Peer Reviewed
Issue: May/June 2014
At some point in a cat’s life, it will most likely suffer from pain related to an injury, disease, or surgery, and veterinarians have a duty to try to alleviate this pain. In the January/February 2014 issue of Today’s Veterinary Practice, Dr. Sheilah Robertson addressed the challenges of acute pain assessment in cats. However, deciding how to effectively treat this pain presents its own difficulties.
Pain in cats—both acute and chronic—is difficult to treat because cats:
- Metabolize some drugs more slowly than dogs, potentially increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions1-3
- Are prone to a gradual decline in renal function; one recent study found that up to 50% of cats may have chronic kidney disease4
- Can be difficult to medicate and often resist administration of oral medication
- Often do not show obvious outward signs of pain or illness, making evaluation of medication efficacy a challenge, especially in stoic cats5
- Have a limited number of options when it comes to veterinary approved pain medications.
NSAIDs are one of the most common drug classes used to treat pain, and there is a robust body of information indicating that NSAIDs are effective in treating acute pain in cats.6,7 They have antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties, which make them appealing therapeutic options; however, remember that there is not, and never will be, a completely safe NSAID for use in cats.
IS THERE AN IDEAL NSAID FOR USE IN CATS?
Based on our current understanding and the information available, if we were to design an ideal NSAID for use in cats, it would have certain important characteristics (Table 1).
Table 1. Characteristics of an Ideal NSAID for Use in Cats |
1. Spares COX-1 and targets COX-2 2. Provides targeted action
3. Can be administered with ease and accuracy
4. Displays wide safety margins and evidence-based clinical safety in target population
5. Demonstrates robust evidence of clinical efficacy
|
1. Spares COX-1 & Targets COX-2
NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins (see The Role of Prostaglandins) from arachidonic acid by the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). There are 2 forms of the COX enzyme:
- COX-1: Generally constitutive and involved in production of prostaglandins that protect gastric mucosa and maintain normal platelet function and renal perfusion
- COX-2: Generally induced during inflammation and plays a role in healing and pain signaling;8 however, its activity also produces prostanoids involved in the normal function of certain tissues, such as the kidneys, brain, and reproductive system.
The ideal NSAID strikes a balance between COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition:
- Nonselective COX inhibitors equally inhibit COX-1 and COX-2.9 These NSAIDs tend to be associated with classic NSAID side effects, such as gastrointestinal (GI) ulceration, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and renal and liver toxicity.10
- COX inhibitors that selectively inhibited COX-2 demonstrated a greater safety margin than nonselective COX inhibitors in initial studies in healthy humans. However, this greater safety margin does not hold true for humans at risk for GI side effects.11 Nothing is known about the relative risk of selective COX-2 inhibitors in veterinary medicine.
- The ideal NSAID should, therefore:
- Spare COX-1 as much as possible
- Inhibit COX-2 sufficiently for efficacy against pain and inflammation
- Spare enough COX-2 to allow it to function in normal everyday processes.
The Role of Prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are required for both everyday and compensatory functions of all organs and tissues. For example, prostaglandins are involved in GI protection and healing of GI ulcers as well as normal renal function and compensatory protective mechanisms of the kidney during hypovolemia.10 Prostaglandins are a predominant player in the production of pain in the periphery through sensitization of nerves. They are also involved in the processes of facilitation and amplification of noxious stimuli during central sensitization at the level of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (Figure 1).12 Central sensitization has been shown, in veterinary species, to become established within 24 hours of a surgical procedure, and it contributes to postoperative pain and likely chronic pain.
Figure 1. The role of prostaglandins in the periphery as sensitizers of pain fibers is well known. They are also involved in the facilitation and amplification of pain signals at various levels in the central nervous system; for example, central sensitization is assisted by prostanoids found in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Additionally, recent information suggests that locally produced prostanoids help decrease brain function in the areas involved in descending control over pain (endogenous analgesic systems).
2. Provides Targeted Action
Current thinking suggests that an ideal NSAID should have prolonged action at the site of inflammation and a short half-life in the central compartment, limiting exposure of normal, noninflamed, nonpainful tissues (Figure 2). This is because, given the broad distribution and role for prostaglandins throughout the body, if prostaglandins needed for normal, everyday functions are inhibited, there is potential for unwanted side effects.
