Pain killers are so important but are they safe? More specifically is metacam safe and just how can we go about reducing pain killer side effects in cats?

We used to think cats weren't too affected by pain. Well of course they are and now that our cats are living longer, many are suffering from the effects of chronic pain due to arthritis as well as following surgery or suffering injuries.

Meloxicam is the active ingredient, with Metacam being the most common trade name product used. It is a member of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug group (NSAIDs).

Metacam's use in cats is highly controversial in some parts of the world, notably the US, while being completely accepted by the majority of vets in other parts, notably Europe and Australasia. This has led to different licensing of the product. In other words the same drug has different dosing regimes depending on where it is being used.

No-one will deny that there are risks with giving any non-steroidal pain killer and cats do appear to be more sensitive to these drugs. It's been shown clearly that giving the highest licensed dose for just 3 days can cause mild changes in the intestines and kidney with 9 days of this treatment dose causing intestinal ulceration and peritonitis.

The fact of the matter is though that for long term treatment, the licenced dose is 6 times less than this single treatment dose. The additional benefit of meloxicam being available as a liquid is that it gives us the ability to gradually reduce the dose give to the lowest effective dose. But how do we know that this is safe?

there have been several studies looking at this with a couple of studies in Australia that looked at safety in both otherwise healthy older cats as well as older cats with existing kidney disease which concluded that rather than be dangerous, long term meloxicam may actually delay the worsening of disease in cats with otherwise stable chronic kidney failure.

NSAIDs offer our cats one of the best chances of a pain free life. Be that during the recovery from surgery, getting over a ligament or muscular injury or living with arthritis long term. Yes, there are alternative pain killers but none of them are proven to work as well in cats, especially long term and in most instances they themselves are actually not licensed for this use. Pain has many detrimental effects, it has a massive impact on a cats quality of life and should not be ignored.

Of course we don't want to use any drug irresponsibly and there are a number of actions we can take to minimize the risk of any side-effects.
- Blood testing
- stop if vomiting or diarrhoea
- Stop if your cat appears depressed, becomes unwell or stops eating or drinking
- Do not give a higher dose than your vet has prescribed
- Do not give at the same time as steroids or any other NSAID
- Don't use human pain killers unless specifically advised to by your vet (and never ever give your cat paracetamol).
- Do contact your vet promptly if you have any concerns
- If your cat is fat then give a dose approriate to their ideal weight rather than their actual weight.
- Use other management and treatment strategies for arthritis and other chronic pain conditions to reduce the dose of NSAIDs needed to keep your pet pain free. This includes the use of different types of additional pain killers.
- Do follow post-operative instructions fully to minimise pain and inflammation to allow a shorter course or a lower dose of medication to be used.

related videos:
all about NSAIDs - https://youtu.be/KOgfxzDNMJA
home management of arthritis - https://youtu.be/7LzEwKutgTY
drug treatment + monitoring of arthritis - https://youtu.be/_y4MnPqWyKo

Our Pets Health - vet advice for a healthier, happier life
https://www.ourpetshealth.com

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledged. Links in description are typically affiliate links that let you help support the channel at no extra cost.
We are a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.

Music from Jukedeck - create your own at http://jukedeck.com

The information provided on the Our Pets Health YouTube channel is not a substitute for the examination, assessment and advice given in person by a suitably qualified veterinary surgeon. The information is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute specific vet advice for any individual cat, dog or other animal of any species.
for more information head over to OurPetsHealth.com

0 Comments

Up next

Autoplay

✅Amitriptyline✅Elavil✅Endep✅ USES || SIDE EFFECTS || DOSAGE || INTERACTIONS #Amitriptyline#Elavil

0 Views . 08/29/25 Side Effects

Please note that if you are under 18, you won't be able to access this site.

Up next

Is Metacam Safe for Cats? (reducing pain killer side effects in cats)

Up next

Language