What can I give to my cats that would be safe for arthritis?
July 2nd, 2009 | by admin |
Golden Girl asked:
It seems with the change of weather and some of the cats ages they have developed arthritis. It has been said that aspirin is helpful but what about glucosamine? One of them has been prescribed steroids for a hip displacement and although the steroids seem to help dramatically it may be too invasive for some of the others. Your help would be appreciated.
It seems with the change of weather and some of the cats ages they have developed arthritis. It has been said that aspirin is helpful but what about glucosamine? One of them has been prescribed steroids for a hip displacement and although the steroids seem to help dramatically it may be too invasive for some of the others. Your help would be appreciated.
4 Responses to “What can I give to my cats that would be safe for arthritis?”
By squidboots on Jul 3, 2009 | Reply
I would be wary of aspirin because it is mildly toxic to cats (they are much more sensitive to substances than we are.)
I recommend a product called Cosequin. It is a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement that is chicken & tuna flavored. I had a cat that this worked really well on and he loved the taste.
By TIM on Jul 6, 2009 | Reply
Glucosamine is your safest bet. It works great for Dogs too.
We use it on our older cats and it really gives them relief.
By Chrissy on Jul 7, 2009 | Reply
You can buy glucosamine at human health stores, and give a vet a call to find out the correct dose for the weight of your cats. I think that’s one of the cheaper ways too! (Rather than buying supplements from pet stores/vet clinics. My vet says the human kind of glucosamine works just as well.) My dog is on glucosamine, and I’ll be putting my cats on it soon too I think.
Good luck!
By robin h on Jul 9, 2009 | Reply
DO NOT give any cat a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication without consulting with your vet first. Acetaminophen is toxic to cats, aspirin is extraordinarily easy to overdose in cats because the half-life of aspirin in a cat is 72 hours (3 days!) and other non-steroidal medications do not appear to have been studied much in cats, probably due to the problems with these two common ones. For arthritis, we do sometimes use aspirin but it must be used cautiously and it is important to know the patient’s medical condition well prior to its use.
Treating pain in cats – Adequan (Rx), glucosamine/chondroitin and
An early diagnosis of cat arthritis will be an important factor in helping minimize symptoms and prevent further damage. Regular medication may also be prescribed to relieve pain and inflammation. Some of the most common include painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, which are strictly available through prescription only. Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin, which show promise in helping in the development and repair of cartilage, may also be used.
Certain medications, such as Adequan, may be injected into the affected area in order to bring about relief in severe cases. Some medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids which are used to reduce inflammation and minimize pain, are used sparingly. The limited use is due to their side effects, especially to cats with liver, kidney or heart disease.
Consult Your Veterinarian
Once your cat has been diagnosed with arthritis, never, under any circumstances, try to treat the condition on your own using common painkillers. Aspirin, for example, may be tolerated in small doses, but cats lack the natural enzyme with which to process aspirin in their bodies and may not be able to excrete the drug efficiently. Other painkillers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen may even be fatal to cats.