Figure 2. This figure illustrates the difference between 4 examples of NSAIDs, each dosed every 24 hours. All examples show tissue selectivity but have different half-lives. NSAID 1 has a short half-life, and is cleared quickly from the central compartment (blood), thus, theoretically limiting exposure of noninflamed tissues. In contrast, NSAID 4 has a relatively long half-life, exposing noninflamed tissues to the NSAID for most of the 24-hour period. The clinical significance of this difference between individual NSAIDs is not known.
Dr. Kay Brune, a leader in the field of NSAID research, has described a theory of “targeted tissue selectivity” that is a combination of enzyme specificity (selective COX-2 inhibition) and tissue selectivity, which, he has argued, might result in better toleration of the drug, while maintaining efficacy (see Concept of Tissue Selectivity).13
Concept of Tissue Selectivity
Tissue selectivity is a concept that involves the highly protein-bound nature of NSAIDs and the acidic environment of inflammation.
During the process of inflammation, there is extravasation, or leakage, of protein from blood vessels into the extracellular environment. Since NSAIDs are known to be “highly protein bound” at normal physiological pH, if an NSAID has been administered, it will be bound to this protein.
The acidic extracellular environment of the inflamed tissue causes dissociation of the drug from the protein due to the low pKa—acid dissociation constant—of the drug. After the drug dissociates from the protein, the increased free fraction of the active drug facilitates its movement into the cells where it then remains due to a phenomenon called ion trapping (passive movement of the drug into cells due to differences in pH between the intracellular and extracellular environment).13
This theory explains why NSAIDs may have a prolonged presence in inflamed tissue, while having a more rapid clearance from the central compartment—blood stream and other noninflamed organs.14
3. Administered with Ease & Accuracy
Ideally, for optimal practical administration, NSAIDs should be:
- Available in an injectable and palatable, oral formulation
- Easily titrated and have an easy-to-determine dose.
These 2 formulations should be usable and approved for use, interchangeably. For example, an injectable formulation facilitates both perioperative and immediate postoperative pain management, when it may be difficult or impossible to medicate animals orally. However, an oral formulation is beneficial for postoperative pain management upon discharge and long-term chronic pain management because it allows the drug to be administered in the home environment.
For cats specifically, palatable oral formulations facilitate administration and compliance—important components of pain management. Cats are selective about what they eat, and it is difficult to hide an unpalatable pill or medication in food or a treat, as is often done with dogs. If the cat won’t willingly take the medication, it must be restrained and dosed.
An NSAID formulation should be easily titrated, if necessary, and/or have an easy-to-determine dose. In tablet form, it should have a wide dose range that allows for administration of whole tablets, rather than fractioning tablets in order to stay within the therapeutic range.
4. Displays Wide Safety Margins & Evidence-Based Clinical Safety
First, toxicity studies of NSAIDs should demonstrate a robust and wide safety margin in healthy cats. No one has yet defined what a wide safety margin is, but veterinarians are encouraged to read the package inserts and Freedom of Information Summaries for the various NSAIDs.
Additionally, NSAIDs should have been evaluated and deemed to be appropriately safe in normal cats undergoing elective surgeries—the most common scenario for use of NSAIDs in general practice. Ideally, this information should be in the form of peer-reviewed literature, which gives the clinician a degree of comfort about the validity of the data.
Further, it would be ideal to have safety data in other target populations that would benefit from NSAID-induced pain relief, including cats with concurrent diseases, such as chronic kidney disease or cardiomyopathy.
