Key Points
- Famotidine is usually a protected drug to be used in cats with a couple of exceptions.
- This drug can work together with different medicines your cat could also be taking, so it’s necessary to make sure your veterinarian is conscious of all medicines (prescription and over-the-counter), nutritional vitamins, dietary supplements, and natural treatments your pet is taking.
- Although broadly thought-about protected, at all times seek the advice of a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine earlier than giving famotidine to your cat.
Only veterinarians ought to determine if it’s protected to make use of famotidine in your cat.
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This histamine H2 receptor decreases the manufacturing of abdomen acid. It does this by binding to the receptors throughout the abdomen that instruct it to create acid. Essentially, it blocks them from making acid for a time period.
Famotidine is broadly thought-about protected to be used in people, cats, dogs, and horses. However, as with every remedy, it’s important to seek the advice of your veterinarian earlier than giving it to your kitty. According to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), utilizing famotidine in cats, dogs, and small mammals to deal with ulcers is “off-label.” This means the drug has not been authorised for this function, however veterinarians could select to make use of it anyway. Off-label prescriptions are allowed in veterinary drugs as a result of it’s lined underneath extra-label drug use (ELDA).
Dr. Julie Parks, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Northwood Hills Animal Hospital, informed AZ Animals, “Famotidine is an over-the-counter drug we primarily use to treat gastric ulcers. Occasionally, for pets that are very sensitive to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, we use famotidine to help prevent ulcers. We hardly ever see side effects.” On one other notice, one examine concluded that extended use of famotidine in cats reduces its effectiveness.
Let’s learn on to be taught concerning the attainable uncomfortable side effects, dosage, and extra of famotidine in cats.
What is Famotidine Used for in Cats?
Because famotidine reduces the manufacturing of abdomen acid, it has many makes use of in cats. This is very true for cats affected by issues with their gastrointestinal system. The gastrointestinal system contains all of the physique components used to eat and course of meals — the mouth, esophagus, abdomen, and intestines.
Famotidine may be given to cats by mouth, intravenously (injected right into a vein), or intramuscularly (injected into the muscle). Veterinarians should use warning when giving this drug intravenously as a result of giving it too shortly may cause vomiting and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
Let’s study the commonest makes use of of famotidine in cats!
Stomach Ulcers
A abdomen ulcer happens when the pure acid inside it erodes (breaks down) the protecting lining. This situation causes a burning sensation within the abdomen and should result in nausea, vomiting, and lowered urge for food. Because cats are so delicate to going with out meals, inappetence (not eager to eat or not feeling hungry) turns into a significant concern shortly.
A cat that doesn’t eat for simply 48 hours is topic to fatty liver syndrome (hepatic lipidosis). This situation is an absolute emergency! Cats refusing to eat could require intensive care hospitalization with intravenous fluids and even a nasogastric feeding tube. This is a skinny rubber tube placed via the nostril and into the abdomen by your veterinarian whereas your cat is sedated. It permits meals to be handed immediately into the abdomen.
Drooling is usually a signal of nausea in cats.
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Stomach Inflammation Secondary to Kidney Disease
Nearly all senior cats (these over 8 years old) will expertise kidney illness at some a part of their life.
Unfortunately, a symptom of this lowered kidney perform may be irritation throughout the abdomen. Just like with ulcers, this will trigger nausea, vomiting, and inappetence. Veterinarians could select to manage this remedy to assist with the signs of those abdomen issues. Famotidine used on this method may additionally encourage cats to proceed consuming since it would assist soothe their aching abdomen.
Many cats expertise a minimum of a point of kidney illness as they age.
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Esophageal Ulceration or Inflammation
Famotidine is utilized in cats to assuage the irritated, infected, or ulcerated esophagus. The esophagus is the a part of the throat that carries meals from the mouth into the abdomen. Occasionally, it may turn into infected and even develop an ulcer.
Although very uncommon, irritation of the esophagus can happen after surgical procedure that requires the cat to be intubated. Intubation is when a respiration tube is inserted into the trachea (the a part of the throat that carries air out and in of the lungs). This tube delivers anesthesia (sleeping gasoline) and oxygen to the affected person throughout surgical procedure. Because the trachea and esophagus sit so carefully collectively, some irritation can happen throughout intubation. For most cats, this irritation goes away by itself. However, some cats are extra delicate than others.
Other instances this downside can happen with repetitive vomiting, acid reflux disease, or from some medicines equivalent to doxycycline. Doxycycline capsules and tablets can injury the esophagus in the event that they begin to dissolve earlier than reaching the abdomen. For this cause, following doxycycline with a small quantity of water from a syringe is very really useful by most veterinarians.
Another attainable trigger is electrocution. When kittens or cats play with electrical wires and chew into them, they’ll get electrocuted. This painful accident often causes burns within the mouth and throat. Famotidine could also be used for cats on this predicament. Veterinarians could use sucralfate together with famotidine due to its means to coat the mouth, throat, and abdomen which helps relieve the ache of the burns.
Never let your cat play with electrical cords. This can result in electrocution and extreme burns within the mouth and throat.
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Side Effects of Famotidine in Cats
The most typical aspect impact (although nonetheless fairly uncommon) of famotidine use in cats is diarrhea. In human trials, uncomfortable side effects equivalent to vomiting, inappetence, headache, dry mouth, and dry pores and skin occurred. Extremely not often, low white blood cell rely happens in cats on famotidine.
Remember, when you suppose your cat is having a aspect impact of any remedy, one of the best factor to do is name your veterinarian straight away!
When Should Cats Not Take Famotidine?
In elderly pets, famotidine needs to be used at a lowered dose and with warning. This largely pertains to intravenous injections, however pets with coronary heart illness needs to be carefully monitored. Any cats already experiencing liver or kidney illness ought to take famotidine solely with cautious statement, as properly.
Dosage Chart for Famotidine in Cats
Always observe your veterinarian’s directions precisely and end the prescribed course until in any other case instructed, even when your cat seems to be feeling 100% higher.
The typical famotidine dose for cats is 5 mg each 12 to 24 hours. If your cat should take famotidine for an prolonged interval, your veterinarian will possible instruct you to make use of the minimal efficient dose (MED). MED is the least quantity of medicine a affected person can take and nonetheless expertise the specified outcomes. Some research report famotidine just isn’t very efficient in cats. If the remedy you’re prescribed in your cat isn’t serving to, contact your veterinarian to debate subsequent steps.
Famotidine for cats needs to be given on an empty abdomen a minimum of half-hour earlier than any meals or different medicines. The greatest outcomes happen with dosing earlier than the primary meal of the day. If your cat turns into nauseous or vomits after taking famotidine, you’ll be able to strive giving it with a small quantity of meals or a deal with.
If your cat is unable or unwilling to take drugs, liquid famotidine could also be available. Is liquid remedy nonetheless not an possibility in your kitty? No downside! Your veterinarian is ready to administer famotidine intravenously or intramuscularly. These dosage kinds are particularly helpful for very nauseous or vomiting cats.
| Cat’s Weight in Pounds | Famotidine Dosage |
|---|---|
| All Weights | 5 mg per dose |
Final Thoughts on Famotidine for Cats
Famotidine for cats is beneficial in stopping or treating abdomen and esophageal ulcers or irritation. Very not often, cats could expertise uncomfortable side effects when taking famotidine. Most uncomfortable side effects are delicate and non-life threatening. As at all times, house owners ought to by no means give a cat any remedy with out first discussing it with their veterinarian.
The picture featured on the high of this publish is © New Africa/Shutterstock.com
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