When One Ache Triggers Another

Here’s the scoop:

• The curious link I’ve noticed between arthritis and IBD in Butabi

• Why one flare-up sometimes seems to poke the other

• Gabapentin: a tiny capsule with a big job

• Encouragement if your cat’s body is playing a frustrating game of symptom leapfrog

---

So here’s the deal: Butabi...my fluffy, gentle, snack-loving sidekick...was diagnosed with both arthritis in his shoulders and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) right around the same time. At first, it just felt like a double whammy. But over time, I started to notice something strange: when one of these conditions flared up, the other wasn’t far behind.

Most recently, he landed a little funny on his right shoulder (he was trying to stalk a lizard on the window screen, but Zigrit was in his way :). I noticed that shoulder started to feel warm to the touch. He wasn’t limping, thankfully, but he was more cautious with movement and way cuddlier than usual. That’s usually my first clue that something’s up.

Meet Gabapentin: The Tiny Helper

To ease his discomfort, I gave him a small dose of gabapentin. If you haven’t met this gem yet, gabapentin is a medication commonly used in cats to manage chronic pain, especially nerve-related or arthritic pain. It works by calming nerve activity in the body, which can help reduce sensitivity and discomfort. Bonus? It also can help reduce anxiety, which is great when your cat is dealing with pain and possibly feeling vulnerable.

It’s not a cure, of course, but when used in the right dose, it can take the edge off and make life a bit more comfortable. For Butabi, it helps him relax and resume his favorite pastime: sprawling luxuriously in the sun like he’s getting paid for it.

Then Came the Vomiting and Sneezing

But here’s where it got weird: right after this minor arthritis flare, Butabi had a few episodes of vomiting...then came the reverse sneezes, a classic sign of his IBD flaring up.

I started digging around online (as one does at 11:13PM in a worried pet-parent panic) and it turns out there might be a connection. Inflammation is inflammation, after all. And while I’m not a vet or a researcher, my mom-gut tells me that when one system is inflamed, the rest of the body probably takes notice.

From what I’ve read and observed, IBD is an autoimmune or inflammatory condition of the gut and arthritis is inflammation in the joints. If Butabi’s body is in inflammation mode...whether it starts in his shoulder or his intestines...maybe it’s not too far-fetched to think that both get a little cranky at once.

The Takeaway from My Couchside Observations

Now, I’m not trying to publish a paper or start a new branch of feline medicine. But from one cat caretaker to another: if your furball has multiple chronic conditions and you notice a weird domino effect when one flares up, you’re not imagining things. The body is interconnected and sometimes it speaks in sneezes, stiff shoulders and upset stomachs.

If you're seeing this kind of pattern in your pet, don’t hesitate to talk to your vet about it. And in the meantime, take notes, trust your instincts and be gentle with both your cat and yourself. You’re doing more than enough.

---

Takeaway Treats:

• Flare-ups might not happen in isolation...keep an eye on the full-body picture

• Gabapentin can be a gentle, helpful friend in managing chronic pain

• Even without a PhD, your observations as a pet parent matter...a lot

• Inflammation might be the thread tying multiple symptoms together

• Compassion, comfort and a little curiosity go a long way in caring for your chronically ill cat