Alternative to pilling
- Thread starter Bonzo
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Critter Mom
Member Since 2014
Hi Bonz,
I've given Saoirse a little bit of plain probiotic yoghurt now and again (last year after she had a course of Stomorgyl 2 for pancreatitis). She likes it. From my reading I understand that some meds can be given mixed with food, but some have to be given as dispensed. Your vet should be able to advise you on which ones are suitable for mixing with food. I don't know whether the antibiotic would render the cultures in the yoghurt inactive if it was mixed in with them or whether giving a little extra yoghurt separately later might help replace gut flora.
You can get 'pill poppers' for animals, but I've never used one. (I'm lucky that Saoirse's easy to pill.)
Mogs
.
I've given Saoirse a little bit of plain probiotic yoghurt now and again (last year after she had a course of Stomorgyl 2 for pancreatitis). She likes it. From my reading I understand that some meds can be given mixed with food, but some have to be given as dispensed. Your vet should be able to advise you on which ones are suitable for mixing with food. I don't know whether the antibiotic would render the cultures in the yoghurt inactive if it was mixed in with them or whether giving a little extra yoghurt separately later might help replace gut flora.
You can get 'pill poppers' for animals, but I've never used one. (I'm lucky that Saoirse's easy to pill.)
Mogs
.
Maggies Mom Debby
Member Since 2009
Is this a short term antibiotic? Yogurt, if your cat will eat it and the vet says it's ok, should help the gut. Probiotics can help, too.
As to pilling an uncooperative cat, anything that can be added to food is great, but do check with your vet first. Other options include getting it in liquid (no sugar), or having longterm meds compounded as a transdermal gel. Pill pockets work, though they may be too high in carbs for long term use.
As to pilling an uncooperative cat, anything that can be added to food is great, but do check with your vet first. Other options include getting it in liquid (no sugar), or having longterm meds compounded as a transdermal gel. Pill pockets work, though they may be too high in carbs for long term use.
Bonzo
Member Since 2015
Pill pockets don't work with Wess, this puss does inside outies, corkscrews, can use means formerly unheard of to counter pilling and can be a PITA in general. (but I love him)
It's going to be a 6-8 week course of clindamycin, plus his appetite stimulants and the anthistomines that don't work. Pilling is possible and sometimes it's quick and sometimes it's like a tennis match (goes on forever). Generally there is blood spilled (mine). I give wess his appetite stimulant and antihystomines inside a gelatin cap filled with parmesan cheese. If the cap breaks the parmesan will mask the bitter taste (hopefully). After a course of antibiotics there isn't too much of anything living in the gut in any animal or human. I suspected that plain or probiotic yogurt would be acceptible with most species. I thought I'd try a nice thick, plain yogurt and see how it worked. One smart pet companion uses whipped cream, now that would be easy.
Maggies Mom Debby
Member Since 2009
I forgot to mention gel caps - I used them a lot with Maggie.
If he doesn't like yogurt, try getting some Fortiflora. It's a nutritional supplement that contains a probiotic. It's a powder and can be sprinkled on his food. Most cats really like it.
If he doesn't like yogurt, try getting some Fortiflora. It's a nutritional supplement that contains a probiotic. It's a powder and can be sprinkled on his food. Most cats really like it.
Cat Ma
Member Since 2015
I crush tablets and open gel caps and mix everything in food and then force down with a syringe. That's the only way I can get meds down my cats and they tolerate it well. I do this daily.
A tip is to put your cat between your legs, his face away from you and syringe-feed from behind, not the side.
A tip is to put your cat between your legs, his face away from you and syringe-feed from behind, not the side.
Bonzo
Member Since 2015
The problem with mixing antibiotics with food seems to be we hope the cat will eat everything we mix up. That's why I was toying with the idea of using a thick yogurt. Wess used to like to lap up milk and I had been told by a good source that whipped cream is a tasty treat for puds. I have been pushing vets to actually do something constructive and if they prescribe 75 mg I wanted to make sure 75 mg was delivered.
