Cat Owner’s Manual for Pain Part 2: Misconceptions and Treatments

January 31, 2024

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Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to study extra about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.

In the continuation of this two-part collection on Pain in Cats: an Owners’ Manual (you’ll be able to learn the primary half on Recognizing Pain right here), we take a look at the misconceptions of feline ache, which abound. As effectively, we will contact on the motion gadgets that may enable you to be the most effective advocate for ache in your cat, and resolving it. To recap, you’re the greatest advocate (or advo-cat) in your feline, so the extra data you might have, the higher we as vets will help you handle any issues. So, let’s leap straight in.

Common Misconceptions About Cats In Pain

There are a variety of misconceptions about ache and the way it exhibits in cats. In half, it is because they’re improbable at hiding ache. In giant half, it is because they are often pretty refined with their physique language and the alerts they ship.

Misconception: Cats at all times present when they’re in ache.

Truth: Actually, many don’t, or accomplish that very subtly.

Misconception: A purring cat is a cheerful cat.

Truth: Cats purr when nervous, and in ache, in addition to when they’re joyful.

Misconception: Because they’re consuming, they’ll’t have ache.

Truth: This is a quite common false impression I talk about with shoppers. Cats will eat effectively despite some fairly horrible dental illness. So by no means use this as a sign that their dental well being is ok, or that they don’t want dental care. Routine annual examinations are important to detect these points early! Some of the sufferers I see with the healthiest appetites have enamel actually falling out of their mouths!

Misconception: Pain is regular in sure conditions.

Truth: Any ache needs to be investigated, even when your cat has not too long ago had main surgical procedure. Cats don’t must be in ache, as a result of many therapy choices which might be out there in fashionable feline medication. A painful cat just isn’t crucial, and doesn’t assist the therapeutic course of (by conserving them quiet)—that’s a delusion. In reality, analysis in people exhibits that ache delays therapeutic, and we imagine this to be true in cats, as effectively.

Misconception: Using opioids prescribed for my cat may cause constipation or opioid habit.

Truth: In scientific observe, opioids appear to virtually by no means result in constipation within the cats I’ve labored with. So, in case your vet prescribes them, use them as directed. Similarly, many consumers I’ve labored with are involved about their cat creating an opioid habit: it doesn’t work that method in cats.

Misconception: Human ache drugs are OK to be used in cats.

Truth: Without a doubt, they aren’t. Use what your vet prescribes, and nothing else.

What To Do If You Think Your Cat May Be In Pain

Now that we’ve coated the widespread causes in feline ache at house, how one can acknowledge them, and the misconceptions round ache, let’s get to the actual crux of the matter. Once you determine ache in your cat, what do you do subsequent? This is the important a part of the equation, because it permits your cat to obtain the therapy they want.

Getting an appointment for ache in your cat:

Take video: a video is a superb software to seize the habits you might be seeing at house, which is commonly not replicated in a clinic!
Next, converse to your vet clinic, and e book an appointment. Critical tip: Provide them with the video earlier than an appointment (both by way of e mail, or a file-sharing service akin to Gmail Drive) in order that they have the chance to see it earlier than your cat’s appointment. Professional secret: we are going to typically share such movies with colleagues within the clinic and look at it collectively, which suggests you’ll typically be getting second and third opinions in your video, which is all the higher in your cat (and freed from cost to you!)
Do analysis beforehand, on what your cat is displaying, and what assessments or therapies is likely to be out there. Bring a written record of questions, so that you don’t overlook to ask them. Expect that bloodwork could also be wanted, as could further imaging akin to x-rays. Sometimes, this cannot all be accomplished on the identical appointment.
Attend the appointment.
If you might have issues, and so they aren’t addressed, it’s okay to ask for a second opinion! Seriously, I’ve by no means met a vet that minds. We need you, and your cat, to get the most effective care, and to be proud of the end result. Sometimes you don’t bond effectively with a vet, or like their method, or just want issues defined another way. Or you suppose you see one thing they don’t. Remember, you recognize your cat higher than we do – so don’t hesitate to advocate for them.

Pancake enjoying kibble Closely observing your cat earlier than a vet appointment will help you determine any issues and get applicable therapy.

Top Tips for Pain Treatments in Cats

Lastly, I wished to share some ideas from a veterinarian’s perspective, that may enable you to higher handle ache in your cat. These are issues that as knowledgeable, I’d love so that you can know, however typically don’t have time to completely talk about in an appointment. Or, typically, we talk about it, however given the quantity of knowledge that cat homeowners should course of in any given appointment, I’m shocked something is remembered!

Know that many feline drugs are available in a liquid, and a tablet kind – so determine if one shall be simpler in your cat. If unsure, I like to recommend tablets (aka tablets), as they’ll typically be put into meals, which skips the necessity to tablet your cat. (Churus are a tremendous software to cover tablets for cats, by the way in which!) On the opposite hand, if you’re giving liquid, the volumes are sometimes pretty giant, and in case your cat spits it out, then you definitely don’t know if it’s worthwhile to repeat the dose, and in that case, how a lot.
Here is an efficient video for pilling your cat. This is the strategy I take advantage of myself—a cat dealing with away from me is simpler to work with. Also, tilting their head up barely opens their mouth naturally, making it simpler to present the remedy.
Transdermal patches are additionally an choice for some drugs, so are injections. For cats that hate having their mouths touched, these could be higher options!
Quick-dissolving tablets are an alternative choice for some drugs, however I’ve not had good success as knowledgeable getting cats to know the speculation of those! So, I typically keep away from these.
Not all ache meds work effectively for all cats. If your cat has been prescribed one thing, and also you don’t really feel it really works, don’t hesitate to ask for a unique choice. Similarly, if a medicine causes vomiting or diarrhea, converse along with your veterinarian to seek out an alternative choice.
Generics vs Brand Name drugs: Much as in folks, there shouldn’t be a lot within the distinction…. But typically, there’s. We don’t totally perceive why, because the lively elements are the identical. Sometimes, further components will be the perpetrator, typically not. But in case you really feel a model title remedy works higher than a generic model or vice versa, don’t hesitate to request the choice kind.

In the tip, cats are pretty mysteries, and as cat homeowners, we wish nothing however the most effective for them. I hope this Cat Owners Manual on Pain is informative, and permits you alternatives to greatest advocate in your feline.

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