Is ibuprofen something you can give your cat, or does it have side effects that don’t show up in humans?
Over the counter medicines are often used to quickly treat minor health issues such as a headache, flu, cold, and others as well. Often times we do not think twice about what is being taken or how long we take it. We even take the over the counter drugs without even looking at the warnings.
Did you know that there are medicines that you should not take if you have certain health problems? Sometimes it makes more sense to at least speak to a pharmacist about the best medicine to take.
When our children are sick we give them medicine whether it is over the counter or prescription. Most parents do this in order to help there kids feel better sooner. Lets face no one wants to see their child suffer through being sick.
There are also times when our animals are sick and may need more care, you may even decide to try over the counter medicines, or even try a few remedies from a heath food store. But, when animals are sick they can be tricky to make feel better.
Can I Give My Cat Ibuprofen? Answer: Never.
Never give your cat ibuprofen or any other over the counter medicine without consulting a veterinarian first. You may think you are doing your cat a favor by giving her relief but what you are actually doing is poisoning her. Just because you can take an over the counter medicine does not mean your cat (or any other pet can).
If your cat is sick or in pain the only thing you can do is talk to her veterinarian and hope they can give her something to feel better quickly. All you can do is show love and affection to your sick cat.
The Dangers Of Ibuprofen
Giving your cat just one capsule of ibuprofen can cause her to have a bleeding ulcer in the stomach, kidney failure and could result in death. If your cat happens to get into ibuprofen you should rush her to the veterinarian hospital right away, the cats life may depend on it.
Many cat and other pet owners give their animals medicine without thinking twice about it. But, it is also the reason so many animals are dying. Medication is usually given based on age, and weight, and cats are as small as newborns maybe a little bigger or smaller depending on the breed.
How To Tell If Your Cat Got Into Your Ibuprofen
If your cat or pet has gotten into ibuprofen there are a few signs you should look for, like a lack of appetite, vomiting, stools that seem like black tar, vomiting blood, pain in the abdominal area, dehydration, weakness, or if your cat just does not seem like itself.
There is not much you can do for your cat if they got into ibuprofen but it is important to get her to the veterinarian as quickly as possible. The faster you can get there the more the veterinarian can do.
Treatment of Ibuprofen
When you get to the veterinarian’s office they will most likely ask many questions, and it is not to make you feel bad about the medicine that was given to the cat. It is to get some idea of how much ibuprofen to look for and what kind of treatment the cat will need.
Do not expect to take your cat home right away, there are many tests she will have to go through. She will also need to be on intravenous (I.V.) fluids, need medicines if she indeed does have stomach ulcers, if there is a bleeding ulcer she may also need a blood transfusion, and after one or two days of treatment the vet may also take repeat blood work to be check on the function of the kidneys.
Cats and Ibuprofen
Never give a cat ibuprofen without consulting with a veterinarian. Even a children or infant dose could cause serious problems in your cat, and may result in death for your beloved friend. There is not much you can do (without a vet) when treating an overdose. You can continue to watch over her, and feed her a bland diet, and watch to be sure she is eating, not vomiting, and is having normal bowels that are not black and tarry.
However, a cat who has had an overdose of any kind should be brought the veterinarian’s office to be given the proper amount of medications and watched over properly.