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Common Uses
Veterinary forms of salicylic acid have been on the market for some time and are labeled for use in reducing fever, inflammation and pain in felines, this despite the lack of endorsement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA CVM). However, veterinarians often prescribe it. University research supports its use for a few conditions. Well-meaning cat owners sometimes self-prescribe aspirin in treating feline arthritic pain. This isn't advised without a vet's supervision. Cats are sensitive to aspirin and can easily overdose if given a human-sized dose. Your vet can offer safer methods of treating your cat's arthritis.
Toxicity
Salicylic acid can be toxic to cats because their bodies lack enough of a specific type of the enzyme glucuronosyltransferase necessary for metabolizing the drug. Because cats metabolize aspirin so slowly, they can quickly accumulate toxic levels of the drug in their bodies. Toxicity symptoms appear when the overall dosage is above 80 mg of salicylic acid per 2.2 lbs. of body weight over the course of 10 to 12 days. One baby aspirin contains 81 mg of salicylic acid. Symptoms of acute salicylic acid poisoning include decreased coordination, falling, vomiting, lack of appetite, elevated body temperature and rapid breathing. Clinical signs include the blood chemistry imbalances acidosis and alkalosis due to higher sodium levels and lower potassium amounts.
Proper Dosage and Toxicity Treatment
A cat given salicylic acid for long periods of time can develop blood-clotting problems and anemia. Veterinarians generally recommend giving a cat 10 mg of salicylic acid per 2.2 lbs. of body weight every 48 hours. Over-the-counter aspirin tablets for human use are available in 80 mg, 325 mg and 500 mg tablets. Therefore, it would be safe to give an 8-pound cat an 80 mg tablet, equivalent to a baby aspirin, every other day. An accidental ingestion of more than 80 mg should be treated at home by getting the cat to vomit, then giving it water or milk to drink, followed immediately by a trip to the veterinarian's office. The vet may administer activated charcoal to absorb the aspirin, emetics to induce vomiting and perhaps osmotic cathartics, or enemas.
Therapeutic Uses and Contraindications
Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine has found that salicylic acid is absorbed quickly and completely in cats. Veterinarians use it to treat arthritis and joint injuries, and to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Specifically, vets administer it to cats most often for post-operative pain after surgery or dental extractions and in the treatment of cystitis. Few veterinarians use salicylic acid as a fever reducer in cats. Veterinary medicine does not support its use as a treatment to reduce fevers despite manufacturers' marketing literature. Moreover, salicylic acid does not appear to work in treating cardiomyopathy, blood clots or heartworms in cats. It should not be used in treating these conditions.
Related Pain Relievers
Acetaminophen is very toxic to cats because they lack necessary metabolic enzymes. One regular-strength Tylenol is enough to cause symptoms of poisoning, while larger doses can prove fatal. Emergency treatment by a veterinarian is very important within two hours of ingestion. Cats' sensitivity to ibuprofen varies according to body weight, age and how much was ingested in a certain period of time. Ingesting 50 mg per 2.2 lbs. of body weight will cause toxicity. An immediate trip to the vet's office is needed to begin life-saving treatment. Veterinary treatment for drug toxicity includes inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal and enemas. A cat's small size and rapid body metabolism cause the drugs to be absorbed rapidly. Quick veterinary treatment is required to eliminate the drug from the cat's gastrointestinal tract before it spreads throughout the body.