Solensia and cat arthritis

johnballans

My Bengal Cat Tushar 16 years old has mild arthritis. Still happy and active but slight limp, pain. A few years ago started on Meloxicam with good improvement initially. Regular blood test required for Meloxicam showed slight renal dysfunction. Raised urea and creatinine. Nothing serious though no treatment required. Three months ago limp now more severe. Vet recommended Solensia a safe monoclonal antibody for cat athritic pain. First month dramatically improved. With second dose bloods slightly worse renal results but still not bad. Tushar very well overall. The second month Tushar definitely more sleepy, also some ataxi and generally just more infirm not quite the cat I know. Still a happy cat though. Day of third Solensia injection Tushar his happy self. Vet as usual comments on how fantastically well he looks for age. Had injection and bloods taken again. On return home Tushar very sleepy we are questioning if a sedative was used. Three hours post injection Tushar very unwell. We got call from vet saying blood results now very bad and he is in stage four or final stage renal failure. He got dramatically worse over next few days. Severe ataxia, confused, staring, clearly in severe pain. Two days in hospital to give fluid therapy. On return home got worse not passing urine or opening bowels, not eating or drinking and unable to support himself safely. A very subdued seventh birthday was had. The next day we called the vet for euthanasia. From the day of the third injection he lived another six days only.
Did Solensia cause my cats renal condition? That is debatable. Did it make him significantly worse? The evidence suggests it did. Did Solensia shorten his life? Definitely. I unfortunately signed a death warrant for my beautiful boy when I allowed him to have Solensia. As the vet said he looks incredibly well. Solensia can work wonders for some cats. There are potential severe side though. Do research before hand like I didn't. I have written this with a broken heart to warn other cat owners to proceed with extreme caution. Please say a prayer for my Tushar.

Brie

So sorry to hear about what happened with your cat.