9/29, Susie, 145 AMPS, 231 @+2

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/9-28-susie-257-amps.253579/#post-2859303

Susie is in trouble. She is spacy, uncomfortable, ears are flat, eyes are distant and she sometimes pulls away from me when I pet her.

If this is the Mirataz making her feel this way then I need to stop giving it but it is the only thing that got her to eat.

If this is cancer then she is going downhill quickly.

ER vet sent her home and just told me to watch her for a couple of weeks. No new plan, no new meds, no medical procedure recommended and no attempts to make her feel better. I will wait for the full report and then discuss with my vet the possible use of steroids for IBD. I don't know what else to do.

Ironic that her numbers were very good last night. I'd rather her be high if I could get my cat back.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Doctors can tell the difference between IBD and lymphoma with an endoscopic biopsy. The scope can get to the stomach and the upper end of the small intestine and get a good picture. This is how Ruby's SCL was diagnosed. Surgical biopsy is not necessary. Steroids can be used to treat both conditions, and yes, it's contraindicated for diabetic patients but if you had to privilege her GI disease over her diabetes, I would choose the GI disease because it's a real quality of life issue. There are many indicators of GI disease: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, inappetence and nausea are among the major ones. I'm not sure what symptoms Susie has because I haven't had time to read through your threads, but I hope she gets over it soon, Summer.

ETA: I am glad your vet did not jump immediately to IBD or lymphoma and recommend steroids yet. Olive was throwing up a lot earlier this year, and after an ultrasound there is a suspicion of IBD, but she has been doing really well as of late, very little vomiting and only occasional bouts of not wanting to eat as much that she gets over with a dose of Cerenia or completely on her own. It comes and goes and there is little explanation why as I am very consistent with what I feed my cats.

Thanks for your input, Katherine. There was never a mention of lymphoma. Susie has not been vomiting and no diarrhea. Do you have Olive on steroids and, if so, what kind and how much? Also, is it in pill form. I am so afraid to pill Susie with her swallowing issues which have been more pronounced recently.

 

[Katherine&Ruby]

Thanks for your input, Katherine. There was never a mention of lymphoma. Susie has not been vomiting and no diarrhea. Do you have Olive on steroids and, if so, what kind and how much? Also, is it in pill form. I am so afraid to pill Susie with her swallowing issues which have been more pronounced recently.

Olive is not on any steroids. She gets occasional Cerenia or ondansetron in pill form and that is all. Both my cats are very easy to pill with a little pill pocket wrapped around them. They swallow without issue. I avoid mirtazapine and cyproheptadine (even though the latter has fewer of the behavioral effects you are seeing with the Mirtaz) unless it’s a whole day with no eating. The nausea meds work well. Hope she feels better soon.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Olive is not on any steroids

@Summer and Susie it’s Ruby who gets the steroids (not Olive who is a civvie.)

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Olive is not on any steroids. She gets occasional Cerenia or ondansetron in pill form and that is all. Both my cats are very easy to pill with a little pill pocket wrapped around them. They swallow without issue. I avoid mirtazapine and cyproheptadine (even though the latter has fewer of the behavioral effects you are seeing with the Mirtaz) unless it’s a whole day with no eating. The nausea meds work well. Hope she feels better soon.

Thank you.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

Sending prayers.

 

[Tina Marie (GA) and Jan]

Maybe your vet will start with a trial of prednisolone, to see if it makes Susie feel better. At least that would be a step to take. It could help Susie quit losing weight too.

Just a thought, since this is what I am doing now with a civvie after her sonogram. Don't know at this point if she has lymphoma or IBD. Weight loss was her only " symptom", and like Katherine said, both conditions can benefit from steroids. My little one has gained a half pound in the last three weeks.

 

[Mandy & Rex (GA)]

My thoughts are with you and Susie.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Just tried to give Susie 1/4 of a 16 mg cerenia. I could not get it down her throat even with my Mom holding her in a towel so I mixed it in a tiny amount of water and syringed it down the side of her mouth. I think she got most of it. I'll do this for a few days and see if I think it is helping.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Maybe your vet will start with a trial of prednisolone, to see if it makes Susie feel better. At least that would be a step to take. It could help Susie quit losing weight too.

Just a thought, since this is what I am doing now with a civvie after her sonogram. Don't know at this point if she has lymphoma or IBD. Weight loss was her only " symptom", and like Katherine said, both conditions can benefit from steroids. My little one has gained a half pound in the last three weeks.

My vet is happy with her weight loss. I am not. Can prednisolone be compounded into a liquid. I cannot get pills down Susie's throat? I have to syringe the medicine with my Mom holding her. I plan on asking my vet about a steroid and cyprohepadine. Everything needs to be in liquid or transdermal form. Thank you, Jan.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Summer, how much Mirataz are you giving Susie? The whole strip length on the box which I believe is 1.5 inches long (don’t have my box in front of me)???

