3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 +10/125

Yesterday I took Alfred to the vet to have the bump on his nose looked at. We agreed to wait on testing it for cryptococcosis since it would require sedation and I'm about to go out of town. My pet sitter is going to keep an eye on him and note any additional symptoms. Well, as soon as I got him home, his eye started weeping. I'm failing miserably at giving him the tiny crushed pill of antihistamine. I've got a pill crusher and the vet suggested some tuna or clam juice. Both times I've tried, Alfred freaks and starts foaming. I don't think he's gotten any of the meds in either of my attempts.

How do you guys administer oral meds?

Re: 3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 - how do you pill a cat??

I'm asking sort of the same thing right now too in my condo today, my cat is terrible to pill :? I've been reading other condos too with the search feature. So far people have suggested using pill pockets (duck/pea flavor for low carb and only using slivers of it around the pill/powder) and empty capsules (some are flavored for pets), or a combination of empty capsule to put the pill/powder in and a pill pocket wrapped around it.

I'm sure someone will be along to help with the description of actual pilling since I haven't successfully done it, sorry I can't help more

Re: 3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 - how do you pill a cat??

Many of them use pill pockets. And observe that it goes down ...

I've always just given a pill by putting it in the back of the throat... you then take a syringe with no needle on it... ( i have a curved one from my own wisdom teeth
extraction) and give water afterwards.
My way could have gotten it stuck in the throat but that's never happened for us.

And there is crushing it in a treat/food that you know will be eaten. I think the trick is the smallest amount of food that will disguise it. Not a whole meal.

For dogs we were always able to put it in a little piece of cheese , small enough that they don't even chew... but my cat doesn't wolf anything down like that.

Re: 3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 - how do you pill a cat??

2 of mine love pill pockets so no problem there
Minkie (civie) does not and I had to give him flagyl - which may be the worse tasting pill known to cat - he would foam, drool etc..
I got them to make a liquid form which did work better although still a fight.

There are a few youtube videos out there and most make it look pretty easy.
This one does not - but its good for some light relief when you're stressed by the whole thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTZorGzX6I4

Re: 3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 - how do you pill a cat??

Thank you Rachel, Rhiannon and Denise! I read the comments in your condo, Rachel....I think I'll try crushing and mixing it in a tiny bit of food tonight when he's really ready for dinner and then cross my fingers. It must be a terrible tasting pill b/c last night when I crushed it and mixed it with some freeze-dried chicken and water he went right for it but as soon as his tongue made contact he jumped back like 4 feet and acted like I was poisoning him! This is just a two day course of pills, but if this bump things turns out to be something more, I'm sure I'll be looking into pill pockets and those PETcaps.

Everyday, my world gets a little weirder. Never thought I'd be shopping flavors of pet capsules!! :lol:

Re: 3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 - how do you pill a cat??

If Alfred is foaming, the pill tastes bad. A pill pocket is an option. Or, you can order capsules and put it in there. If Alfred likes cheese or any kind of meat, you can try that but I'd put butter around the pill so that hopefully it slides down without causing Alfred to foam.

What allergy med did the vet recommend?

You might want to try L-lysine. It's a tasteless powder that you can mix into food that helps to enhance the immune system.

Re: 3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 - how do you pill a cat??

Oh Denise, that video made me laugh and laugh! Poor kitteh!

Pill pockets are soundly rejected around here. I can crush molly's into food. Leo gets very upset about getting pilled, and foams and drools. I think the drooling is actually stress related rather than the taste. I tried rolling it in butter to make it slide down easier, and it does once it's in his mouth, but getting it off my finger is tough. Then I tried covering it in olive oil, and that works the best so far. Good luck!

Re: 3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 - how do you pill a cat??

The vet prescribed Clemastine and he's only getting 1/4 pill ev. 12 hours. It's tiny. I'll try the butter/meat trick.

Re: 3/22 Alfred AMPS/141 - how do you pill a cat??

KJ

Even with butter on the pill, first get a small, clean syringe without a needle (you can usually get them at a compounding pharmacy) or a clean eye dropper although syringes work better. Pull up some water and then gently syringe it in his mouth. Put it perpendicular to his jaw line and aim toward the roof and slowly push the plunger allowing him to slowly drink the water so he doesn't aspirate. Then pill, then a little more water, and then I usually give a little bit of food. I keep boiled chicken breast ready all the time and I'll give Gracie a few bites to be sure the pill does not get stuck in the throat. Cats are really susceptible to erosion of the esophagus if pills get stuck there so be sure you take every precaution that it doesn't.

I'd try the pill pockets...my cats love them. The feline duck and pea are no longer made so you can get the canine and just pinch a small piece off. Those are FD friendly. However, the other day, I accidentally gave Gracie one of Gus's chicken ones and it did not noticeably raise her BG because I used such a small piece.