Painkillers are a popular product. These medications are equally likely to be needed by everyone: both humans and their pets. But there is one problem: such drugs have sharply increased in price in recent years, so many lovers of our little brothers are looking for cheaper analogues. For example, analgin.
It is perhaps difficult to find a person who has not used this medicine at least once in his life. But how safe is it to give it to cats, especially since human medicine does not seem to approve of its use? Let's find out.
Is it possible to give or inject painkillers to cats?
Analgin is an anesthetic drug intended for humans.
The medicine helps to get rid of unpleasant sensations of any etiology; it is used for uncomfortable menstruation, headaches and muscle pain, after medical procedures, surgery or childbirth, for inflammatory processes, renal or hepatic colic. The drug also helps reduce fever.
The drug may only be used for cats as prescribed by a veterinarian. Tablets and injections will be too strong for your pet’s body. It is recommended, if possible, to use special medications for dogs and cats.
Can a cat have pills? - Know everything!
Animals, just like us, can get sick. It is at this moment that the owners are faced with the question of whether it is possible to give a cat pills that a person drinks when he is sick?
Antibiotics
Let’s say right away that you can only rid your pet of a bacterial infection with the help of antibiotics. But they need to be given extremely carefully and only after consultation with a veterinarian. Otherwise, thoughtless treatment can lead to very serious consequences, including the death of the pet.
An antibiotic is a drug designed to cleanse a cat’s body of pathogenic bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Well, for example, after sterilization, the cat is given antibiotics in order to prevent the inflammatory process in the sutures that have formed.
Painkillers
Painkillers are given to animals if they experience severe pain. If an emergency occurs, an anesthetic drug makes it possible to normalize the activity of the cardiovascular system, which in turn delivers oxygen to the tissues.
The safest painkillers for cats are aspirin and Loxicom. But in both cases, tablets must be given with extreme caution. Even a small overdose can lead to very disastrous consequences.
Aspirin is given to the animal at the rate of one tablet for 8 doses.
Loxicom comes in the form of a suspension that must be administered to the cat through the mouth with a syringe.
Suprastin
During heat, the cat behaves extremely restlessly. What methods do owners resort to in order to at least a little alleviate the suffering of their pet? Well, for example, they give a drug like suprastin. This medicine has a sedative effect, i.e. causes drowsiness.
As a recommendation, it is worth saying that it is better to abandon Suprastin as a drug for cats. The thing is that it causes enormous harm to the liver, and drowsiness is, in fact, a side effect. In order for the animal to return to normal at least a little, it is best to purchase medications specially designed for this purpose and, of course, consult with a veterinarian.
No-shpa
In principle, you can give no-shpa to cats. But it’s best to offer your pet not pills, but injections. It is also worth saying that under no circumstances should an overdose be allowed. After the injection, profuse salivation may begin and lameness may also be present.
Analgin
Analgin is a drug used as an anesthetic. If an emergency arises, you can give your cat analgin. But the dose should not exceed 1/8 of the whole tablet. But it’s still better to consult a veterinarian on this issue so as not to harm the cat’s body.
How to use the injection solution?
Solutions are used in severe cases when tablets are not effective enough. The drug can be administered intravenously or intramuscularly. The dosage in both cases is 0.2-0.3 ml, but can be adjusted depending on the age of the animal, its body weight, and health conditions.
The disadvantage of the dosage form is the need to travel to the veterinary clinic to give the animal an injection. It is dangerous to administer the drug to your pet at home.
Indications for use
The drug is used to relieve pain caused by various reasons.
Indications for use are the following conditions:
- arthritis, arthrosis and other diseases of the limbs;
- injuries and bruises;
- fractures and dislocations;
- infectious and inflammatory processes associated with increased body temperature;
- disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by spasms and colic;
- difficult birth.
In addition, cats are often given Analgin after sterilization. This is justified in cases where the operation was difficult and the well-being of the pet is of serious concern.
Important! In severe cases, oral administration of the drug will not bring adequate relief to the animal, and to obtain a positive effect and relieve pain, it will be necessary to use an injection solution.
Side effects
The use of pain medication may cause unwanted reactions in cats. Possible:
- stomach bleeding;
- dysfunction of the liver, kidneys;
- gastritis;
- peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum;
- bleeding disorders.
Only occasional use is allowed. If you give medicine to a cat too often, complications can become life-threatening and fatal.
If any adverse reactions occur in your pet, immediately stop using Analgin to relieve pain, contact your veterinarian for treatment and select another medication.
It is prohibited to use:
- with hypersensitivity to components;
- in inflammatory and infectious processes;
- for wounds;
- with lesions of the digestive system.
What medications should not be given to cats?
What medications should not be given to cats. Human medications are sometimes used to treat cats. If they were prescribed by a veterinarian, then they can be used, but there are medications that should never be given to cats.
Each animal species has different chemical processes inside its body. Even different people react completely differently to medications. There are medications that are contraindicated or useless for one race of people, while for others, on the contrary, they are indicated and have a good effect on the body.
It mainly depends on the blood type. The whole world consists of atoms and chemical processes. And we are no exception in this regard.
Good doctors and pharmacists know what processes occur in a living organism from taking this or that drug, but even the best doctor cannot say without tests whether this medicine will help or, on the contrary, will kill a living organism.
The chemical processes in the body of cats are different from ours, so before giving medicine, you should consult a veterinarian. It is practicing veterinarians who know what can be given to cats and what cannot be given.
There are medications that can simply kill an animal or make it disabled. Therefore, every cat owner needs to know which medications should never be given to cats, and which ones can be used, but in limited quantities.
