gabapentin- need ideas on giving meds?

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Jamie & Jupiter

Jamie & Jupiter

Member Since 2013
The vet is prescribing Jupiter Gabapentin... he said for nerve pain. He wants Jupiter to get 25mg dose tomorrow evening. Jupiter amputation surgery is the next morning. (Thursday morning)

They dont have capsules in less then 100mg dose. I know they have a liquid form but I read :

"Gabapentin is also used for some animal treatments, but formulations (especially liquid forms) for human use may contain the sweetener Xylitol, which is toxic to dogs"

So I am not sure if it is also toxic to cats or not?


Has anyone else used this for their cat?
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

I have heard xylitol is toxic to cats. But maybe there is no option - address that with the vet. And ask how long he needs to be on it.

Good luck tomorrow - we will be thinking of you.

Wendy
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

I have no thoughts on the drug but am wishing you guys the best tomorrow. I know you have been through so much. I will be sending prayers that all goes well for Jupiter`s surgery.

Terri
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

Thank you both. The surgery is thursday morning. Just trying to figure out this med issue tonight so we will have it by tomorrow since we need to start the meds tomorrow night in preparation for the surgery thursday morning
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

Tiger has been on it for two years, under the direction of Julie Stegeman, DVM, Southern California Veterinary Specialty Hospital. She's one of the best. Tig is 17 or so and has degenerating knees (bad) and spinal issues. It has probably saved his life thus far, as he can still move, thankfully.

He has renal insufficiency (six years) and thyroid disease.

Wish you all the best.
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

From everything I've found (so far anyway) the consensus seems to be it's ok to use xylitol in cats, but if it can affect a dog's BG readings, it's something to think about with diabetes.

So far National Animal Poison Control has no reports of xylitol toxicity in cats. At this time, feline toxicity is unknown.

Here's some info that suggests that maybe a compounding pharmacy can help Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Will be thinking and prayer for you on Thursday!
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

they finally called me back. vet said that liquid could possibly be toxic to cats so they dont want to risk that. they said im going to have to open the capsule... seperate powder into 4 parts... and give him one part for the dose......


:YMSIGH:


i bet thats easier said than done!
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

You could try and sprinkle on food. Or get a pill pocket and flatten it and sprinkle the powder and roll it back in. Or ask the vet if he compound it into a liquid. / find a compounding pharmacy that will compound it into a liquid...

Wendy
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

A number of the high dose acrocats use gabapentin for pain associated with that condition. Not sure any of them post here much.

FYI - Gabapentin is used for humans for diabetic neuropathy. Good luck with your capsule splitting.
 
Re: vet prescribed gabapentin? has anyone else used this?

I am worried I might not be able to split it very well. guess i wont know until i try... may need suggestions on the best way to do this... any ideas? i assume splitting it into 4 is going to be hard cant imagine there is much powder... then to scoop the powder back up to put it in a pill pocket or in food? dont know how I will do that. any ideas?
 
When I've split powders before, I empty it onto a cutting mat. Then use a small sharp knife to make a long line, then cut into whatever amounts I need. I have just added to food, but it'll depend if there's a taste. Maybe add it to something not his regular food, such as baby food, so he doesn't associate the taste with his regular fuds. I've also used the small knife blade to lift the powder off the cutting mat so that might work for putting into pill pockets. Or make a temporary tiny paper cone with a scrap of paper and use that to put in a PP.
 
Idea 1.

If a quarter dose of the powder is not much, roll the pill pocket over the dose amount so the powder clings to the pill pocket. You may need to roll the pill pocket piece over the pile of powder several times to pick it up and incorporate the powder into the pill pocket. Think about making rolled cookies, where you roll a ball of dough into a ball and then roll it in sugar and cinnamon to coat (for making my favorite Snickerdoodles). Same idea with rolling the pill pocket in the powder. You could prep several pill pockets ahead of time this way.

Idea 2.

Make your piles of 1/4 of the capsule. Transfer each dose to a piece of paper or aluminum foil. Take a needleless syringe, remove plunger, and tap powder from folded over piece of paper/foil into syringe, gently reinsert plunger, draw in water from the syringe tip by pulling back on the plunger, squirt in Jupiter's mouth.
 
Gabapentin is water soluble, so you could just open a capsule into 4 ml of water, stir it up, then give him 1 ml. I have also read that it is very bitter. He may not take it in food or pill pocket.
 
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