How do you guys give your pets oral meds daily?

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

I need serious help. I feel like I am going to lose it. My cat Bella (not diabetic... yet...) has been diagnosed with IBD. She's having a pretty bad flareup and her endoscopy showed a lot of inflammation, so she was started on clavamox and steroids twice a day. She has to be on it for 3 more weeks until her recheck because the flare was so bad. Well, I tried everything to give her the meds, and I am just at my wit's end. I found the pills difficult so I tried liquid, which was even worse! She was spitting it out everywhere and thrashing around, we did the towel burrito thing but mornings and evenings were just a total nightmare and both me and my husband had to do it together. We went back to the pills. I still have gel capsules from when I gave meds to Frosty, so I put her prednisolone (and cerenia when she needs it) into the capsule because I know those pills are bitter to hide the taste. The clavamox pill is like a treat so I just give her that one without a capsule - it's too big to fit into 1 or even 2. But she won't take it as a treat. She won't take pill pockets either, we tried. And technically, there are no hydrolyzed protein pill pockets but I tried the regular ones and no luck.

I tried putting the pills into her wet food, but she eats around it or spits it out! Even worse, my kitten likes to stick his head into her bowl and eat along with her (we have the microchip bowls but he's such a pain in the butt that he constantly breaks into it while she's eating), so I think he has been taking her meds the last few days. I am just so upset because I thought this whole time she has been taking it.

I just don't know what to do. It's getting harder to catch her for the medications, and it's making morning and afternoon routine a total nightmare. She hates me now and runs away from me when she sees me. This cat was always obsessed with me, I've had her since she was 4 months old and she's turning 12 in November. I don't know what to do. How do those of you who have to give your cats oral meds daily maintain a good relationship with your cat? Am I fighting a losing battle? Should I not bother treating her if it's gonna totally ruin our lives?

 

[Jan Radar (GA)]

I need serious help. I feel like I am going to lose it. My cat Bella (not diabetic... yet...) has been diagnosed with IBD. She's having a pretty bad flareup and her endoscopy showed a lot of inflammation, so she was started on clavamox and steroids twice a day. She has to be on it for 3 more weeks until her recheck because the flare was so bad. Well, I tried everything to give her the meds, and I am just at my wit's end. I found the pills difficult so I tried liquid, which was even worse! She was spitting it out everywhere and thrashing around, we did the towel burrito thing but mornings and evenings were just a total nightmare and both me and my husband had to do it together. We went back to the pills. I still have gel capsules from when I gave meds to Frosty, so I put her prednisolone (and cerenia when she needs it) into the capsule because I know those pills are bitter to hide the taste. The clavamox pill is like a treat so I just give her that one without a capsule - it's too big to fit into 1 or even 2. But she won't take it as a treat. She won't take pill pockets either, we tried. And technically, there are no hydrolyzed protein pill pockets but I tried the regular ones and no luck.

I tried putting the pills into her wet food, but she eats around it or spits it out! Even worse, my kitten likes to stick his head into her bowl and eat along with her (we have the microchip bowls but he's such a pain in the butt that he constantly breaks into it while she's eating), so I think he has been taking her meds the last few days. I am just so upset because I thought this whole time she has been taking it.

I just don't know what to do. It's getting harder to catch her for the medications, and it's making morning and afternoon routine a total nightmare. She hates me now and runs away from me when she sees me. This cat was always obsessed with me, I've had her since she was 4 months old and she's turning 12 in November. I don't know what to do. How do those of you who have to give your cats oral meds daily maintain a good relationship with your cat? Am I fighting a losing battle? Should I not bother treating her if it's gonna totally ruin our lives?

