My elderly cat takes arthritis medication.
“My elderly cat can’t jump up on the counters as high as he once could. He spends the bulk of the day sleeping, but when he does wake up, he sobs uncontrollably from pain. After I took him to the vet, they diagnosed him with arthritis and started Jim on a medication that is similar to aspirin.
Upon returning home, I came across numerous online accounts from people detailing how their cat had perished as a result of this. The technician warned me that if I don’t give him enough of fluids while he’s taking this medication, he might become even sicker and possibly die. Why is it so risky, exactly?—Andy
Painkillers May Lead to Kidney Issues
I’m sorry to hear about your cat’s arthritis; if you give him the medication your veterinarian recommends, he should be OK for many years to come.
However, renal issues can occur in pets using anti-inflammatories for pain, so you should be aware of this possibility. Researchers have discovered that almost 50% of cats already have kidney illness, even if it has not been recognized, which makes kidney difficulties when taking pain medication a major concern for cats. First of all
Your cat is taking NSAIDs, which are painkillers that block the cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX), which is involved in pain but also in kidney function. Because of this, cats on these medications need to drink plenty of water to reduce their risk of kidney disease.
NSAIDs for Felines
When a cat is in discomfort, NSAIDs like these are administered:
- Meloxicam
- The Robenacoxid
- (Not FDA-approved) aspirin
I’m not sure which one your cat is now on, but as you can see, there aren’t many treatments on this list, in contrast to the numerous different pharmaceuticals available for pain relief in dogs or humans. Even aspirin should only be taken every two to three days and in very modest doses (10 milligrams per kilogram of body weight) in order to avoid harming your cat. The majority of NSAIDs that are safe for humans to consume are harmful to cats.
Other common medications, such as ibuprofen (brand names Advil and Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol and Paracetamol), are poisonous and will kill your cat if given to it.
Meloxicam is most likely to give your cat a decent quality of life in his remaining years, according to several researchers. (3) In the United States, this medicine is only recommended for a single use in cats; but, in other nations, it is administered for extended periods of time.
Robenacoxib, one of the other prescription NSAIDs for arthritic cats, has been shown to be extremely safe and has not been linked to any new issues. (4) Your cat’s kidneys could eventually experience the same issues as those caused by other NSAIDs, so it’s important to follow your veterinarian’s advice and keep them hydrated.
Alternative Cat Treatments for Arthritis
There are numerous alternative methods for treating a cat’s arthritis: (2)
- Weight control: Cats who are overweight find it more difficult to move around, so you should aim to keep your pet, no matter what age, at a healthy weight. If your pet is already obese, you should enroll him in a weight loss program.
- Environmental modifications: Arthritis-affected cats benefit from ramps, a softer bed, and a few other home modifications. Changes in environmental enrichment are beneficial to all cats.
- Massage and physical therapy: While not all cats will benefit from this kind of care, some find that having their sore spots massaged much helps.
- There is no proof that chondroitin or glucosamine, two common nutraceuticals, are helpful for cats with arthritis.
- Medication: There are a few alternative medications available besides NSAIDs, but their efficacy in treating cats has not yet been established.
Ways to Maintain Cat Hydration
To keep your cat hydrated, you can do the following various things:
- To ensure that his water is constantly fresh, bring home a ceramic water fountain: Water in a bowl is not nearly as appealing to cats for drinking.
- Don’t ever provide dry food; only canned goods. Since they have never evolved to consume dry food, cats in the wild obtain the majority of their moisture from food.
- Give your feline choices. There should always be multiple dishes for your cat to drink from, and each time you go by, an ice cube should be added to the bowl in the kitchen. In the event that your cat experiences whisker tiredness, you should also make sure one of the water bowls is shallow.
You should talk to your veterinarian if your cat’s dose of NSAIDs for his arthritis discomfort does eventually cause him any difficulties. If he is vomiting or has diarrhea, discontinue the treatment even before you take him in; you might be able to find a safe lower dose. As covered in the video below, there are some natural NSAID substitutes that might work for your cat if you feel the need to quit for any reason.
Last Thought
You should keep giving your cat the specified medication if they are not vomiting, diarrhoea, or exhibiting any other signs of renal illness.
References
- Marino CL, Lascelles BD, Vaden SL, Gruen ME, Marks SL. Prevalence and classification of chronic kidney disease in cats randomly selected from four age groups and in cats recruited for degenerative joint disease studies. J Feline Med Surg. 2014 Jun;16(6):465-72. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4414065/
- Bennett D, Zainal Ariffin SM, Johnston P. Osteoarthritis in the cat: 2. how should it be managed and treated? J Feline Med Surg. 2012 Jan;14(1):76-84. doi: 10.1177/1098612X11432829. PMID: 22247327. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22247327/
- Gowan RA, Baral RM, Lingard AE, Catt MJ, Stansen W, Johnston L, Malik R. A retrospective analysis of the effects of meloxicam on the longevity of aged cats with and without overt chronic kidney disease. J Feline Med Surg. 2012 Dec;14(12):876-81. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22821331/
- King JN, Seewald W, Forster S, Friton G, Adrian DE, Lascelles BDX. Clinical safety of robenacoxib in cats with chronic musculoskeletal disease. J Vet Intern Med. 2021 Sep;35(5):2384-2394. doi: 10.1111/jvim.16148. Epub 2021 Jul 1. PMID: 34196973; PMCID: PMC8478032. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34196973/
