? Can I use raw hearts gizzards as pill pockets?

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Phoebes (GA)

Phoebes (GA)

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I'm really picky about supplements. It is often the inert ingredients to watch out for. This is Nature's Way: plant-derived capsule (hypromellose), cellulose, magnesium stearate. This is Now Foods powder: Other ingredients: None.
Inert ingredients such as magnesium stearate are controversial. Depending on the source it is either harmless or harmful. A bit like the BPA controversy. I take the approach of choosing supplements when available that don't have other ingredients. Liquids especially check for sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate as preservatives. Rosemary extract can be a problem with some dogs and seizures. Not sure about cats.
 
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Pati said:
I'm really picky about supplements. It is often the inert ingredients to watch out for. This is Nature's Way: plant-derived capsule (hypromellose), cellulose, magnesium stearate. This is Now Foods powder: Other ingredients: None.
Inert ingredients such as magnesium stearate are controversial. Depending on the source it is either harmless or harmful. A bit like the BPA controversy. I take the approach of choosing supplements when available that don't have other ingredients. Liquids especially check for sodium benzoate or potassium sorbate as preservatives. Rosemary extract can be a product with some dogs and seizures. Not sure about cats.
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Ty I saw they had in vitamin shoppe her in town. Didn't want to wait for mail but will check out our farmers market fresh, see if they have it. If not will order online ty all
 
Do you also have a question about raw hearts and gizzards?

The USDA food database is a great source of information.
https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list

Where it says Enter one or more terms (For example: raw broccoli box) type the food you want to look up. In your case raw chicken gizzards or raw chicken hearts. (I'm assuming you meant chicken.)
Scroll through the list until you find what you are looking for - in this case chicken, heart, all classes, raw. Click on it.
When the page comes up, click on Full report (All nutrients).
Some of the items give you a 1 oz column. Some don't so you can just do the math from the 100g. 100g = 3.527 oz
Chicken gizzards 100g has Phosphorus 148mg, Sodium 69mg
Chicken hearts 100g has Phosphorus 177mg, Sodium 74mg
Those are just two nutrients you might care about for example a cat with any kidney insufficiency (phosphorous). Another might be the fat content for those with a history of pancreatitis. Knowing the nutrients lets you tailor what you choose for each individual cat.

As far as using one or the other or other meat, it's a great idea. This is the ingredient list for Greenies Pill Pockets for cats:

Rehydrated Chicken, Glycerin, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Hydrolyzed Salmon (Source of Salmon Flavor), Vegetable Oil, Natural Flavors, Dried Corn Syrup, Dried Cultured Skim Milk, Sodium Bisulfate, Xanthan Gum, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols.
 
Rehydrated Chicken, Glycerin, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Hydrolyzed Salmon (Source of Salmon Flavor), Vegetable Oil, Natural Flavors, Dried Corn Syrup, Dried Cultured Skim Milk, Sodium Bisulfate, Xanthan Gum, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols.

Would that make these bad for diabetic cats? I don't want to use the pill pockets just because they have the carbs, so was throwing out there maybe raw meat or low fat cream cheese? @Pati
 
I have seen raw chicken hearts/gizzards advertised in the stores as natural pill pockets, but they are more dog sized than cat sized. You'll have to cut off a piece.

If you want to use Greenies Pill Pockets, look for the Duck and Pea Allergy free kind in the dog section. They are lower carb. Just break off a piece to wrap the pill in.
 
Phoebes said:
Rehydrated Chicken, Glycerin, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Hydrolyzed Salmon (Source of Salmon Flavor), Vegetable Oil, Natural Flavors, Dried Corn Syrup, Dried Cultured Skim Milk, Sodium Bisulfate, Xanthan Gum, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols.

Would that make these bad for diabetic cats? I don't want to use the pill pockets just because they have the carbs, so was throwing out there maybe raw meat or low fat cream cheese? @Pati
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Well this is simply my personal bias same as with the supplement inert ingredients topic. :) I would not eat something with those ingredients so I wouldn't give them to my animals. HOWEVER, if that was the only way to get a medication into my pet then I would do what is necessary. I think the wheat, corn syrup, and maybe the milk might all raise BG. Wendy gave you a better option in her post. I think raw meat is a great option and probably for less money. I don't know a thing about cream cheese but the USDA database base says :) it has .87 grams of sugar and 1.22 grams carbs per tablespoon. I would say skip the cream cheese and go for your raw meat idea or Wendy's suggestion.
 
Other things I have stuffed pills in: rehydrated freeze dried meat, boiled chicken cut into small pieces, rehydrated Natures Variety Raw Boost Mixers (about the right size) rabbit flavour for my IBD kitty, pet pepperoni sticks made from just buffalo and ostrich. And if none of those seem interesting, I put a thin layer of ostrich liver pate on top which makes it irresistable.

If the pill is bitter, it might be better to stuff it into an empty gel cap.
 
She does like the raw chicken. I have to give her gabapentin and had a compound made with chicken oil flavor. She hates it. Won't eat the food anymore so I have to go back to using the capsules splitting the powder into 1/3s. Its flavorless and ordorless, yeah right she knows its in there. My husband god bless him gives her the morning meds and first bg, but was having to give 3 pills..she hates any pills. Everytime i do it it gets stuck in back of throat and she gags :( I HATE IT. The pill pocket i got from vet i used about 10 times for one pocket, but her sugar won't come down enough. I am due for a dose increase but wondering if the pill pocket is reason its not coming down. And of course we have had to keep changing her food around because she has had the tummy trouble and eats one thing one day or two then quits eating. jesus these cats!! :( wahhhhhhh
 
Squallie gets an appy stimulant twice a day and I give it to him in a Pill Pocket. I break off the smallest piece necessary to just cover the pill, and it doesn't have any significant effect on his bg. I use the Pill Pockets because he LOVES them and I can guarantee he will eat the pill if it's got a thin layer of PP surrounding it. I can't guarantee he'll eat it if I try to hide it in anything else.
 
Squalliesmom said:
Squallie gets an appy stimulant twice a day and I give it to him in a Pill Pocket. I break off the smallest piece necessary to just cover the pill, and it doesn't have any significant effect on his bg. I use the Pill Pockets because he LOVES them and I can guarantee he will eat the pill if it's got a thin layer of PP surrounding it. I can't guarantee he'll eat it if I try to hide it in anything else.
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Thats what I have done with one pill pocket my vet gave me to try. :) Squallies pic makes me smile lol
 
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