Pain Medications, Diabetic Cat Care

The information contained in this sticky is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace veterinary advice. The intention of this sticky is to open doors to understanding about the specific medical condition or topic, allowing for educated and on-going discussion with your vet.


Diabetic Cat Care Pain Medications 101

If your cat is going to see the vet for surgery (dentals for example), or is experiencing serious physical discomfort, pain management is available. Medications are usually necessary before, during and after a surgeries and during the recovery period to provide pain relief.

If the vet offers you a syrup formulation for any medications, it is important to clarify with the vet that no syrups or sugars are included as most liquid forms do contain sweeteners and are not appropriate for diabetic cats.

Prior to prescribing pain medications, your vet should discuss with you what drugs they plan to use. If they haven’t discussed this with you, then please talk to them about this BEFORE any surgery takes place. This is important as there are a number of drugs that are best avoided, especially when it comes to FD cats.

Cats generally do not tolerate NSAIDs (Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents) of any kind very well.

METACAM (meloxicam) while used frequently by most vets is NOT recommended due to an FDA issued "black box warning" stating it can cause acute renal failure and death in cats. This appears to be a US based warning only, as it has not been issued worldwide. The belief is there are more educational materials available with regards to proper dosage in Europe and other parts of the world, and as such, veterinarians elsewhere are more educated about its use in cats.

TRAMADOL may be used for relieving pain in cats and dogs. This is an advantage because the use of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory substances in these animals may be dangerous. However it is probably best avoided in cats suffering with CKD. In animals, tramadol is removed from the body via liver and kidney excretion. Tramadol is known to cause lowered BG in cats.

BUPRENORPHINE (Buprenex, Temgesic, and Vetergesic) is a narcotic almost equal to tramadol in effectiveness. Buprenorphine is a medication with few serious side effects at accepted doses. It works best when pain is no more than moderate. It can be given as oral drops, by injection or it can be prepared by compounding pharmacies as a transdermal patch to be administered through the skin. Although these patches take up to six hours, to work, they can maintain a pain-controlling effect for 6-12 hours.

Codeine is well-absorbed in the dog and cat digestive tract and provides effective relief for all but the most severe forms of pain. Codeine can be compounded for better pet acceptance and given trans-dermally.

All of the above listed pain medications may cause your cat to be dopey and unsteady on its feet. Please take extra precautions when using pain medications so your cat does not get injured falling down stairs or off a couch or bed. Providing a litter box with lower sides while on pain medications is helpful.

After surgical procedures or at any other times when pain medications are required, your vet should send you home with instructions on proper administration, and a clear understanding of what signs to look for should your cat have an adverse reaction to the particular pain medication prescribed.

More information about pain and pain medications are provided in this great article about Anesthesia/Pain Management by Sandra Z. Perkowski, VMC, PhD, DACVA and in the AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines.