Does your cat look forward to going to the vet? Most cats don’t, which might causes you to dread the visit just as fast. Luckily, there is an effective anti-anxiety medication for cats called gabapentin, but the uses of gabapentin in cats are not limited to anxiety. For example, it can also be used to manage several types of pain and help treat seizures. Keep reading to find out about the other uses of gabapentin for cats, as well as the appropriate dosage, administration, and side effects of this medicine
Description
Gabapentin (brand names: Neurontin®, Aclonium®, Equipax®, Gantin®, Gabarone®, Gralise®, Neurostil®, Progresse®) is an anti-seizure and pain medication that is used with other medications to treat seizures and is also used to treat chronic pain, primarily nerve pain. It has also been used in cats to treat fear and anxiety associated with veterinary visits. Its use in cats and dogs to treat seizures and pain is ‘off label’ or ‘extra label’. Many drugs are commonly prescribed for off label use in veterinary medicine. In these instances, follow your veterinarian’s directions and cautions very carefully as their direction may be significantly different from those on the label.
Gabapentin is used for the treatment of seizure disorders. Gabapentin is in a class of drugs called anticonvulsants and may also be used to relieve chronic pain. Gabapentin is used for the treatment of Idiopathic epilepsy, pain management, seizures due to neonatal hypoxia. In cats and dogs Gabapentin is used to treat chronic pain particularly of neuropathic origin. Gabapentin is also used as an adjunctive therapy for dogs and cats with refractory idiopathic epilepsy. In horses, Gabapentin may be used to control seizures in foals suffering from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
Uses/benefits of Gabapentin Liquid For Cats
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant and analgesic drug used to treat chronic pain in cats, dogs, and horses. The drug has been shown to be especially efficient in treating neuropathic pain in cats, usually in conjunction with other analgesic agents like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Gabapentin is also prescribed for pain associated with malignancy and chronic arthritic pain in cats. Originally developed to control seizures in humans, gabapentin can also be used to treat seizures in animals, usually combined with other anti-seizure drugs. In some cases, gabapentin can be prescribed as adjunctive therapy for cats and dogs with refractory idiopathic epilepsy.
While the drug is not labeled for use for anxiety, it has been increasingly used in veterinary medicine to treat anxiety and fear associated with stress in cats, especially while on the way to a vet visit. The number of clinical studies into gabapentin’s efficacy in cats has been limited, but a study from 2017 published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association confirmed that administering the medication to cats 90 minutes prior to a vet visit significantly reduces signs of stress-related behaviors during transportation and examination.
Gabapentin Dosage for Dogs
The dosage of gabapentin varies, depending on several factors. First, gabapentin has a wide dosing range—some conditions require higher doses of gabapentin per unit of body weight, while some conditions require lower doses. Second, drug dosages in veterinary medicine are always based upon the weight of your pet. Your veterinarian will determine the appropriate dosage for your dog, based on your dog’s body weight and medical condition(s).
Gabapentin Side Effects in Dogs
Gabapentin is generally regarded as a safe drug for dogs that is associated with few side effects. If administered with other sedating medications or if a dog is overdosed, sedation and/or weakness may occur.
Gastrointestinal signs, such as vomiting and diarrhea, may also occur in dogs being treated with gabapentin, especially at higher doses.
If your dog is taking gabapentin, contact your veterinarian if you notice the following side effects:
- Sedation
- Ataxia (drunk appearance or wobbly gait)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
Prices of Gabapentin Liquid For Cats
$8.99 – $134.99