Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Toxicity in Cats

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs for short, are used to reduce pain and inflammation in humans and animals. As a result, they're commonly found in home medicine cabinets and handbags nationwide. Unfortunately, NSAIDs can be particularly dangerous for cats.

NSAID toxicity occurs when your cat ingests an amount of a drug greater than their body can properly process. In the case of some NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen and naproxen (commonly marketed under the Aleve brand name), cats can only process very small amounts and can suffer from serious cases of poisoning when exposed to small quantities. For other medications, such as aspirin and some NSAIDs prescribed by your vet, toxicity occurs when your cat ingests more than the prescribed amount.

Prompt veterinary care is essential for the successful treatment of NSAID toxicity in your cat. If you believe your cat has ingested an inappropriate medication or overdosed on a prescribed drug, seek immediate emergency veterinary care.

The exact symptoms of NSAID toxicity in your cat will vary depending on the substance and amount ingested. The effects of NSAID toxicity can range from mild to severe, and serious cases of poisoning can be life-threatening. Signs to watch for include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blood in the stool
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
  
• Abdominal pain
• Shock
• Lethargy
• Depression
  
• Difficulty breathing
• Increased or decreased thirst and urination
  
• Signs of discomfort or pain such as severe restlessness, incessant meowing, or panting
• Stomach and intestinal ulcers
• Jaundice

While NSAIDS are generally safe for human consumption in moderate doses, many common household pain relievers are harmful or poisonous to your cat. In some cases, your cat may receive an accidental excess dose of a prescribed NSAID. However,  NSAID toxicity most commonly occurs from accidental ingestion of a human medication due to their widespread use and the fact that they are commonly found in household medicine cabinets.

Cats are curious by nature and there is a risk that your feline could chase and ingest small NSAID pills if you happen to drop them. In other instances, pet parents are unaware of the dangers NSAIDs pose to cats and give their pet a drug such as ibuprofen in an effort to provide pain relief.

NSAIDs work by inhibiting the production of important substances known as prostaglandins. While this helps reduce pain and inflammation, prostaglandins also support healthy kidney function and protect the gastrointestinal tract. And because cats can't metabolize NSAIDs as well as humans can, toxicity can result.

Currently, the FDA only approves 2 NSAIDs for short-term use in cats — meloxicam and robenacoxib. There are no NSAIDs approved for long-term use in cats.

Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol and a range of other brand names, is another common over-the-counter pain relief medication for humans. While it's not technically an NSAID, it's also highly toxic to cats and should never be given to your pet.

Before your vet can diagnose NSAID toxicity in your cat, you'll need to provide your vet with a complete history of any potentially harmful substances your cat may have come in contact with. You will also need to provide details of your cat’s symptoms, including the approximate time of onset and whether those clinical signs have worsened.

Your veterinarian may be able to confirm a diagnosis of NSAID toxicity. However, given the rapid effects and danger of the condition, any combination of the above symptoms along with you witnessing your cat ingest an NSAID (or suspecting that they have) is enough to take action. Even without symptoms, if you think your cat has ingested an NSAID not prescribed for them, contact your vet right away.

The treatment of NSAID toxicity in cats occurs in 2 stages. First, your vet will work to induce vomiting in your cat. This is done by administering various injectable drugs that stimulate your cat’s gag reflex. 

After your cat has vomited the contents of their stomach, your vet will administer a substance called activated charcoal. Charcoal is highly absorbent and can help remove NSAIDs and other poisons from your pet's system. Since activated charcoal is not palatable to your cat, it will need to be administered with the use of a feeding tube inserted into your cat’s throat. The charcoal solution is injected through the tube, directly into the stomach.

Next, your vet will insert an IV needle into your cat’s arm so that they can be administered supportive fluids. This is important to help dilute the concentration of NSAIDs in your cat’s system and to replace vital fluids lost during the treatment process. It also supports liver and kidney function.

Your cat will need to be hospitalized during all of these procedures due to the high potential for kidney and other organ failure, plus the need for continuous monitoring and treatment. 

The prognosis for recovery from NSAID toxicity in your cat is guarded to poor. Full recovery is possible if veterinary care is provided immediately or shortly after ingestion.

However, some cats may experience long-term health consequences if toxicity isn’t caught in time or if the dosage is severe. These pets may require treatment with medications that promote kidney or heart health.

Unfortunately, some cats that suffer from NSAID toxicity will not survive. Once shock and organ failure have set in, the chances of survival decrease exponentially. Rapid and thorough treatment provides the best chance of your cat living a long and healthy life.

Finally, if your cat is showing signs of pain or discomfort, don't reach into your medicine cabinet looking for something to relieve that pain. NSAIDs are highly dangerous to cats and should only ever be given to your pet under the advice of a veterinarian.

NSAID toxicity can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your cat is at risk of NSAID toxicity, start searching for pet insurance today. Wag!’s pet insurance comparison tool lets you compare plans from leading companies like PetPlan and Embrace. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!