Nolotil is a drug of fairly common use in human medicine. It is for this reason that many caregivers may have it in their home medicine cabinet and wonder whether it is appropriate or not to administer Nolotil for their cats as soon as they perceive any pain.
In this article, we are going to explain what this drug is, in which cases it is recommended and what are the contraindications and side effects it can produce. As always, let’s remember that only the veterinarian has the competence to prescribe Nolotil for cats.
Can you give Nolotil to a cat?
Yes, but not always. Nolotil is a drug with analgesic and antipyretic effect. This means that it calms the pain and reduces the fever. More precisely, it is a non-opioid pain reliever. In addition, it has a slight anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effect, reducing inflammatory processes and providing a smooth relaxation of smooth muscle. It is included in the group of pyrazolones.
Its active ingredient is metamizole, which can be magnesium or sodium. We can also find it under the name of dipyrone or novalgina. It is metabolized in the liver. It is important to note that Nolotil is a drug for human use, therefore Nolotil for cats is not the first treatment option in this species. Medications specially formulated for cats are preferred, which guarantee greater safety as well as efficacy, such as meloxicam. Therefore, if we think that our cat may be experiencing pain, the indication is, in all cases, to go to the vet. Only this professional can say if we can give Nolotil to our cat.
Uses of Nolotil for cats
In general, Nolotil is used in those acute processes, that is, that start suddenly, and that are considered to cause pain of medium or moderate intensity. Thus, it is usually prescribed for:
- Pain at the visceral level.
- Pain of traumatic origin.
- Pain due to arthritis, neuralgia or neuritis.
- Dystocia or expulsion difficulties during the part.
When it is assessed that the pain is strong, always within the acute initiation, it is possible to use Nolotil, but by injection. In any case, the assessment of the clinical picture of the cat is the exclusive competence of the veterinarian. This professional can also use this active principle as part of the pre-anesthetic protocol, that is, the drugs that are chosen to prepare the cat for a surgical operation. In this case, its analgesic effect is sought in a preventive way. In this way, less anesthesia can be used during the intervention and postoperative recovery requires less medication.
Nolotil dosage for cats
The dose of Nolotil necessary for our cat can only be determined by the veterinarian and this is decided based on its clinical picture and its characteristics. Furthermore, it also varies depending on the route of administration. This can be intramuscular, subcutaneous or intravenous, which will be supplied by the veterinarian, or oral, which we could take care of at home.
As an example, a dose of inject able Nolotil intramuscular or intravenously would be around 0.2 ml for every 5 kg of the cat’s weight. This dose can be given two or three times a day or just once, at the discretion of the veterinarian. Orally, it can be administered as drops directly into the cat’s mouth or diluted in water and repeated every 4-6 hours. Of course, the supervision of the treatment by the veterinarian is always necessary. In addition, in the event that these are prolonged, the cat must be evaluated periodically.
Contraindications of Nolotil for cats
Metamizole or Nolotil is not recommended for cats in the following cases:
- If they are taking other drugs, such as barbiturates, chlorpromazine, or phenylbutazone.
- If they suffer any alteration in the cells of the blood.
- When they are diagnosed with chronic gastrointestinal, liver or kidney disease.
- Of course, in cats allergic to this active ingredient.
- It is not recommended for pregnant cats or during the lactation period, as it passes into breast milk.
- Extreme precautions must be taken in the case of very old cats or those with cardiovascular diseases.
Side effects of Nolotil for cats
We are facing a safe drug, so it is difficult for it to cause any adverse effect or, even less, intoxication. We can point out that when metamizole is administered by subcutaneous injection, it can cause irritation right at the point of inoculation. It should also be taken into account that the risk of bleeding is increased by suppressing the formation of prothrombin, which is a protein that is part of the clotting process. Lastly, an overdose of this drug can cause seizures.
