Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gabapentin and mirtazapine increase appetite in cats after spay
By Fantinati, Marco et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2020·Nutrition Department, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Appetite-stimulating effect of gabapentin vs mirtazapine in healthy cats post-ovariectomy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of healthy cats that had just undergone ovariectomy (spay surgery) were given either gabapentin or mirtazapine to see which medication would help them eat more after the procedure. Both medications successfully increased food intake compared to a placebo, with about 30% of the cats on gabapentin meeting their energy needs. However, there was no significant difference in appetite between the two medications. Both gabapentin and mirtazapine can be effective options for stimulating appetite in cats after surgery.
People also search for: cat appetite after spay surgery · gabapentin for cats eating · mirtazapine for cat appetite stimulation
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the appetite-stimulating effect of gabapentin by comparing it with mirtazapine in healthy cats in the first 8 h after ovariectomy surgery. METHODS: This double-masked, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical trial included 60 healthy cats presented to the hospital for ovariectomy: 20 received gabapentin, 21 received mirtazapine and 19 received a placebo immediately before and 6 h after surgery. Food was offered at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post-ovariectomy. After each meal, food intake was measured. Data were analysed using repeated-measure ANOVA and a linear mixed-model analysis. Post-hoc Tukey's honest significant difference test was performed for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Food intake increased in both treatment groups vs placebo. No statistically significant difference was found between cats treated with gabapentin or mirtazapine. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Cats receiving gabapentin ate more than cats in the placebo group. Thirty percent of cats in the gabapentin group covered their resting energy requirements, while none of the cats in the placebo group did. Gabapentin and mirtazapine produced similar effects on food intake.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32462966/