What is Onsior for Cats?

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There isn’t a pet owner alive that likes the idea of seeing they’re pet in pain. Animals have different ways of telling their humans that they’re hurting and sometimes, these ways can be rather subtle. That’s especially true if you’re a cat owner. If you do notice that your cat is in pain, you’re obviously going to want to find out why by taking her to the veterinarian and discovering the root cause of the problem. That way, you and your veterinarian can work together in order to find an effective treatment program that will address the issue. In some cases, one of the things that might be prescribed is a medication called Onsior. If you’re like most cat owners, you’re probably wondering exactly what Onsior is and how it’s used. You’re probably wondering about potential side effects, too. Don’t worry, all of that and more will be addressed here. All you have to do is keep reading.

What Is Onsior?

Put simply, onsior is an NSAID. Think about it this way. When you take ibuprofen because you twisted your ankle, you’re taking a drug that works exactly the same way that this one works for your cat. The idea is to block pain and keep it from becoming an issue. It’s worth noting that this particular medication is far stronger than the ibuprofen that you’re likely to find over the counter, as it’s designed specifically to help manage pain after an operation. It’s also designed specifically for cats and dogs. That means that it’s made to work in conjunction with your cat’s metabolism so that they’re able to get the most benefit out of it. It’s important to note that when it comes to this or any other medication, you shouldn’t automatically assume that because it works on the same premises as something that you might take, that it is safe for people to take this medication. For that matter, you shouldn’t assume that it is safe for cats to take over-the-counter ibuprofen, either. It’s really best if you only use this type of medication under direct supervision from a veterinarian and you use it exactly as prescribed. That minimizes the chances that your cat will have some type of negative issue as a direct result of its use. The medication is generally considered to be safe, but it’s always possible for a cat to have an allergic reaction to any specific medication. By the same token, it’s also possible that aside from a potential allergic reaction, that your cat will have a negative reaction to the medication itself. That’s because just like people, every cat is different and they all process the things that are put into their bodies differently. Some may not have any problems whatsoever with a specific medication while others simply can’t tolerate it.

More Information About Onsior

The generic name for this medication is robenacoxib. Onsior is the brand name. If this seems somewhat confusing, think about the difference between the aforementioned ibuprofen and Advil. It’s the same medication. One is the brand name and the other is the generic name. It’s exactly the same thing here. According to many experts, this type of medication is often used for various types of orthopedic surgery as well as other relatively minor surgical procedures like castration. Of course, there are other times when it’s also recommended. If you look at the website for the medication’s manufacturer, they recommend that any cat prescribed this medication be at least four months of age and way more than 5.5 pounds. By the same token, they recommend that the medication not be prescribed for more than three days. In short, it is something that is prescribed to manage pain immediately after an operation. However, it is not in any capacity considered something that should be taken in the long-term.

Dosing Information

There are essentially two different ways that cats can be dosed with this particular medication. One is by injection and the other is orally, using tablets. This is a very powerful medication. As such, the manufacturer recommends no more than 1 mg per kg orally given only once daily. They recommend that the first dose be given approximately 30 minutes prior to the operation and then the medication should be given only once every 24 hours after that fact, for a maximum of three days. It’s important to remember that this is the maximum amount of medication that should be given. The manufacturer recommends that the least amount of medication be given that can be considered effective. In other words, if the cat can tolerate the pain levels without taking the medication for a full three days, then that is what is recommended. As such, it’s imperative that the medication be stopped as quickly as possible in order to avoid any potentially harmful side effects, which will be discussed later. It’s also worth noting that if the injection is to be used, the amount given should be 2 mg per kg. Everything else remains essentially the same. The medication can be given 30 minutes prior to a procedure and should only be given once every 24 hours. After a maximum of three days, medication should be stopped entirely. One other important note is that the injection, given subcutaneously, can be interchanged with the tablets. In other words, if the injection was given prior to the operation, tablets can then be used for the remaining doses thereafter.

How Does It Work?

This medication is designed specifically to target tissues that are inflamed. It can be used in both dogs and cats as previously mentioned. However, the dosing information given is for cats only since that is the subject of this particular article. Those individuals who are interested in dosing information for dogs should consult their veterinarian. In most cases, the medication is given prior to an operation, as discussed in the paragraph above. In some rare cases, veterinarians make the decision to forgo giving the medication prior to a procedure and wait until after the fact in order to give it. This is sometimes done as a safety procedure because not all veterinarians want to give their patients something that could potentially cause problems during the operation itself. If they have any doubts about whether or not the particular cat in question is able to tolerate it well, they might choose to wait until after the procedure in order to minimize risks.

