 |
The topic of pain relief in our dogs and cats is one of the hottest topics today in veterinary medicine. There is such a concern about easing pain and suffering in both dogs and cats, that many veterinary state practice acts are now including mandatory pain relief medications even for routine surgical procedures. |
While there are numerous approved prescription nonsteroidal anti inflammatory pain relief medication for dogs such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx, and Previcox, because of the unique sensitivity and metabolism of domestic short hair cats, our choices are often much more limited in our feline companions. As cats age, they do indeed suffer many of the same painful aging conditions as dogs and people such as degenerative joint disease and arthritis, as well as spinal arthritis, disc problems, as well as the routine discomfort seen post surgery. For decades we had few options to offer our feline friends, except for a few medications that were mostly injectable narcotic drugs available only in the veterinary hospital setting. However, with the approval and use of such drugs like the nonsteroidal anti inflammatory pain medication Metacam in cats, that has indeed changed. Because of our felines’ sensitivity to such drugs, however, it is important to make sure that predrug veterinary blood work and urine testing is done, as well as monitored during long term treatment if Metacam is indeed used. With newer prescription drugs such as the safe alternative Tramadol, we can also combine use of such medications with the nonsteroidal pain medication Tramadol.
For conditions like post operative feline declawing, as well as in painful conditions like feline urologic syndrome (known as FUS) such prescription medications can often offer dramatic symptomatic relief. Recently individual case reports of using the prescription anticonvulsant Gabapentin has shown promise in relieving pain in domestic cats. We also don’t want to forget the wonderful array of supplements that have also been helpful, especially when combined with prescription medications in relieving pain and discomfort. Yucca Intensive by Azmira, as well as the antioxidant Proanthozone has been quite helpful in my practice and experience in those aging arthritic cats. Glucosamine derivatives such as Cosequin for Cats work best when used with some of the other supplements and medications listed here. Finally, we must not forget the use of complimentary medical modalities such as chiropractic and acupuncture in cats, which has offered both animals and humans dramatic pain relief as either a primary modality or as an adjunct to some of the above medications and supplements.
Read Related Posts on PetMeds Blog:
3 Comments
These points to an interesting article in findrxonline where they talk about this subject it is necessary to inform the community.
It is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to use narcotics responsibly.
A few years ago, narcotics were only prescribed after surgery, severe trauma, or for terminal cancer because of a concern over the possibility of addiction. Recently, they have been cautiously prescribed to treat moderate to severe non-malignant chronic pain in conjunction with other modalities such as physical therapy, cortisone and trigger point injections, muscle stretching, meditation, or aqua therapy. Unfortunately, the upsurge of narcotics as medical treatment also increased associated cases of abuse and addiction.
Derived from either opium (made from poppy plants) or similar synthetic compounds, narcotics not only block pain signals and reduce pain, but they affect other neurotransmitters, which can cause addiction. When taken for short periods, only minor side effects such as nausea, constipation, sedation and unclear thinking are noted.
[Reply]
The opioids narcotics are effective for diseases such as chronic pain partially solved, medicines like Vicodin, Lortab, oxycodone, Lorcet are widely used in USA and Europe for medical specialists according to findrxonline the percentage of use of these drugs is very high in this part of the continent.
[Reply]
Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Thanks for sharing this information with us. In dogs and cats, the use of opiods has been borrowed from use in human medicine and much of their use is emperical, rather than supported by clinical trials or science. More and more vets are using opioid pain meds like buprenex, as well as tramadol in cats, however we must be very careful in the feline, as they are very sensitive creatures to medications and drugs.
[Reply]
Thanks for this wonderful information. I whole heartedly agree with you and your detailed review of narcotics in people. We have to be aware of this as well in our veterinary patients as well, where little scientific studies have been done on especially the feline species. More and more vets are using prescription buprenex in painful condition of cats along with approved nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs like metacam(as long as blood work, urine ok). Also tramadol use recently has been helpful and economic, in addition to newer uses of drugs like Gabba Pentin in cats as well. However lots of this is truly trial by error in this species as we try and develop more effective ways at managing their pain. I think this is where holistic medicine such as acpuncture can help tremendously, as well as physical therapy, when appropriate.
[Reply]