5. Demonstrates Robust Clinical Efficacy
For feline acute pain, there should be robust evidence of clinical efficacy for the target problems, such as perioperative pain control. For feline chronic pain conditions, efficacy should be demonstrated for alleviation of prolonged, maladaptive pain associated with chronic disease in cats, such as degenerative joint disease, spinal pain, stomatitis, cystitis, and cancer. Until very recently, efficacy of NSAIDs was very difficult to measure, and there was little evidence they provided pain relief. A recent breakthrough in clinical study design, along with a Clinical Metrology Instrument, may now allow NSAIDs to be tested for efficacy in a wide variety of chronic diseases.15
Safe NSAID Use for Chronic Pain
With respect to chronic administration of NSAIDs, there is an urgent need for more safety data in older cats that:
1. Suffer from painful conditions requiring long-term pain management and
2. Have concurrent diseases, such as renal impairment, hyperthyroidism, and liver disease.
AVAILABLE NSAIDS FOR USE IN CATS
In the U.S., there are 2 FDA-approved NSAIDs for short-term use in cats: robenacoxib and meloxicam.16
Robenacoxib
Robenacoxib (Onsior, novartis.com) is FDA-approved for control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery, ovariohysterectomy, and castration in cats.
It has high selectivity for the inhibition of COX-2, sparing COX-1.17 The clinical benefit of sparing COX-1 in the cat has not been demonstrated; however, benefits associated with COX-1 sparing in other species have been described.
Elegant work by Ludivig Pelligand at the Royal Veterinary College in the UK has demonstrated that robenacoxib has a very short half-life (3 hours) in the blood, yet persists, and is active, for at least 24 hours in inflamed tissue in cats,17 which demonstrates “tissue selectivity.”
Robenacoxib is approved for short-term administration (up to 3 days in the U.S.) in cats ≥ 4 months of age, weighing ≥ 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) (Table 2).6 In the U.S., robenacoxib is available in 6-mg, yeast-flavored tablets that can be taken with or without food. It should not be given in conjunction with any other NSAID or corticosteroids.
Meloxicam
Meloxicam (Metacam, us.boehringer-ingelheim.com) is FDA-approved for use in cats as a single, SC injection for postoperative pain. It is an example of a preferential COX-2 inhibitor that has greater inhibition of COX-2 than COX-1. Table 2 lists the recommended doses for meloxicam. Meloxicam is also considered tissue selective, but differs from robenacoxib in that it has a longer half-life and is, therefore, present in the central compartment longer.
Although the oral liquid suspension of meloxicam—approved for control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs—is not approved for cats, it has been used off-label for chronic pain management.
- The 2010 Consensus Guidelines: Long-Term Use of NSAIDs in Cats (available at www.catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/nsaids-in-cats) provides recommendations from the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) and American Academy of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) for long-term daily dosing of meloxicam oral suspension in cats.16
- In addition to standard dosing protocols (Table 2), meloxicam has also been recommended at lower doses, such as 0.02 mg/kg/daily.18 At this dose, it is well tolerated, but there is currently no information on whether it is efficacious.19 However, a recent masked, placebo-controlled clinical study found a dose of 0.035 mg/kg to be efficacious over a 3-week period.15
| Table 2. Recommended Doses: NSAIDs for Acute Pain Management in Cats | ||
| NSAID | RECOMMENDATION SOURCE | RECOMMENDED DOSE |
| Robenacoxib | Recommended dose from manufacturer (FDA-approved) | 1 mg/kg PO Q 24 H for 3 doses Dose range, 1–2.4 mg/kg Q 24 H |
| Meloxicam (injection) | Recommended dose from manufacturer (FDA-approved) | 0.3 mg/kg SC (single injection) |
| Meloxicam (oral suspension)* | Recommended dose from ISFM/AAFP for daily use14 | 0.1 mg/kg PO for 1 day; then 0.05 mg/kg PO Q 24 H |
| Meloxicam (oral suspension)* | Other recommendations18 | 0.05 mg/kg PO every other day or 0.025 mg/kg PO Q 24 H |
| * Not FDA approved for use in cats | ||
In the U.S., the FDA issued a black box warning for meloxicam in 2010 (see Management of Chronic Pain in Cats, November/December 2012, at tvpjournal.com), indicating that repeated use of meloxicam in cats has been associated with acute renal failure and death. It is most likely that the combination of the higher perioperative dose and then follow-up dosing was responsible for these adverse events, but no details are available in the public domain.
AAFP = American Academy of Feline Practitioners; COX = cyclooxygenase; GI = gastrointestinal; ISFM = International Society of Feline Medicine; NSAID = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
References
- Lees P, Taylor PM. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of flunixin in the cat. Br Vet J 1991; 147:298-305.
