Pets do experience pain like human beings. We can make out from the pet’s uncomfortable and troubled condition. You will notice signs of this situation with your pet suffering from severe agony of pain. This can be either brief or a constant problem. Severe or abrupt pain can be due to certain surgical interventions or due to injury of organs damaging various muscles and bones of the pet. Chronic pain develops in older cats with arthritis and joints problems.
Analgesics are pain relieving drugs. These drugs are to be given to cats with caution and preferably with the consultation with an experienced vet. It is practically very difficult task to judge the severity of pain in pets. Cats generally do not show the discomfort like dogs and usually hide into a corner when suffering by stomach pain. Several become unresponsive to touch or affection while others turns aggressive in pain. Many of them bring out weak meow sound and do not touch the food at all. Since the pain control medicines are not palatable, it becomes very tough to make the cats accept them. That is why drug companies have introduced tasteless medication for the use of animals also.
The common analgesic, Aspirin was normally used in dogs for a long period prior to the entry of modern NSAIDs. Aspirin is fatal in cats as they do not have the particular liver enzyme to route and remove the drug from body. As a result, the drug stays in the blood for a pretty long time than required. Hence it is advised not to give aspirin to the cats without the presence of a vet.
Care should be taken to see that the aspirin for human use must not be used for pets even partially. In cases of inflammation of the bone and arthritis, aspirin is advocated by vets for pain relief measure. It is contra-indicated in pets with kidney problem and hypertension. Aspirin has huge adverse effects on prolonged use. Some vets have found aspirin suitable for prevention and dissolving blood clots in cats by advising doses maintaining a gap of two days.
Aspirin induces salicylate poisoning in cats. Symptoms of such poisoning are marked by hemorrhage, severe abnormalities in acid-base culture of the blood, blackout, convulsions and ultimately death. This salicylate toxicity arises following the intake of aspirin or aspirin-containing items and it usually happens due to inappropriately kept products or for a wrong dose of aspirin. Cats are vulnerable to the adverse effects of aspirin as they can not metabolize the drug swiftly. Young pets are extra ordinarily vulnerable than adult ones in this respect. Adverse effects include gastro-intestinal disorders, respiratory troubles, neurological abnormalities, bleeding problems and kidney failures.
Treatment includes immediate hospitalization for perfection in treatment. Pumping of stomach may be required. Urgent measure is taken with intravenous fluids to maintain electrolyte balance and to prevent kidney collapse. Administrations of other essential drugs are effected accordingly.
Home care comprises of removing of all aspirin related products from the reach of your cats. Be in touch with an expert vet for the safety of your cat.
Sources:
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/506_nsaid.html
http://www.vetinfo4cats.com/catmed.html
