Pain relief for cats baby tylenol

 

If your pet cat is in pain, you will want to know what you can do to ease her suffering. A lot of us have a supply on hand of anti-inflammatory drugs or pain killers at home and you may wonder if these can be given to your cat. Especially in a home with young children, it may well be that you have some Baby Tylenol or other pain relief medicine for infants.

 

Although it may be tempting when thinking of ways to help your cat, you should never give her any product containing acetaminophen such as Tylenol. Acetaminophen is extremely toxic for cats and their bodies do not have the mechanisms for breaking down the drug. Giving your cat Tylenol will only make her ill and in some cases can cause serious liver damage or even death.

The best thing you can do for your cat when she is suffering is to take her to a vet. There are a wide variety of pain relief treatments and drugs available and your vet will be able to advise you on which may be the best for your cat. The following is a brief overview of some common forms of pain relief for cats that work:

Steroid-based drugs like Cortisone have been around for a long time, and if used short-term can provide effective pain relief for cats and reduce inflammation of the affected area. The negative side effects associated with steroids usually only occur from long-term use, so if your cat is likely to need pain relief medicine for some time, she may be better off on some other form of treatment.

A newer form of drug that is commonly used is NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). There are many NSAIDs available that are suitable for long-term use and your vet will be able to help you find one for your cat. NSAIDs are only available on prescription and when you receive them you will get with it a leaflet containing information about the correct dosage and possible side effects. You should read this leaflet carefully and always follow your vet’s advice.

In some extreme cases, typically for incurable ailments such as cancer, your vet may consider using an opiate-based drug such as morphine for pain relief, but this would normally only be done to ease your cat’s suffering during her final moments.

There are also a range of natural treatments available that can help your cat without medication. Acupuncture, massage and aromatherapy, as well as pills and patches containing extra vitamins and minerals to improve your cat’s health can speed up recovery and help your cat to relax, making her more comfortable during the recuperation period.

It is important to bear in mind that your veterinarian is trained to look after pets such as yours. You should always follow your vet’s advice and never give your cat any medication that has not been approved; you will risk doing more harm than good. Your vet is there to help… use him.