Accepted Answer

Hi Jim,

There are a couple of options for pain relief in cats. First you will want to make sure that pain is causing the difficultly and not weakness.   Hind end weakness can be very common in cats with Diabetes that are having trouble regulating their blood sugar. I would recommend a consultation with your vet to make sure that the Diabetes is still under control. If it is and your vet feels that arthritic pain is present in the hind end, you can discuss the following treatment options:

1) Glucosamine: this is an over the counter supplement that is meant to help lubricate the joints. It can take a few weeks for any improvement to be seen.

2) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication: this is a prescription strength medication (usually a liquid form called Metacam) that can be used daily to treat for arthritic pain. Your vet may want to check your cat's kidneys while using this medication.

3) Buprenorphine: this is a medication similar to morphine that can be given orally for times of acute pain. You can discuss have a few small doses at home for when needed.

4) injectable Pentosan: . Many cats respond beautifully to these injections. They are meant to have antiinflammatory properties and help modulate the normal function of the joint.

5) Gabapentin: a prescription medication for chronic pain, this is given twice a day.

6) Fatty acids and fish oils: these can be purchased from your vet or pet store

7) Acupuncture treatments also can be useful

8) Weight loss: this is often the most important factor (and the hardest). Most cats are overweight and any excess weight puts a huge strain on his joints. Even a small amount of weight loss can make a huge difference to his comfort.

With arthritis (assuming that is the cause of his pain), cats often need a combination of the above options. You will need to experiment a bit and continue to work with your vet to find the right combination. Your vet may want to do x-rays of his spine and hips before proceeding with any prescription medications.

Please let me know if I can be of further help.

Dr. Beth

Expert:	Dr.Beth
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Accepts:	72
Answered:	2/18/2009

Cat Veterinarian

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate of the University of Minnesota