them. 

Wish you lived closer to me.. I could help a bit more.. sorry....

((Hugs)) again....