I wanted to somehow make taking meds a tolerable experience for Wess. Now after being poked in the ear, and in the torso, then having a pill shoved down you against your will, followed by a slug of lisine paste given by syringe all before 9 am. I realize I'm preaching to the choir but it's been 5 months of vets more often trying to make money rather than getting to the bottom of things..
If I was him I'd be begging for "the needle"
I've had him on a mat next to my walk in shower 3 times today. I've run the shower head on fog until I get a mist. The warmth and the high RH really do wonders as do the warm sunbeams. I also give him warm microfibre towels over his eyes and nose. He has also started to tolerate saline nasal solution (neil med) and pure saline eye drops. It would be great if he would tolerate a nasal flush but that would create unbearable stress.
Clindamycin seems to be working and I have seen a steady improvement over the past 2 weeks. Since the initial trial was showing promise the vet has extended the course to 8 weeks. The acompanying issues blindsided me and I pretty much had to fend for myself. I did get quite a bit of help from some of the members here. I wish I could find a decongestant that would offer some relief, but then topical drugs have a rebound after 3 days of use and the other alternative is pilling.
Our other feline friend, Missy is a dainty little lady that can be pilled easily. She tolerates Lysine or any other med syringed into her mouth and doesn't fight back.
I wanted to somehow make taking meds a tolerable experience for Wess. Now after being poked in the ear, and in the torso, then having a pill shoved down you against your will, followed by a slug of lisine paste given by syringe all before 9 am. I realize I'm preaching to the choir but it's been 5 months of vets more often trying to make money rather than getting to the bottom of things..
If I was him I'd be begging for "the needle"
I've had him on a mat next to my walk in shower 3 times today. I've run the shower head on fog until I get a mist. The warmth and the high RH really do wonders as do the warm sunbeams. I also give him warm microfibre towels over his eyes and nose. He has also started to tolerate saline nasal solution (neil med) and pure saline eye drops. It would be great if he would tolerate a nasal flush but that would create unbearable stress.
Clindamycin seems to be working and I have seen a steady improvement over the past 2 weeks. Since the initial trial was showing promise the vet has extended the course to 8 weeks. The acompanying issues blindsided me and I pretty much had to fend for myself. I did get quite a bit of help from some of the members here. I wish I could find a decongestant that would offer some relief, but then topical drugs have a rebound after 3 days of use and the other alternative is pilling.
Our other feline friend, Missy is a dainty little lady that can be pilled easily. She tolerates Lysine or any other med syringed into her mouth and doesn't fight back.
Clindamycin also comes as a liquid, Antirobe Aquadrops. As long as you can get the syringe in the mouth it's harder to spit out liquid.
My Neko gets her Azodyl in plain greek yogurt, loves it, and won't let me forget when it's time to feed it! Clindamycin is hart on the tummy flora so you should feed some kind of probiotic with it.
My Neko gets her Azodyl in plain greek yogurt, loves it, and won't let me forget when it's time to feed it! Clindamycin is hart on the tummy flora so you should feed some kind of probiotic with it.
Maggies Mom Debby
Member Since 2009
I buy pure l-lysine powder from Amazon and sprinkle 1/4 tsp. of it on each of the cat's food. So much easier (and cheaper) than the paste!
http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Lysine-Powder-Pound/dp/B0013OSNOM/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
Bonzo
Member Since 2015
I've usually found that when I try to use a human product and sprinkle it on the cats food, they don't eat it. maybe it's just my cats, but when I give them a measured dose of lysine paste they seem to enjoy it. (it has fish oil added for taste) . I know exactly what dose they've received and there's no waste. It cost me .20 per 250mg dose of L-Lysine, no mess, no fuss.
A few years back I would be doing exactly what you and many others do. Old farts like me take the easy way out
A few years back I would be doing exactly what you and many others do. Old farts like me take the easy way out
Bonzo
Member Since 2015
Today went well, we seem to have one easy day followed by total disaster. We're going to try a more relaxed approach. Get him breathing well and relaxed, if we don't get the pill down right away, let him go and try again later. Wess has been through hell for 5 months, I owe him the easiest time I can give him. When he gets in a pill battle I can see the negative effects of the stress.
Our other cat is a dream to pill or give any type of meds to
Our other cat is a dream to pill or give any type of meds to
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