Arthritis Pain Relief Cats

DJ answers:

I do NOT recommend the home use of aspirin for a cat simply because the side effects can be severe (intestinal ulceration, perforation, and heart failure) and may result in severe illness and even death.

There is a “homeopathic” drug called Cosequin (Chondroitin/Glucosamine) that you can try on your kitty. They come in capsules and are labeled for use in cats (you’ll have to go to a vet’s office to purchase these). I would say that about 50% of my patients respond well to Cosequin alone, however, your cat may need another type of pain med (narcotics, non-steroidals labeled for use in cats).

Also, in regards to the fibrosarcoma, I would bet that your cat is experiencing pain associated with the cell destruction and pressure of the mass expansion, so you may want to address this issue with your veterinarian as well.

If there is anything else I can do to answer your questions, please contact me.

DJ answers:

My cat was taking 1/4 of a baby aspirin for arthritis pain but the vet said it had to be temporary as this can cause bleeding. Basically, though, you can’t use human pain relievers without the risk of death. I know you can’t use ibuprofen at all. It’s always toxic. But no one should ever give a cat any human pain relievers without explicit instructions from the vet. And if you’ve given it in the past, don’t just assume it’s ok to give it again for the same problem. Every time there is a new incident of pain or illness, the vet should be contacted before giving any medication, with a very few exceptions (like Benedryl for seasonal allergies).

DJ answers:

HI!!!

I have two cats. Lisa and Snoop. Now you know.
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Natural Arthritis Relief for Pets

Pets with Arthritis: No one likes to see an animal suffer from arthritis. But watching a beloved dog struggle to get up from her bed, or a cherished cat hobble around the house, is truly heartbreaking. Yet, just as in humans, arthritis is an equal opportunity disease, striking young and old, healthy and infirm alike. In fact, for many purebred animals, arthritis is virtually a given, due to breeding practices that result in congenital joint problems, like hip dysplasia………………….http://www.arthritis-cats-dogs.com/arthritis/natural-arthritis.php

DJ answers:

Mmmm, this is one area where you will have to stick to the vets advice! There are so many products on the market that while they are fine as painrefleif for dogs, they can be potentially poisonous to cats.
Sorry, but you will just have to take your vets advice.

DJ answers:

I wouldn’t recommend your giving anything without a vet’s approval. My old cat had shots every three weeks for a couple of years which seemed to help her and then it did not seem effective. Acupuncture didn’t help it much either (it may have helped with some other things).

In the last year I tried a homeopathic remedy with the approval of the vet and it did seem to help her mobility quite a bit. She was difficult to pill (the pellets were not much bigger than a grain of sand). Now that I have used pill pockets with another cat with great success I would probably try that if she were still around.

I started using the homeopathic remedy myself in January and it is wonderful – I no longer take any other pain medication. Osteoarthritis is relieved by movement of the joints so it is always less troublesome during the day.

There are veterinary homeopaths available through the net and I can put you in touch with one if you like. They charge by the time they devote to a case and the repertoirization is complicated. They will consider the “whole” cat and find the proper remedy to use. It might cost $200 or a little less. I certainly put more than that in with the shots from the vet. The remedy for arthritis pain is Rhus toxicodendron.

You can find the Rhus in a health foods store. I used the 6X strength once a day for Cameo. (My dosage is 200C, three pellets, twice a day). You can try that for a week and see if you observe it is helping. That “experiment” is worth doing as the homepathic remedies generally don’t cause problems. I am always cautious though and I would do a homeopathic workup on your cat before using anything long term. The homeopathic veterinarian would monitor your cat – might increase dosage or frequency. Veterinary homeopaths are highly trained and accredited through their professional organisations.