If so, that may be the problem. My Tabitha became weird and very aggressive toward other cats on that full dose of Mirataz. I cut back her dose to one half of the suggested dose. I also tried giving that much every other day instead of daily and she kept on eating. You may need to experiment with how much you give her to see if it males a difference.
If not and you find that atypical behavior continues, she could be in pain and you could do a trial of a pain med like Buprenorphine. I am not saying that she is in any pain. It is just that so much of what we do to treat our cats is going on suspicions and there’s a lot of trial and error involved because they cannot tell us how they are feeling. But I would definitely try different doses of the Mirataz to see if you can get her more back to normal and yet still keep her eating. More hugs!!

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

My vet is happy with her weight loss. I am not. Can prednisolone be compounded into a liquid. I cannot get pills down Susie's throat? I have to syringe the medicine with my Mom holding her. I plan on asking my vet about a steroid and cyprohepadine. Everything needs to be in liquid or transdermal form. Thank you, Jan.

Hi Jan and Summer. Jan, is your kitty of prednisolone or budesonide?

Just tried to give Susie 1/4 of a 16 mg cerenia. I could not get it down her throat even with my Mom holding her in a towel so I mixed it in a tiny amount of water and syringed it down the side of her mouth. I think she got most of it. I'll do this for a few days and see if I think it is helping.

good job, Summer.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Prednisolone can be compounded yes. Also it usually makes cats eat more. It is anti inflammatory so it may help Susie’s situation (even though we frustratingly don’t know what it is!) It will make her BG go up (like Katherine’s Ruby) so you will have to compensate with insulin.

 

[Tina Marie (GA) and Jan]

My vet is happy with her weight loss. I am not. Can prednisolone be compounded into a liquid. I cannot get pills down Susie's throat? I have to syringe the medicine with my Mom holding her. I plan on asking my vet about a steroid and cyprohepadine. Everything needs to be in liquid or transdermal form. Thank you, Jan.

When weight loss comes with illness, then it isn't good, like you have noticed.

I meant to tell you that my pred is compounded in liquid form! My kitty has no problem with it. I give it, then put her favorite food in front of her.

 

[Tina Marie (GA) and Jan]

Hi Jan and Summer. Jan, is your kitty of prednisolone or budesonide?

good job, Summer.

you know what, I need to look closer at budesonide because I've seen you mention it - at least this kitty doesn't have diabetes to contend with (yet). I need to periodically check her BG. She is on prednisolone.

 

[Our Dolly Girl (GA)]

Hi Summer, I know you are probably already doing this, but alternate ears each dose of Mirtazapine and be sure to wash off ear before adding the meds. I gave Dolly about 2/3 of the strip and not every day. Dolly would get ravenous and it scared me watching her eat like that. I hope you get some news from the vet soon and an action plan. I can only imagine how you are feeling. We went through this with our Funny Face but she had other complications as well. Sending prayers to you and Susie.

 

[tiffmaxee]

Budesonide is less likely to increase bg. It works well for IBD but not as well if SCL. With slight thickening of the intestines it could be either or neither. The problem with moving right to prednisolone is it makes it harder to diagnose should a biopsy be needed.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Sending lots of prayers Summer

 

[Tina Marie (GA) and Jan]

Budesonide is less likely to increase bg. It works well for IBD but not as well if SCL. With slight thickening of the intestines it could be either or neither. The problem with moving right to prednisolone is it makes it harder to diagnose should a biopsy be needed.

Thank you for this.
Very true - kitty cannot take prednisolone for at least two weeks before a biopsy. In our case, waiting up to a month before a biopsy (wouldn't do it as emergency since my kitty wasn't sick enough) sounded bad. She had gotten so thin that I did not want to wait to get her help.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

you know what, I need to look closer at budesonide because I've seen you mention it - at least this kitty doesn't have diabetes to contend with (yet). I need to periodically check her BG. She is on prednisolone.

Since your kitty is not diabetic, you are probably better off with Pred!

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Very good point about not giving prednisolone if there’s a chance of needing to do tissue sampling even with fine needle aspiration. Pred would mess up the results.

 

[tiffmaxee]

Very good point about not giving prednisolone if there’s a chance of needing to do tissue sampling even with fine needle aspiration. Pred would mess up the results.

Perhaps but prednisolone is more likely to lead to steroid induced diabetes. I had one cat on it that never became diabetic but many do.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Perhaps but prednisolone is more likely to lead to steroid induced diabetes. I had one cat on it that never became diabetic but many do.

Agreed. I am only speaking of Susie’s situation when talking about how it will mess up the biopsy or FNA results—- now and Susie is already diabetic. So I am confused about why you mention diabetes? Did you mean Jan’s civvie instead?

 

[tiffmaxee]

Agreed. I am only speaking of Susie’s situation when talking about how it will mess up the biopsy or FNA results—- now and Susie is already diabetic. So I am confused about why you mention diabetes? Did you mean Jan’s civvie instead?

Yes. I was referring to Jan’s civvie.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Perhaps but prednisolone is more likely to lead to steroid induced diabetes. I had one cat on it that never became diabetic but many do.