I understand and hear your frustration with pilling. We have at least 2 and sometimes 3 or 4 pills to give Radar twice a day. In our experience, it helps to have 2 people. We also got a pill shooter that helps us get the pill in the correct spot on the tongue - towards the back so he just swallows. We always start the pilling process with lots of love and petting and talking to Radar. He does not like to be pilled but he tolerates it because of all the love he gets from us before and after the deed. Our Radar is very sensitive to how we are feeling about the process. So all that loving on him helps us too. I hope some of this experience is helpful to you.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

We also got a pill shooter

I have a good one too, I forget it's name but it's the one that was highly recommended here. It's the process of catching her and doing it to her that's so awful for both of us. I don't know how to relax or make her relax. As I said, she runs away from me now so it's very upsetting and makes it difficult to catch her, especially in the morning when we are getting ready for work. Ugh

 

[FurBabiesMama]

I feel your pain. It used to be a complete struggle to give Willow oral meds. I also tried putting things in food, using a pill shooter, the cat burrito thing, having my husband assist... all of that. Miraculously, now, I am able to give her something twice daily in gel caps and every other day 1-TDC which I squirt in her mouth. I do it alone. She gets pieces of home-cooked boneless, skinless thigh meat immediately after. She LOVES that chicken meat, and I reserve it just for when she gets medication. When it starts getting close to her medicine time, she starts 'asking' for her chicken. She will trot her little self up the step and onto my bed (on a towel) to the spot where we always do it. With her little bowl of chicken pieces in front of her, I place one arm loosely around her to steady her in place then tilt her head back, open her mouth and pop that sucker in there. I then keep her mouth shut, gently rubbing her throat a few seconds to make sure it gets swallowed. For her, the chicken is a big motivator, and I think the routine of it (always same time, same place) and using as little restraint as possible (which I find helps with anything I have to do to my girls) have been key. I also think that me being very matter-of-fact about it and talking to her throughout helps. I don't approach it like it is going to be stressful, and somewhere along the way, it stopped being.

Now, I know that is not going to work for every cat, but I wanted to share it just in case anything from it might help you. On the other side of things, Mia HATES anything being done to her mouth. I can stick needles in her all day long, but if I go near her mouth, she looses it. I have yet to crack the code on being able to give her oral meds. So, if she needs something, whenever possible, she is given the shot version of it. If she ends up needing something for which there is not a shot version, I would contact a local compounding pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist about any options that might exist. For example, some medications can be made into a transdermal. Or, it might be possible for them to make it up in a flavor that you could get your cat to eat.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I feel your pain Ana, I really do. Nigel was a dream cat; loved the car, jumped on the table for his shots and just swallowed whatever pill he needed. Marco acts like you're going to set him on fire. The worst ever was poor Jacob, misdiagnosed with an ulcer (it was cancer so it was all for nothing) and Cynthia had to leave the room.
Noah was pretty mellow but hated his oral BUPE so much it was emotionally painful to force it down his throat. I got the usual condescending "tips" from the techs until our vet put him on transdermal and that saved both our lives. A lot of meds can be administered either transdermal or subQ but I cannot say which ones.

In defense on Ana saying "Should I not bother treating her if it's gonna totally ruin our lives?" this is a valid question. It depends on many things obviously but think about this. If you had stage 4 cancer and the chemo made your hair fall out, you spent half the day over the toilet and you knew your chances were next to nothing you'd wonder too. I'm not heartless and I've spent mortgage payments on MRI's but there comes a time when the pain, both physical and emotional, can be much more than the value of life. If only they could talk to us.
We let Kobiashi, Jacob and Nigel go not because we had weak stomachs but because their lives had become a long term nightmare with no end in sight. Most of you know both Ana and myself, neither one of us just blurts out something so flippant as ending a cat's life. Good luck Ana.
@Larry and Kitties

 

[katiesmom]

Oh, I sympathize. I had to give Katie clindamycin liquid (very, very bitter) twice a day for over 2 weeks. It was a nightmare. Absolutely horrible.

The only thing I can suggest...did you ask the vet if any of her meds can be given transdermally? If they can, it's just a matter of getting the meds compounded into a transdermal cream and rubbing the cream on her ear. The antibiotics probably can't, but the prednisolone maybe. Just a thought.