- Taylor PM, Delatour P, Landoni FM, et al. Pharmacodynamics and enantioselective pharmacokinetics of carprofen in the cat. Res Vet Sci 1996; 60:144-151.
- Parton K, Balmer TV, Boyle J, et al. The pharmacokinetics and effects of intravenously administered carprofen and salicylate on gastrointestinal mucosa and selected biochemical measurements in healthy cats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2000; 23:73-79.
- Marino CL, Lascelles BD, Vaden SL, et al. 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 2013; epub ahead of print.
- Robertson SA. Managing pain in feline patients. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2008; 38:1267-1290.
- King S, Roberts ES, Roycroft LM, et al. Evaluation of oral robenacoxib for the treatment of postoperative pain and inflammation in cats: Results of a randomized clinical trial. SRN Vet Sci 2012; doi: 10.5402/2012/794148.
- Carroll GL, Howe LB, Peterson KD. Analgesic efficacy of preoperative administration of meloxicam or butorphanol in onychectomized cats. JAVMA 2005; 226:913-919.
- Warner TD, Mitchell JA. Cyclooxygenases: New forms, new inhibitors, and lessons from the clinic. FASEB J 2004; 18:790-804.
- Lees P, Landoni MF, Giraudel J, et al. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in species of veterinary interest. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2004; 27:479-490.
- Marino C, Lascelles BD, Vaden S, et al. The prevalence and classification of chronic kidney disease in a randomly selected group of cats and in cats with degenerative joint disease. J Feline Med Surg 2013; epub ahead of print.
- Hsiang KW, Chen TS, Lin HY, et al. Incidence and possible risk factors for clinical upper gastrointestinal events in patients taking selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors: A prospective, observational, cohort study in Taiwan. Clin Ther 2010; 32:1294-1303.
- Eisenach JC, Curry R, Rauck R, et al. Role of spinal cyclooxygenase in human postoperative and chronic pain. Anesthesiology 2010; 112:1225-1233.
- Brune K, Furst DE. Combining enzyme specificity and tissue selectivity of cyclooxygenase inhibitors: Towards better tolerability? Rheumatology (Oxford) 2007; 46:911-919.
- Brune K. Persistence of NSAIDs at effect sites and rapid disappearance from side-effect compartments contributes to tolerability. Curr Med Res Opin 2007; 23:2985-2995.
- Gruen ME, Griffith E, Thomson A, et al. Detection of clinically relevant pain relief in cats with degenerative joint disease associated pain. J Vet Intern Med 2014; 28:346-350.
- Sparkes AH, Heiene R, Lascelles BD, et al. ISFM and AAFP consensus guidelines: Long-term use of NSAIDs in cats. J Feline Med Surg 2010; 12:521-538.
- Pelligand L, King JN, Toutain PL, et al. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling of robenacoxib in a feline tissue cage model of inflammation. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35:19-32.
- Gowan RA, Lingard AE, Johnston L, et al. Retrospective case-control study of the effects of long-term dosing with meloxicam on renal function in aged cats with degenerative joint disease. J Feline Med Surg 2011; 13:752-761.
- Lascelles BD, Henderson AJ, Hackett IJ. Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of meloxicam in cats with painful locomotor disorders. J Small Anim Pract 2001; 42:587-593.
FAQs
What can I give my cat for pain anti-inflammatory? ›
NSAIDs for Cats
Only two NSAIDs are FDA-approved for cats: meloxicam (sold under several brand and generic names) and robenacoxib (sold under the brand name ONSIOR). Meloxicam is approved for cats as a one-time-only injection to control pain and inflammation after spaying, neutering, and orthopedic surgery.
NSAIDs for Cats
Your vet may prescribe the pill robenacoxib, which is also available as an injection. Meloxicam is another NSAID that's injected, usually after surgery. It can also be administered orally in a liquid form.
Your veterinarian will provide you with specific instructions for administering the medication. This medication will take effect quickly, in about 1 to 2 hours, and improvement in clinical signs should follow.
Can I give my cat ibuprofen for pain? ›Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and aspirin can also be dangerous for cats. They can lead to gastrointestinal ulcers, liver and kidney damage, and abnormal blood clotting.