- Analgin (severe poisoning);
- Aspirin (can poison the animal to death);
- Antibiotics;
- Benzyl benzoate (dangerous even when applied externally, if it is simply present in ointments);
- Berenil;
- Biseptol;
- Veriben;
- Gentamicin;
- Iodine ;
- Ivermectin;
- Ketoprofen;
- Corticosteroids (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Dexafort);
- Levamisole (can cause severe poisoning);
- Vishnevsky ointment;
- Nise;
- Naphthalene (put it away from moths, but poison the cat);
- No-Shpa (can cause vomiting and paralysis of the hind limbs);
- Nurofen (Ibuprofen);
- Paracetamol (toxic to cats);
- Panadol (same reaction as paracetamol);
- Purosan;
- Rimadyl;
- Salicylates;
- Theraflu;
- Tylenol (same reaction as paracetamol);
- Phenol-containing drugs;
- Most non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Sedatives and sleeping pills;
- Use medicines infused with plants with caution;
- Bleach (do not use it for disinfection);
If you keep animals at home, never leave medications in places accessible to them. Some cats may become attracted to the rustling packaging and swallow it. But my cat Kesha, despite the fact that many of the tablets are bitter, even manages to open the cupboard and chew them. Now we hide all the medicines under lock and key.
Also, do not keep poisonous plants at home. Sooner or later cats will probably try it. My friend’s old cat chewed on Echinbachia leaves and almost gave his soul to God. For many years he did not pay any attention to this flower, but in his old age he decided to feast on it. It’s good that the owner noticed the bitten leaves of the plant and quickly took the cat to the veterinarian.
Do not use preparations with bleach to disinfect the premises and remove cat urine. And wash your cat’s dishes only with simple laundry soap.
The same applies to shampoos. Wash animals only with products approved by the veterinary inspectorate.
Cats are mischievous and curious, like little children, so be careful!
Lyudmila
Pregnant, lactating and kittens
Giving Analgin to a kitten is strictly prohibited. The cubs' bodies are still too weak to cope with sodium metamizole. Even a small dosage of medication can lead to serious complications and death.
Since in a pregnant female the active substance penetrates the placental barrier and affects the fetus, the use of the medicine will have to be abandoned. In situations where a nursing cat needs to take Analgin, the cubs should be temporarily transferred to artificial feeding.
Analgin: general information
First, about analgin. The effectiveness and side effects of the drug have long been discussed at different levels not only in Russia, but also abroad. People are so accustomed to independently “relieving” pain syndromes of various origins with a pill that they consider analgesics a panacea not only for themselves, but also for their animals.
Analgin is available without prescription and is available in every pharmacy. But metamizole sodium (as well as novalgin, dipyridone - other names) is prohibited in some countries altogether, and where it is sold, a prescription is needed (Australia). In Canada, the drug was discontinued in 1963.
Reason: the risk of use is many times higher than the positive properties. WHO comments, in particular, that serious adverse reactions, including death, have been associated with the use of metamizole sodium.
Reviews
Veterinarians
Anna, 36 years old, veterinarian: “I try not to prescribe Analgin to cats unless necessary. Animals are more sensitive to metamizole sodium than humans, so the medicine has a stronger effect on the body.
If it is impossible to use special medications for animals, you need to immediately stop the attack of pain in your pet, you can give the cat a one-time drug. Afterwards you will have to carefully monitor the condition of the animal. If there are signs of complications, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.”
Sergey, 28 years old, veterinarian: “It is better not to give Analgin to cats because of possible serious consequences for the body. If possible, choose special medications that can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy or pet store. Such means are more expensive, but safer.”
Owners
Irina, 33 years old: “After the fracture, the cat experienced severe pain, because of which it became aggressive, anxious, and nervous. I had to give a pill once: there were no suitable medications at home. I stirred it into wet fish food, my pet’s favorite delicacy. Relief came quickly, no adverse reactions were observed.
The next day I bought a special painkiller for animals. The action is not so fast, but less aggressive, not too dangerous for the body.”
Alexey, 42 years old: “The cat began to have complications during childbirth. I had to inject Analgin. At first everything was fine, the kittens were born. But then it turned out that the drug caused gastritis in the pet. It took a long time to treat, the disease was difficult to treat. I don’t recommend using it unless it’s an emergency.”
Action
Analgin, which is also known as Metamizole sodium, is a fairly effective and at the same time inexpensive pain reliever. Instructions for use of Analgin for cats describe how and in what doses to give the animal the medicine. For animals, the product is available in the form :
- Powder
- Tablets
- Solution in ampoules
© shutterstock
It dissolves well in water, but has a rather noticeable bitter taste. In addition to the analgesic effect, it also has :
- Antipyretic properties
- Anti-inflammatory properties
If Analgin is administered orally to a cat after surgery, it begins to act in approximately 40 minutes. When administered intravenously, the effect of the drug is almost instantaneous. The peak effect of the drug is observed in the second hour after administration. Also with intramuscular administration. In any case, it is worth writing that no matter how you give the substance to the animal, it does not irritate its internal tissues and organs.
Safe analogues
The average cost of a medicine is 10-100 rubles. The price depends on the form of release, region, pharmacy.
Baralgin, Pentalgin are considered substitutes for the drug. Special painkillers for animals also have a similar medicinal effect: Ketamine, Lidocaine, Ketofen, Vetalgin. Such drugs are more expensive, but safer and less likely to cause adverse reactions.
Analgin is not suitable for cats. Sensitivity to the active substance in pets is higher than in humans, so the drug more often causes unwanted reactions and leads to the development of complications. However, a single dose most often does not cause dangerous consequences. Be sure to consult your veterinarian before use.
