How to keep a kitten from running around playing when on anti-inflammatory medication?

Question

My 14 wk old kitten was slightly limping last night; when I got home today he was hobbling around, unable to put any weight on it, and both his eyes had something like pink eye; one was swollen shut. I took him to the vet right away, and she ruled out a fracture, thinks it's just a sprain, so he is on anti inflamm for the next 4 days and is getting ointment for the eye/resp infection. Within 2 hrs of getting the anti-inflamm., he started running around like a drunken hyena (like a normal kitten), putting full weight on the sore foot, the swelling is way down and he seems to be in no pain. I am concerned that if he runs around too much while on the medication, he may make it more sore when he has to come off the painkillers. Any idea how to get a kitten not to run around and play, in risk of further aggravating the injury, or is this something impossible to do with a kitten

The leg was also noticably swollen when I took him in. The swelling completely went away within 2 hrs. The vet didn't mention anything about keeping him from running, just to keep an eye on my other kitten in case he picks up the resp infection. He isn't running around any more than normal, basically is acting like his uninjured self.

Answer 1

The best thing to do, so he doesn't injure himself more, is to confine him to a small room, like a bathroom, mudroom or porch. It's for a short time and for his well-being. This is the best solution or he could injure himself worse and cause a lifetime of pain and arthritis or even deformity.

Answer 2

She was probably calm and sleepy due to the fact that usually when you adopt a kitten or any animal from a shelter they may or may not have their shots or are fatigued from being in a cage daily. Also the kitten may just be getting used to the lifestyle of a litter box and the everyday home life, that may be the reason why she was sleepy and calm. She will play bite for a while. I've had my Cat since she was 8 weeks old and she play bit and was into everything, she is now 1 year old and ever since I've gotten her fixed she has been more docile and calm than ever before. She is a completely different animal since then. More clingy even as a female because male cats tend to be more of the lover kind of pet! Hope this helped =]!

Answer 3

Do what your vet says. Not what people here say about taking him off the meds. They don't understand the medicine.

Confine him like others said to a smaller area for a while.

Pets feel pain just like people and deserve pain meds the same. But there's more to it than just the pain.
Anti inflammatory meds take inflammation away so that nerves and tissues are not damaged by excessive swelling. Think of a person with a herniated disc, the disc swelling damages and pushes on nerves causing further damage. Docs give anti inflammatory drugs to take away the swelling and stop/heal damage. That's why it's called an anti-inflammatory and not just a "pain med."

Answer 4

That is why anti-inflammatories can be a bad idea. If it is a sprain and he is not feeling any pain, he will use it!!!!! You either have to let the kitten have a little discomfort so he will not run on it, or crate the kittens so he cannot run on it.
If there is no fracture, are anti-inflammatories really needed??? Many times vets do this more for the owner than the pet.

Answer 5

An anti inflammatory is not necessarily a pain medication.The cat will gage it's activity appropriately.Must be a simple sprain or the leg would have been set or surgically pinned. Things should be fine in a week or two.It's humans that are not intelligent enough to do what's right. Have a great Christmas.

Answer 6

You could try putting him in a cage so he won't injure himself further. or in a small room until the medication wears off, but I would consult your vet, this is obviously a side effect of the medication and it should be addressed. Good luck.

Answer 7

Put him in his carrier, or buy a medium sized crate for him to stay in until he's better.