Cat Can’t Walk After Gabapentin It’s crucial to understand the warning signals and what to do if your cat suddenly loses the ability to walk after taking gabapentin. Sometimes, cats with pain are treated with the drug gabapentin. Additionally, it can occasionally be used to treat seizures or anxiety. For some cats, gabapentin can be a very useful treatment, but it also has some extremely dangerous side effects. Paralysis is one of the most dangerous side effects of gabapentin. It’s crucial to take your cat to the clinic right away if they start having trouble walking after taking gabapentin.
What is Gabapentin and What Are Its Uses For Cats?
A drug called gabapentin is used to treat cats’ seizures, anxiety, and pain. Additionally, it is occasionally used to lessen post-operative discomfort. The class of drugs known as anticonvulsants includes gabapentin. Drugs called anticonvulsants aid in seizure control. On occasion, people can also get pain relief using gabapentin.
Can cats take gabapentin?
Cats can indeed take gabapentin. The FDA has given the drug gabapentin approval for use in cats. It is also not a regulated substance and has a limited potential for misuse, making it a Schedule V drug. Gabapentin shouldn’t have any negative effects on cats who take the medicine. It’s critical to understand the warning signals and what to do if your cat suddenly loses the ability to walk after taking gabapentin. Sometimes, cats with pain are treated with the drug gabapentin. Additionally, it can occasionally be used to treat seizures or anxiety.
Cat Can’t Walk After Gabapentin: Signs and What to Do If You Notice
Your cat may require hospitalization if it stops walking normally after taking gabapentin, falls frequently, gets unstable on its feet, or has problems ascending stairs. Contact your vet right once if you observe any of these symptoms in your cat:
- Difficulties getting up from a sitting or lying position
- Falling often
- Limping
- Tremors
- Loss of appetite
- Increased thirst and increased urination
The following are things to do when you notice any of the above signs:
- Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Provide your veterinarian with a detailed description of your cat’s symptoms, including when and how they began.
- Keep your cat in a warm environment and provide plenty of fluids.
- Give your cat analgesics as prescribed by your veterinarian.
- Monitor your cat’s vital signs closely.
Gabapentin for Cats: What Are the Signs of an Overdose?
The following are some symptoms of a gabapentin overdose:
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
However, cats who aren’t used to taking drugs or who take bigger quantities than recommended are more likely to experience an overdose. If an overdose occurs, your veterinarian will continuously monitor your cat and offer supportive care.
How to Prevent Your Cat from Getting Gabapentin Side Effects
Keep the following in mind to help avoid your cat from experiencing negative effects from gabapentin:
- Keep the medication out of reach of children and pets.
- Store the medication in a cool, dry place.
- Dispose of any unused medication properly.
- Consult with your veterinarian before starting your cat on any new medication.
- Watch for any changes in your cat’s behavior or health. If you notice any changes, contact your veterinarian.
How Does Gabapentin Work in Cats?
The uncommon drug gabapentin, which is used to relieve pain, as a sedative, and as a supplement to treat seizures, has an unknown mechanism of action. It is thought that the binding of excitatory neurotransmitters to a subunit of calcium channels, such as substance P, glutamate, and norepinephrine, prevents their release. Gabapentin is most frequently used to treat chronic pain in cats, such as arthritis.
Additionally, it has been demonstrated that gabapentin can assist in lessening any fear reactions that a cat may suffer as a result of handling or exam stress. In order to provide slight drowsiness and minimize the stress of handling and examination for some patients, veterinarians occasionally advise giving a single dose of it a few hours prior to consultations.
It may be advisable to help make lengthy flights less unpleasant because, anecdotally, it seems to make some cats substantially calmer when they travel in cars or on airplanes. In contrast to other medications like buprenorphine, gabapentin has not been shown in tests to be as effective at treating acute pain in cats; hence, it is less usually used to treat painful disorders that arise suddenly or after surgery.
What Are the Side Effects of Gabapentin in Cats?
The most frequent side effects of gabapentin in cats are lethargy and ataxia, which is unsteady walking or movement. The fact that some of these effects may be expected or even desired when gabapentin is intentionally used as a sedative should be highlighted. Effects typically begin to wear off after 12 hours. Use gabapentin carefully in cats that have liver or kidney disease, as the side effects could last longer. Pregnant women should generally avoid using it.
Gabapentin Dosage for Cats
A typical gabapentin dose for cats should not exceed 50–100 mg per cat when used to treat pain or as a sedative. It is usually given as a sedative just before a vet visit, before getting into a vehicle, or before boarding a plane.
Many veterinary professionals think that increasing the dose 24 hours beforehand enhances the sedative’s effects (followed by the second dose closer to the vet visit or travel). The dosage can be increased to every 8 hours if necessary. It is frequently used as a pain reliever every 12 hours to start. These are merely fundamental instructions, and it is essential to strictly abide by your veterinarian’s recommendations in order to administer this medication in the most effective and secure manner possible.
What is the form of gabapentin?
The most popular gabapentin dosage is found as a powder-filled capsule with the recommended amount of soft or canned food. A 100-mg pill is the dosage that cats receive most frequently. There is also a liquid 50 mg/mL form of gabapentin that needs to be refrigerated. The commercial liquid form could contain the artificial sweetener xylitol. Although xylitol poses no risk to cats, it poses a risk to dogs, so if you live with a dog, proceed with caution when taking this form.
To make dosage easier, particularly for small cats, your veterinarian may also order gabapentin as a compounded medication in various forms.
Can I Take Gabapentin As A Controlled Substance?
A controlled substance, yes, is gabapentin. In recent years, gabapentin has been classified as a dangerous substance in numerous parts of the US and Europe. In the US, it is illegal to possess it in AL, KY, MI, ND, TN, VA, and WV. Although it is not explicitly scheduled in a few other states, it is nonetheless subject to additional monitoring if needed.
The United Kingdom designates it as a “restricted substance” in Europe. Depending on where you reside, your veterinarian might not be allowed to prescribe gabapentin for your cat without first performing an examination because of restrictions imposed by its controlled status, and recheck exams may be necessary for renewals. Even if sedation for an exam is prescribed in advance, a telemedicine consultation may still be required.
It’s also possible that your veterinarian’s clinic won’t stock gabapentin in regions where it’s prohibited and will instead provide you a prescription to purchase it at a nearby pharmacy due to the additional record-keeping requirements and restrictions.
Gabapentin for Cats: How Long Does It Last?
The typical half-life of gabapentin is between 12 and 24 hours. After the initial treatment, some cats might need a maintenance dose to stop further pain attacks. About how frequently to administer the maintenance dose and when to reapply the medication, your veterinarian will give you more detailed instructions.
Final Thoughts: Cat Can’t Walk After Gabapentin
after taking gabapentin, cat is unable to walk. A drug called gabapentin is occasionally used to alleviate the discomfort, anxiety, and seizures that cats experience. Additionally, it may cause very severe side effects, like paralysis. It’s crucial to take your cat to the clinic right away if they start having trouble walking after taking gabapentin. A cat might need to be hospitalized if it can’t walk normally after taking gabapentin, falls frequently, becomes unstable on its feet, or has problems ascending stairs. Contact your vet right away if you see any of these symptoms in your cat.