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Thanks, guys. I totally had a mini breakdown about this yesterday, but today I guess I am accepting our fate. For now I guess my husband and I will do our best to give it to her together as calmly and quickly as we can. I really hope when we see the IM vet next month we can stop the antibiotic and start weaning the steroid.
I read about transdermal prednisolone but I am not sure how accurately you can dose the medication. I will have to ask the vet. In the meantime, I spent a small fortune on these meds in all these different forms. And I think right now we just have to do our best to give it to her with a pill shooter so we can make sure she’s the one getting it and not another cat. I realize there might be mornings when we can’t catch her and we have to go to work, so she may have to miss a dose here and there. It is what it is. I appreciate everyone’s support and advice! Good to see so many familiar faces still around

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Ana, earlier I said "In defense on Ana". I know you don't need me to defend you but this can be a touchy subject. Some people will fight to the bitter end more for them than the animal's quality of life. With Kobi, Jacob and Nigel it was their time to go. Losing Nigel broke me and got me a diagnosis of low grade PTSD. I do not want the same thing for you. I hope you find peace and the answers you're looking for.
Dickson

 

[CRL]

I am so sorry to hear about your struggles. It can be so difficult and heartbreaking. I don't know if Bella can have any kind of treats or if she is on a strict diet with the IBD, but my cat will eat pills right down if they are in a lean treat. The lean treats are soft enough that you can push the pill into it and hide it in there. I also coat bitter pills with butter as a coating to protect my cat from the bitter taste. Some cats will also take pills wrapped in cream cheese. Here is a link to the lean treats I referenced https://vetapprovedrx.pharmacy/lean-treats-nutritional-reward-for-cats.html

Wishing you the best. I hope you can figure something out that will make it easier.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Ana, have you tried holding him by the scruff of the neck as you pill him. I know it doesn't sound nice, but most cats will be fairly compliant when they are held like this....the way the mother cat holds them.
If you could get your husband to gently hold his front paws and his back, as he was sitting down ( easier if you do it at a table) and then you hold his scruff, open his mouth with a finger and put the capsule into the back of his throat.
Have some yummy food in front of him to start eating immediately and hopeful the pill will be swallowed..

I know how hard it can be. I used to pill Sheba twice a day. Some days went swimmingly and other days were a nightmare. Mostly good days fortunately.. but it took practice and finding out what worked best.
Good luck

 

[Ana & Frosty (GA)]

Thanks guys for all the advice. I don’t really think she’s supposed to have any type of treats other than her IBD food, so we have just been using the buster piller thing. I think since I’ve accepted our fate I am less stressed during the process and I know it has to happen. I hope it’s temporary.

I also wanted to share that today is a year since Frosty passed. I am definitely in a very different (yet, surprisingly, equally stressed) place right now. I am sharing an adorable photo of him in one of his shirts to celebrate his memory. He was the toughest cat I’ve ever met. Miss those big beautiful eyes.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

What a beautiful photo of Frosty

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

Wow what a beautiful photo!

I just wanted to tell you that just like with the BG testing they kind of get used to the pilling too, with Babu the first time I had to give him liquid med it was a pink med (pediatric), and just as you described he spitted it out, vomited, threw it all over, needless to say he ended up looking like the pink panther and till now I think I still find pink spots in totally incredible places in the house but as time passed and more meds came into place, I got pills no liquids for him, but he eventually gave in, with the help of a bribe of course (treat after each pilling sesion) and now he know that if he wants his treat the pills are a necesary evil.so hang in there.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

It's also been a year since Noah passed, Grandpa too. Tuesday October 16.
I have a better story for you Ana, one with a happy ending even though like you I was certain Andrew hated me and I absolutely dreaded feeding time. Andy came later and already had that name and it suited him perfectly so we let it be. Andrew grew to be the biggest of our four yellow kittens and his nickname was Bright Eyes. He had some GI problems and we never found out what they were. After his first hospital stay he was sent home and for the first time in my life I had to force feed a cat. It wasn't syringe feeding, he wanted to crawl into a hole and die so I had to scruff him with tears in my eyes and cram his food into him, so emotionally painful.
Andrew pulled through and never resented me for that or shied away from my hands. They really do know you're trying to help and like dogs never hold a grudge.
Every story is different but I hope ours turn out the same. I miss Frosty too, it's been a crappy year.
Please be kind to yourself and know that both of you will pull through this. It's never easy but it's not meant to be, you know that from Frosty. Taking another helpless life into your heart is the kindest thing you can do, it just doesn't always seem that way.
Andrew not looking his usual happy self, he disliked being dressed up. And with his brother Nigel and why I could never find the remotes.