So Miss Kitty, unknown age but definitely well over 10, Maine Coon/long hair mix, 20!!! pounds, got to go to the vet yesterday. She generally doesn’t, because she has to be sedated and is strictly an indoor cat. But, clear signs of hind end pain, lethargy, muscle wasting in the hind end, etc. Anyway. Blood work won’t be back till Tuesday, so we don’t know about kidney//liver function yet. Vet suspected a UTI and arthritis. Miss Kitty, still loopy today from complete sedation, does seem better after a massive shot of antibiotics for the UTI. So, hoping that was the major issue.
But, the vet prescribed 100mg of Gabapentin Twice a day for the arthritis. That seems incredibly high?? The vet isn’t back till Tuesday. I’m thinking 100mg a day at most?
This cites 10 mg/kg twice daily for osteoarthritis in felines.
You’re right there with 100 mg bid for a 20 pound cat. Definitely not “incredibly high.”
Thank you! That article actually had a useful table!
At this time is this dosing level maybe also an attempt to keep Miss Kitty a little more quiet?
That might explain this amount.
A 100mg capsule originally would knock my 9 lb cat out with a good nap for a few hours. Now, it takes the edge off but honestly she doesn’t really seem different. A little sleepy but not a big difference. She’s also a barely unferal former feral so I think she can fight off anything sedative better than most. We use it for her FIC when I think she’s going to flare or has an acute stressor.
The 100mg definitely takes her edge off. It also seems to be helping with the pain; but it is a little hard to tell, was the UTI the pain in the hind end or the arthritis? Definitely the UTI was the major issue as the constant licking and extreme pain have stopped. The slightly stiff looking shoulder action is still there. (those with elderly cats will know that!) Hopefully get her bloodwork back tomorrow. I would really like to know what those values are. We have no baseline on her at all.
However, she was up on my side of the bed this morning, taking over the pillow and getting a good, upside down, stretched out snuggle. For the first time in several weeks. So I think she is better!
