Safe pain relief for senior cat with joint issues and heart risk?

Question

Our cat is 13 years old. He has a lax "knee joint " on his left hind leg, and hip issues as well. We use boxes as stairs so he can climb up on his favorite places. He will not take Tramadol, and glucosamine apparently is out because he's a Maine Coon, and our vet says that that breed can have heart issues from glucosamine. He also has aches and pains which we think are from a mild case of dermal blastomycosis, which he was diagnosed with five years ago. Wish we could help him . Any ideas? Pet's info: Cat | Maine Coon | Male | neutered | 10 lbs

Catherine Stecyk · Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Buster is having some aches and pains. A very safe pain medication that we prescribe regularly in cats (and dogs) is called gabapentin. It is a neuropathic pain medication but can be very effective for the treatment of mild to moderate chronic pain, such as that from arthritis or other chronic illness. It is safe on the heart and kidneys; side effects include mild sedation. I recommend asking your veterinarian if he/she can prescribe gabapentin for Buster. There is a liquid form of the medication, which is helpful in cats. I hope this is helpful - best of luck with Buster!

Safe pain relief for senior cat with joint issues and heart risk?

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