Iris, who will be 17 in May, has been exhibiting more and more discomfort as a result of her arthritis. It's clearly bothering her hips and lower back. I've been giving her Cosequin (twice daily) as well as fish oil and CBD, but it's been getting worse.
When she was being treated for a UTI in late January, I talked to the vet about it and he prescribed gabapentin, 50 mg. to be given at bedtime (half a 100 mg. capsule). When I started it, she seemed so...not "out of it" exactly but quiet and subdued every morning. I asked the vet if I could reduce it to a third of a capsule--about 33 mg.--and he said it was fine to do that. But in the morning, she still walks kind of low in the back, if you know what I mean, and she holds her tail straight out instead of upright. She's more bright-eyed later in the day and moves her tail more. I do want to make sure her pain is controlled but I don't want to overmedicate her.
Has anyone else used gabapentin long term to control pain in their kitties? Any experience with other types of pain relief?
When she was being treated for a UTI in late January, I talked to the vet about it and he prescribed gabapentin, 50 mg. to be given at bedtime (half a 100 mg. capsule). When I started it, she seemed so...not "out of it" exactly but quiet and subdued every morning. I asked the vet if I could reduce it to a third of a capsule--about 33 mg.--and he said it was fine to do that. But in the morning, she still walks kind of low in the back, if you know what I mean, and she holds her tail straight out instead of upright. She's more bright-eyed later in the day and moves her tail more. I do want to make sure her pain is controlled but I don't want to overmedicate her.
Has anyone else used gabapentin long term to control pain in their kitties? Any experience with other types of pain relief?