Administering Onsior

As previously mentioned, this is a medication that is typically injected by your cat’s veterinarian. Obviously, you will have the oral tablets if your veterinarian recommends that you administer the medication at home after a surgical procedure. It’s imperative that you follow the directions to the letter. Your cat should only receive the dose that is prescribed once every 24 hours. Take great care not to break the pills up. They’re actually designed to be swallowed whole. As such, you should not break them up, crush them or cut them in half. However, it is okay to mix an entire tablet into your cat’s food or administer them with a favorite treat, especially if your cat is picky about taking medication in the first place. More often than not, the medication kicks in fairly quickly. Within one to two hours, it should have fully taken effect. In many cases, the results have been much faster, as it is a relatively powerful medication.

Potential Side Effects

There are a number of potential side effects that are associated with this medication, as is the case with most NSAIDs. Some cats tolerate it well and others simply can’t tolerate it at all. There is a tendency for issues like stomach upset, lethargy, lack of appetite and vomiting. In some extreme cases, it can cause extreme abdominal discomfort and even bleeding within the abdomen, hence the reason that it should not be given for more than three days. Obviously, the chances that your cat will experience an adverse reaction increase exponentially with the strength of the dose given as well as the amount of time that your cat is on it. It is worth noting that while the medication often works without any issues, there have also been a number of reported cases of bleeding at the incision site as well as increased infections wherever the incision is located. The exact reason for bleeding at the incision site and increased infections are not fully understood. Experts haven’t figured out exactly how these things are connected yet, but there have been enough cases reported that there does seem to be some type of connection between the two. That said, this particular medication isn’t particularly dangerous when compared to other medications of its type. The truth is, any strong pain medication that can be given to your cat is going to come with many of these same potential side effects. Aside from the tendency to increase the chances of bleeding and/or infection at the incision site, all of the other potential side effects are common to virtually every medication of this type. That’s precisely why cat owners don’t want their cats on pain medication for the long-term. It simply proves to be too risky in most cases.

A Medication Designed For Felines

It is worth noting that this is a medication that was designed specifically for felines, at least initially. Granted, it can now be prescribed for both cats and dogs. However, it was actually designed for effective pain relief In felines. To be more exact, it was designed after years of research because effective pain management in cats has proven to be notoriously difficult. Traditionally, most cats don’t respond especially well to any type of pain medication. In many cases, they would either not get the relief that individuals were hoping for or they would have some type of adverse reaction to the medication itself. This particular medication was ultimately designed to help get around those problems in order to provide something that was more effective. Although it doesn’t work for every cat that it is prescribed for and it does come with a number of potential side effects, it’s still easily one of the more effective pain relievers available for felines. That’s one of the reasons that it’s so widely prescribed whenever a cat has some type of surgical procedure. Many veterinarians consider it to be one of the relatively few options that they have available to them in the first place. As such, it’s usually one of their frontline defenses against pain, as it’s typically considered to be more effective than other options that might be available.

Special Considerations

Of course, there are some special considerations that need to be taken into account. For example, this medication should not be given to cats that already have demonstrated some type of allergy to similar medications, nor should it be given to a cat that is dehydrated or that has experienced severe abdominal issues in the past after taking something similar. Special care should be given whenever the medication is prescribed to a cat who has a compromised immune system due to chronic illness. It’s also worth noting that if the particular feline in question is on any other medication of this type or a corticosteroid, this medication should not be given under any circumstances. As far as the potential effectiveness associated with giving this medication to cats on multiple occasions over the course of several months or even several years is concerned, more research needs to be done. Experts do not yet know if the medication will be as effective the second or third time around as it was the first time. There simply hasn’t been enough research done yet. However, it is known that some medications tend to lose their effectiveness after being administered multiple times. That’s just one more reason why it’s so important to work directly with your veterinarian in order to make sure that your cat is getting the best care possible. At the end of the day, you want what’s best for your cat. So does your veterinarian. As long as you work closely with your cat’s veterinarian and you follow their directions to the letter, this is a medication that can often be used effectively.