How much ibuprofen can I give my cat for pain? ›Can I give Ibuprofen to my Pet? Do not give Ibuprofen to your dog or cat under any circumstances. Ibuprofen and naproxen are common and effective medications used to treat inflammation and pain in humans, but they should not be given to pets. These drugs can be toxic (poisonous) to dogs and cats.
Does meloxicam help cats with pain? ›Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is approved for cats as a one-time injection given before surgery to control pain and inflammation after spays, neuters, and orthopedic surgeries (like repairing a torn ligament or fixing a broken leg).
Can I give human painkiller to my cat? ›The short answer is NO! You should never attempt to treat your pets with human medication, and you should take precautions to keep household medications out of your pet's reach to avoid a potentially harmful or fatal reaction.
Can I give my cat Benadryl for pain? ›The big question is whether Benadryl is safe for kitties as well. The answer: yes, you can give your cat Benadryl. It is an antihistamine and safe for both cats and dogs.
Can I give my cat tramadol for pain? ›Tramadol is used in dogs and cats for management of chronic and acute pain. There is a fairly large range in dose and dose intervals in the literature, which may be indicative of interpatient variability.
Why are cats more sensitive to NSAIDs? ›Compared to dogs and humans, cats are more sensitive to the side effects of NSAIDs because of the way the drugs are processed in their liver. The most commonly ingested NSAIDs in pets are over-the-counter human medications, specifically ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), aspirin (Bayer), and naproxen (Aleve).
How quickly does ONSIOR work? ›
This medication should help your animal feel better within 1 to 2 hours. Your animal's clinical signs should improve after that time.
Do anti inflammatories work immediately? ›Some people will notice the effects of NSAIDs and COXIBs within the first few hours of taking a dose. In other people, the effects may not be evident for a few days and even up to a week or two after the medicine has been started. If it hasn't helped within two to three weeks, it is unlikely to be of much benefit.
Can a 200 mg ibuprofen hurt a cat? ›Ibuprofen and naproxen can be toxic to dogs and cats, but cats are much more susceptible to this toxicity than dogs are. A single 200-milligram ibuprofen tablet can be toxic to a cat or small- to medium-sized dog; toxic effects can occur rapidly and damage the kidneys and stomach.
Can I give my cat a baby aspirin? ›Even low–dose or baby aspirin (81mg) can cause harm to cats and dogs, especially those with unknown gastric ulcers or liver and kidney issues. While the dose may be low in a baby aspirin, cats are still very vulnerable to it since it is cleared very slowly from their body and toxic effects can build up.
Does catnip help cats with pain? ›For cats that have a positive experience with catnip, it can help reduce anxiety and even relieve pain. Some veterinarians have recommended using catnip to help with separation anxiety if your cat will be home alone for an extended period of time.
How do you give a cat a painkiller? ›The easiest way to give your cat liquid medication is to mix it in with some canned food. To ensure that the medication is actually taken, it is best to give a small amount of food that the cat is certain to eat rather than a large portion that the cat may not complete.
Can Onsior for cats be crushed? ›Do not crush or break the tablets.
How long does pain relief last in cats? ›In cats, buprenorphine can help with various types of pain such as acute or chronic pain. The analgesic effects of buprenorphine can last for 24 hours depending on the dose used. Higher doses are required to achieve 24 hours of pain relief and therefore a higher likelihood of side effects.
How much meloxicam can you give a cat for pain? ›Dosing Information of Meloxicam for Dogs and Cats
In cats, the product is labeled for a one-time subcutaneous injection at a dose of 0.14 mg per pound for the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery, spaying and neutering. Repeated doses should not be given to cats.
In conclusion both meloxicam and tramadol were effective to control post-operative pain during the first few hours after dental extraction in cats. However, meloxicam seemed to be more effective in managing pain after the first few hours and during a day after dental extraction.
How quickly does meloxicam work? ›
How long does it take to work? Meloxicam may improve symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis within two or three weeks. Those on higher doses of this NSAID may experience more relief during that time. The full effects of meloxicam may take six months to fully kick in.
What human meds are safe for cats? ›- Benadryl.
- (diphenhydramine)
- Cranberry juice concentrate.
- Dramamine.
