Reply #12: I just got back from taking my dog to the vet [View All]

[Rhiannon12866]

He's a liberal kindred spirit, so knows all about DU and has answered the occasional question that I've brought him from here about animals. I asked him what would be the best sedative to give a cat and if it was wise. He answered immediately, acepromazine. He said that Valium wouldn't be appropriate.

I wasn't surprised, since my other vet gave me one acepromazine tablet to give to my cat. This is a cat who I rescued from outside and she was so terrified that I couldn't get near her, let alone into the carrier, to take her to the vet. He gave me this tablet to give her 2-3 hours before travel. I still have the pill, since I, obviously, couldn't get near enough to her to give her the pill, either, and it would have been unreliable if I tried putting it in her food. My friend, who has caught cats for the ASPCA ended up coming over and catching her for me, in my house, and she bit him! The vet had to completely sedate her to work on her.

Anyway, I asked my vet if this would knock the cat out and he said no, that he would just be groggy and mellow. He also prescribed this same medication for my cocker spaniel, who was terrified of riding in the car, and it calmed him right down. I would give it to him when I had to take him to the groomer and she said he was a different dog. For my cat, I was given 10mg (his writing is terrible, so don't quote me on this) acepromazine for a nine-pound cat. Your vet will have to weigh the cat, to determine the proper dose, and advise you how often he should be given it. Probably, as my vet said, 2-3 hours before travel.

Good luck with this! I don't envy you, for either the long drive or traveling all that way with kitties!:hi: