Why Gabapentin?

Gabapentin has the unique ability to block the fight or flight signal in cats (aggression or panic) when used correctly. We recommend Gabapentin because of it's proven record to be safe & effective and because it is NOT a sedative class medication.

The THERAPEUTIC DOSE for Gabapentin is required in order for it to block the FIGHT/FLIGHT signal. The correct way to pretreat is also required. Are you pretreating for Fight or Flight? (Anger or Panic) There are 2 distinct differences regarding how you would pretreat your cat. Below is a compilation of our 8 year case study of 500 cat clients and the use of GABA by their owner as well as other recomendations that will ensure a low stress grooming for ALL cats when a pretreatment is required.

Back in 2016 when GABA started to be prescribed for the treatment of high stress in cats....every local vet prescribed just 50mg to their patients regardless of their size or severity of their stress levels. It was a fail pretty much every time back in the day

I knew GABA sometimes worked but wanted to also know why it failed so much too... which is why I began my own case study of the use of GABA. The answers surfaced within a few short months. Below I have shared my "Rosetta Stone" of Gabapentin as gleamed from this study.

All 500 cat clients in our study were able to be pretreated correctly over time and low stress levels achieved except for 5 cats. 3 were Siberian cats & 2 were cats who suffered high trauma as kittens.

Gabapentin is slowly being regarded as one of the best and most effective ways to temporarily pretreat higher stress levels in cats. Specifically cats who go up to 4-6 of 6 on the stress scale for either FIGHT or FLIGHT (they are both equally as important) or as protection for the senior cat to protect their blood pressure. GABA acts like a Beta Blocker (something you will never hear any groomer talk about because they simply do not know and/or are not being trained for this) GABA's unique ability to block the fight or flight signal in cats is extraordinary when used correctly. 1 out of 4 of our cat clients (25%) is pretreated with Gabapentin by their owner prior to having their cat groomed. Used to treat one specific trigger or a combination of them so that their cat can be groomed at low stress.This is required when it is determined that techniques alone are unable to keep a cat within a stress score of 1-3 of 6 for their grooming.

Pretreatment of FIGHT

Anger / Irritability in cats

1. GIVE 2 HOURS BEFORE Pretreatment of Gaba is given once two hours before the groom.

2.THERAPEUTIC DOSE

The easiest way to find your cat's therapeutic dose is to add a 0 after yout their weight....

10lb cat = 100mg

15lb cat = 150mg

20lb cat = 200mg

3. NO FOOD Gaba is to be given on a empty stomach for anger/irritability. Skip breakfast and pick up any dry food. Food will cancel out the effects of GABA by about 50% which blocks you from reaching a therapeutic dose. This then causes iGABA not to work to block the FIGHT/FLIGHT signal.

4. GIVE GABAPENTIN ONCE for irritable cats. This will utilize the "Initial Impact" card which is what is needed when treating for FIGHT

5. OUTLIER CATS (cats who are outside the norm of what usually works for 80% of cats) Food is picked up the night before. Seperating food from your cat for a longer period of time allows GABA to work for the Outliers (much like preparing your cat for surgery the next day)

Pretreatment of Flight

Includes open mouth panting, drooling, heart issues, darting, very scared, very tense ect....

1. GIVE GABAPENTIN TWICE

2.THERAPEUTIC DOSE give the therapeutic dose each time

3. For a morning or mid day appt you would give the 1st dose the night before & the 2nd dose 2 hours before the grooming

4. For a late in the day appt you can opt to give the 1st dose that morning (prefered by most of our clients) and the 2nd dose 2 hours prior to grooming

How do I know if I should use Gabapentin Or CBD?

There are 2 pretreatments that we recommend/require depending on the level of your cat's stress score

Gabapentin is required when a cat's stress score reaches 4-6 and techniques alone are not enough to maintain low stress levels

CBD is recommended when a cat's stress score reaches 3. A typical 3 score means your cat is "Not Happy" and moderately stressed (Miserable)

BEHAVIOURAL MODIFICATION

After the 2 year mark of the pretreatment of GABA you will see a "Behavioural Modification" aspect kick in for cats. Gaba will reset your cat's memory reflex to certain events and allow your cat to ease into THAT PURRFECT GROOM.

This does not mean you stop the pretreatment, it simply means there comes a point when the cat no longer has any resistance to their grooming.

Why Gabapentin

Because it is safe and effective and NOT a sedative class medication. As recommended by the founder of FEAR FREE PETS, Dr Marty Becker (a world renown Veterinarian)

Having groomed over 15,000 cats over the course of 15 years... I have seen alot. I have also seen the high failure rate & negative side effects sedatives can have. It wasn't until I witnessed for myself the effects Gabapentin had on a high stressed cat client (as prescribed & recommended by their Fear Free Vet back in 2016) that I started to take notice. Since then our salon has been locked onto one of the most game changing products in the cat grooming industry today. Literally blocking the Fight or Flight response in cats. Game over right? Well not necessarily...a lack of knowledge and understanding or training regarding its use is widespread throughout the pet industry.

What Does Therapeutic Dose Mean?

The MEDICAL dose required to produce the desired medicinal effect.

The therapeutic dose of Gabapentin to block Fight or Flight in cats varies. Also there are 2 distinct pretreatments for cats

depending on whether you are treating for FIGHT or FLIGHT

The easiest way to find your cat's therapeutic dose is to simply add a 0 after their weight to find the mg needed to block their signal

10lb cat = 100mg

15lb cat = 150mg

20lb cat = 200mg

Why We Do Not Recommend Sedatives

Because they do not work for the purposes of a 1 hour "hands on" grooming appointment.