- (dimenhydrinate)
- Glucosamine/chondroitin.
- Hydrocortisone.
- Hydrogen peroxide 3%
The dose range for Tramadol is 2 to 5 mg per pound (4 to 10 mg/kg) orally every 8 hours. In cats, Tramadol is dosed most often at 0.5 to 1 mg per pound (1 to 2 mg/kg) every 12 to 24 hours.
Can cats take gabapentin? ›Gabapentin is a safe and effective medication for cats that have chronic pain or anxiety disorders. It has been used successfully in many cases to help reduce the symptoms of these conditions, which can improve their quality of life.
How much Benadryl do I give my cat for pain? ›Typically, cats take 1 mg of Benadryl for each pound of body weight two to three times a day. This means a 12.5-pound cat will take 12.5mg (or half of a 25 mg Benadryl tablet) up to three times a day, depending on your veterinarian's recommendation.
Does Benadryl help with inflammation in cats? ›Feline Skin Allergies
You will often see bumps with redness and inflammation on their skin if it is an acute allergic reaction. Benadryl can help a feline that is dealing with skin allergies and irritations.
How much Benadryl do I give to put my cat down? To ease their pain, cat owners sometimes consider benadryl for dying cats. A lethal dose is usually between 20-40 tablets but is dependent on other factors such as your cat's weight and pre-existing medical conditions.
Is veterinary tramadol the same as human tramadol? ›Dog Tramadol is one of the few drugs that share nearly the exact same chemical composition as a human medication. The pain meds your pup takes will be very similar to the ones you might have experience with at home, apart from minor alterations in their chemical structure to make them safer for the animal's organs.
Is Rimadyl safe for cats? ›Carprofen is approved only for canine use and was designed for long term use in dogs. Cats are more sensitive to NSAID side effects than dogs and require different pain relief regimens. This drug should not be used in cats.
What is tramadol 10mg for cats? ›Tramadol is used to relieve both acute and chronic pain in cats. Conditions it is used for include chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain, post-surgical pain and pain resulting from injuries or illness.
Which NSAID is extremely toxic to cats? ›
Although relatively safe in humans, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be extremely harmful to cats. Poisoning may happen when pets get into the owner's medications. In some cases, owners may administer ibuprofen to treat their pet's pain prior to consulting a veterinarian.
Which 3 conditions may be worsened by using NSAIDs? ›Except for aspirin, NSAIDs can increase your risk for high blood pressure, stroke, or heart attack.
Why do NSAIDs make pain worse? ›Doctors in Canada wrote in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy: (7) NSAIDs makes pain worse and interfere with the body's healing capabilities. NSAIDs do this by inhibiting the immune systems ability to regrow bone. Further, residual NSAID presence in the joints may weaken the bone, causing structural instability.
Can I give my cat ibuprofen for inflammation? ›Although relatively safe in humans, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be extremely harmful to cats. Poisoning may happen when pets get into the owner's medications. In some cases, owners may administer ibuprofen to treat their pet's pain prior to consulting a veterinarian.
What is a natural inflammatory for cats? ›Turmeric is one of the best natural pain relief forms for cats. It will not only naturally reduce inflammation, but it can calm symptoms caused by issues such as arthritis and cancer.
Can you give cats baby aspirin for pain? ›Even low–dose or baby aspirin (81mg) can cause harm to cats and dogs, especially those with unknown gastric ulcers or liver and kidney issues. While the dose may be low in a baby aspirin, cats are still very vulnerable to it since it is cleared very slowly from their body and toxic effects can build up.
Does CBD oil help cats with pain? ›CBD oil for cats can offer the same health benefits as it does for humans, helping them feel relaxed, reducing pain and inflammation, and providing natural wellness support.
Can cats take CBD for pain? ›Some CBD oil for humans may be safe for cats, but it is best to err on the side of caution and only use CBD oil for cats. Cats are very sensitive to THC, and some CBD oil for humans is too high in THC to be safe for your pet.
Will catnip help a cat in pain? ›Catnip can be used as a temporary pain reliever in cats, similar to the effects of aspirin. (But don't give aspirin to your cat!) Catnip can also be used as an anti-inflammatory tool that can reduce swelling, rashes, and skin irritation.