Dear Sinéad, Siouxsie and Thomas:
I was adopted by an adorable stray kitten 3 weeks ago. I took him to my vet one week ago and he was tested for FeLV & FIV; he tested negative for both. He did, however, have worms. The vet gave him one Drontal tablet and sent another one home for me to give him 21 days after the initial dose. He is also currently taking 1 1/2 cc of Albon per day for coccidia.

To further complicate matters for my little fellow, yesterday while I was away from home, he sustained an injury to one of his front legs (I suspect by trying to jump up onto something, but don't know for sure ... he's not telling). He was fine when I left home, however, when I returned home, he was on 3 legs and limping. I immediately called my vet again and was told to bring him into the office. I did so, they did an x-ray, and no breaks were found. They also inspected his paw for signs of some type of insect bite which may have caused swelling, thus causing him to not want to walk; again they were unable to find anything. He whimpered when they touched certain areas of his paw like it hurt. I gathered they suspected a sprain. They also said he had a slight fever. They gave him some type of injection for pain and sent us home with 7 syringes of Metacam and instructed me to give him one syringe a day (.11 cc) for seven days.

Once we returned home he seemed sleepy for a bit, and then he was up and moving like nothing had ever happened, including walking on that leg! My concern is that he slept almost all day today and hasn't had much of an appetite or a bowel movement today. He was such an energetic kitten that loved to play and had a healthy appetite previously. Is this normal behavior considering any of his medications or should I be concerned and pester my vet again?

Thank you for any help/advice you can provide.

Sheryl

Sinéad: It's always a good idea to be aware of the side effects of any medications you're giving your cat. It's also important to know what the medication does and what conditions it's generally used to treat.

Siouxsie: We looked up the medications Albon and Metacam online and found the following information:

Thomas: Albon (generic name Sulfadimethoxine) is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections in dogs and cats. For coccidia infections, the usual dose is 25mg/pound on day 1, then 12.5mg/pound by mouth for 12 to 20 days. The actual duration of treatment will depend on the animal's response. It is very important for an animal taking Albon to drink a lot of water.

Sinéad: Side effects when using Albon may include dry eyes, fever, joint inflammation, diarrhea, kidney damage and allergic reaction characterized by facial swelling and hives. Cats that are allergic to sulfa drugs or cats with kidney or liver disease shouldn't take this medicine. In the rare event that your cat receives an overdose of Albon, the symptoms would include vomiting, diarrhea or hyperexcitability; if you see any of these symptoms you should call your vet or take your cat to a veterinary emergency room right away.

Thomas: Metacam (generic name meloxicam) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug generally used for the treatment of pain and inflammation in dogs. It is indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation as a result of acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders such as disco-spondylosis, arthropathy and soft tissue injuries. Apparently it's also used "off label" to treat cats for similar problems.

Sinéad: Metacam should always be given with food. Animals with heart, kidney or liver disease should not take it. Kidney and liver function should be monitored while the animal is taking Metacam, particularly if it is being taken regularly and long-term. Side effects of Metacam include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dark or tarry stools and drowsiness. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to this medication can include facial swelling, hives and rash.

Siouxsie: Drontal is a broad-spectrum dewormer, and given that he's not getting this medication on a daily basis, it should not be contributing to any side effects.

Thomas: We see that loss of appetite is a side effect of the Metacam, and fever is a side effect of the Albon. We know from experience that cats recovering from illnesses tend to sleep a lot, especially if they have a slight fever. This is a self-protective instinct; it keeps us from reinjuring ourselves and allows us to use the energy in our bodies for healing rather than playing.

Sinéad: We wouldn't be too alarmed if your cat is lethargic for a day or two after an injury or after beginning treatment with antibiotics. If your kitty got shots while he was at the vet, that might be a factor in his change of behavior, too. I know I feel cruddy for a day or so after I get my shots. I tend to sleep a lot and not eat as much, and I get a wee bit feverish. My vet gives me half a children's aspirin when she gives me a shot to help me feel better.

Siouxsie: Please note, though, that aspirin and other NSAIDs should never be given to cats except by a veterinarian! Acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol in the US) can cause liver failure, while aspirin and ibuprofen can cause kidney problems. We don't know if naproxen can cause similar problems, but we definitely say you should never give your cat any type of NSAID without talking to your vet first. Veterinarians know how to balance the risks of NSAIDs with the benefits -- which, of course, include pain relief.

Thomas: That having been said, we do encourage you to talk to your vet and ask her if it's normal for your cat to be so sleepy. Our vet always tells Mama to call her if she has any questions about a treatment or a medicine, or any side effects.

Sinéad: Any time your cat has a change in behavior, especially if that change includes lethargy and loss of appetite, it's very important to talk to your vet to make sure everything is OK.

Siouxsie: If at any time your cat starts acting depressed or goes off his food, and you don't see any particular reason, you should take him to the vet. We cats don't show our pain, and the only way you can tell we're not feeling well is by a change in our behavior. A lack of appetite is a sign of potentially serious illness, and if a cat doesn't eat for long periods of time, he can become very sick.

Thomas: So, Charily, we recommend that you talk to your vet about your kitty's lethargy and lack of appetite. If nothing else, you'll be reassured that this is normal for the treatment he's undergoing. It's worth the peace of mind, and any vet who'd be annoyed by a client "pestering" them about their animal's condition probably shouldn't be a vet.

Sinéad: While we're thinking about it, let us tell you where we got our information about the side effects and purposes of your cat's medications.

Siouxsie: Mama tells us that when humans get medications from the human pharmacy, they get information sheets that tell them about what their medicine does and what to look out for. Animals' medications come with similar information sheets.

Thomas: We found these information sheets at the online animal pharmacy 1-800-PetMeds. The manufacturers of the drugs themselves have even more complex information sheets, written in tiny little type, that are made to be read by veterinarians rather than lay people. But 1-800-PetMeds, and probably other online animal pharmacies, can be a great resource for these information sheets.

Sinéad: We hope this helps, Sheryl, and we hope your kitty is feeling better very soon.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail us at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the material in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.