Cat grooming involves an incredible amount of triggering starting with the cat carrier, leaving your homer and going for a car ride.....followed by strangers, grooming tools, touching, water, smells, drying, sounds and so much more. Sedatives do not block the triggering of cats they jmask the bodies response to them. Slower & drunken like but still triggered and capable of aggression & temper tantrums. The side effects of sedatives can also be upsetting for many owners and can linger with cats all day

Gabapentin is slowly being regarded as one of the most effective ways to temporarily pretreat higher stress levels in cats. Specifically cats who go up to 4-6 of 6 on the stress score. It's unique ability to block the fight or flight signal in cats is proving to be very successful for trips to both the vet & groomer. 1 out of 4 of our cat clients (25%) uses Gabapentin prior to having their cat groomed to treat one specific trigger or a combination of them. This allows their cat to be groomed at low stress levels. Our goal is to keep and maintain all of our cat clients to a stress score within 1-2 of 6 using grooming techniques mostly but for 25% of our clients a pretreatment would be required to maintain this goal and standard of care.

Capsules & Tablets

Capsules are usually always premeasured at 100mg and our clients favorite form of GABA

Tiny Tabs come in 25mg, 50mg & 75mg

Capsules are the most common & versatile form of Gabapentin. Normally $3-$5 each. Ask your vet to supply you what you would need for a years worth of grooming. (your cat must be within their yearly vet visit in order to receive a prescription) Capsules have a much longer shelf life and can be opened to mix with your cat's favorite treat....

Whipped Cream
Yogurt
Baby Food
Cream Cheese pill pocket
Tuna Juice
Cat Gravy Food Pouch
Ice Cream

TIP (For cats who refuse to eat food with medicine on it which is a VERY high percentage of cats yet are the instructions given by many vets)

Make your own liquid formula by mixing the contents of a capsule with a small amount of warm liquid (water or tuna juice). Use a dosing syringe to administer into the mouth or mixed with a tube treat like a Churu

WHY CAPSULES ARE THE PREFERRED METHOD for most of our clients

1.Regular liquid Gabapentin is goopy & bad tasting which causes many cats to lock their larynx. The medicine ends up not being swallowed and drools out the sides of your cat's mouth.

2. A capsule is the equivalent of a crushed baby aspirin in content as opposed to liquid Gabapentin which has a lot more product to have to administer.

TINY TABS is a Wedgewood Pharmacy exclusive. Can be used in combination with a pill popper for easier application. Or a pill crusher and hide in a wet treat. Or simply put butter on it before trying to insert into the mouth directly

Comes in 25, 50 or 75 mg.

Wedgewood Pharmacy Capsules Link

Liquid Gabapentin

Can be trickier to work with despite its goal to make it easier to pretreat your cat. It does have the highest fail rate and is more expensive but can be a good option for some cats and pet owners

ORAL SUSPENSION Each vet will have their own individual strength of GABA. The first number will be the strength of the GABA always based on one full dropper (1ml) Here are a few different oral suspensions used in Veterinarian medicine...

50mg/1ml

100mg/1ml

200mg/1ml

250mg/5ml

(which is the same as 50mg/1ml)

LOCKED LARYNX The main reason liquid GABA has the highest fail rate in cat's is because cats have a tendency to lock their larynx when something smelly, icky & awful tasting is being put in their mouth. You may have been succesful in getting it in but that does NOT mean they swallowed it

Flavored Gabapentin can be ordered by your vet through Wedgewood Pharmacy ( An chovie, Duck, Chicken ect..)

But even flavored GABA can still be icky for cats

Wedgewood Pharmacy Liquid Gabapentin Link

Wedgewood Pharmacy

Located in New Jersey. This pharmacy supplies all forms of Gabapentin to Veterinarians

Currently Gabapentin comes in..

Capsules (most versatile)

Tiny Tabs (best when crushed)

Liquid (can be confusing)

Transdermal (expensive)

Chewables (smelly, cats don't like)

If you are a Veterinarian, click link below to set up your account with one of the leading compounding pharmacies in the country.

What If I Cannot Medicate My Cat Myself? We can help you. Make arrangements with the salon to arrive 2 hours prior to your appointment and we can assist you in medicating your cat.

Wedgewood Pharmacy Account

What Is Fear Free?

A new educational movement in the care & treatment of fear in animals founded by Dr. Marty Becker. This new approach is sweeping the nation with seminars & certification programs for all pet professionals.

Who Founded Fear Free?

Dr. Marty Becker

Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” has spent his life working toward better health for pets and the people who love them. Dr. Becker was the resident veterinary contributor on “Good Morning America” for 17 years. He is a founding member of Core Team Oz for “The Dr. Oz Show,” and a member of the Dr. Oz Medical Advisory Panel. Author of 18 books & 100's of articles

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Hosted and facilitated by Dr. Marty Becker as well as leading veterinarians & pet professionals. This symposium will give you all the tools and direction you need to get started, and includes a discounted registration for the Fear Free Certification Program available online with VetFolio. Your clients both 2 and 4 legged will be glad you did!

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How Can I Become Certified In Fear Free?

Offering step by step modules

Reduce or remove anxiety triggers that can cause pets to become fearful at home, in transport, and at the veterinary hospital & grooming facilities
Help owners deliver calm pets to your hospital/grooming salon
Enhance the quality of medicine in your practice
Increase compliance
Improve safety for the veterinary/grooming/ training staff

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