I have, so far, had three cats on prednisolone for years and none ever became diabetic, but I have read that some do. Do you know any thing about Dexamethasone, Elise? I mean specifically about cats becoming diabetic on Dex? I have one cat now who get an every other day oral dose. It is the only thing that has helped his skin problems. I won’t let him live on Depo injections so this is the “safer” alternative (or do nothing an let him lick/scratch himself to pieces!)

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Yes. I was referring to Jan’s civvie.

Yes. Jan should perhaps ask her vet about Budesonide. I have heard others say (on the CKD list in particular) that their vets are reluctant to prescribe it. Maybe they just aren’t as familiar with it? Since Jan’s cat hasn’t had a biopsy though and she doesn’t know if the cat has IBD or SCL then - they’re not sure which drug would be the best choice for treating the intestinal disease.

 

[tiffmaxee]

Yes. Jan should perhaps ask her vet about Budesonide. I have heard others say (on the CKD list in particular) that their vets are reluctant to prescribe it. Maybe they just aren’t as familiar with it? Since Jan’s cat hasn’t had a biopsy though and she doesn’t know if the cat has IBD or SCL then - they’re not sure which drug would be the best choice for treating the intestinal disease.

My cat was on prednisone due to feline acne and it also disguised that she had lung cancer as she ate up until the night before I had to let her go. She never became diabetic. I don’t think I think any steroid can cause some cats to become diabetic if predisposed to it. Not sure if Dex would be more or less likely. We have even seen cats that are given ear gel with steroids becoming diabetic.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Summer, how much Mirataz are you giving Susie? The whole strip length on the box which I believe is 1.5 inches long (don’t have my box in front of me)???

If so, that may be the problem. My Tabitha became weird and very aggressive toward other cats on that full dose of Mirataz. I cut back her dose to one half of the suggested dose. I also tried giving that much every other day instead of daily and she kept on eating. You may need to experiment with how much you give her to see if it males a difference.
If not and you find that atypical behavior continues, she could be in pain and you could do a trial of a pain med like Buprenorphine. I am not saying that she is in any pain. It is just that so much of what we do to treat our cats is going on suspicions and there’s a lot of trial and error involved because they cannot tell us how they are feeling. But I would definitely try different doses of the Mirataz to see if you can get her more back to normal and yet still keep her eating. More hugs!!

I believe it is a 1 inch strip on the box. Yes, I also have thought about cutting back the dose. I think giving it every other day is a good idea too as long as she eats. I just got some cerenia in her earlier. I absolutely cannot pill this cat. I had her wrapped in a towel and my Mom was holding her and she just refused to open her mouth. I did end up mixing a little water with 1/4 of a 16 mg pill and syringing it into her mouth. Am I giving her the right amount? I have also seen that I could give 1/2 of a 16 mg pill once a day. What do you recommend.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Olive is not on any steroids. She gets occasional Cerenia or ondansetron in pill form and that is all. Both my cats are very easy to pill with a little pill pocket wrapped around them. They swallow without issue. I avoid mirtazapine and cyproheptadine (even though the latter has fewer of the behavioral effects you are seeing with the Mirtaz) unless it’s a whole day with no eating. The nausea meds work well. Hope she feels better soon.

Thanks. I have pill pockets which are supposed to be delivered any day now.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

When weight loss comes with illness, then it isn't good, like you have noticed.

I meant to tell you that my pred is compounded in liquid form! My kitty has no problem with it. I give it, then put her favorite food in front of her.

I'm so glad to hear it is compounded. Pills are impossible.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Hi Summer, I know you are probably already doing this, but alternate ears each dose of Mirtazapine and be sure to wash off ear before adding the meds. I gave Dolly about 2/3 of the strip and not every day. Dolly would get ravenous and it scared me watching her eat like that. I hope you get some news from the vet soon and an action plan. I can only imagine how you are feeling. We went through this with our Funny Face but she had other complications as well. Sending prayers to you and Susie.

I have decided to cut her dose of Mirataz and try every other day - as long as she continues to eat. Yes, alternate ears. I'm still waiting on the report and feeling sick about everything. Thank you for the prayers. They are needed now.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Budesonide is less likely to increase bg. It works well for IBD but not as well if SCL. With slight thickening of the intestines it could be either or neither. The problem with moving right to prednisolone is it makes it harder to diagnose should a biopsy be needed.

Thank you, Elise.

 

[a_rose51]

Hi Summer. I’m so sorry to hear Susie is feeling poorly. I had a really hard time pulling Oscar too. When he was first diagnosed, he wasn’t eating and was on Cerenia and Ondansetron. Mirataz had absolutely no effect on him. The vet tech gave me some of this pill wrap stuff (almost clay) you break a piece off and roll it into a tiny ball with the pill inside. It really helped me. I can find a link for it if you are interested. It’s bacon scented. I just grab him and tip his face up and throw it in. In any case, we are sending lots of love your way.

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

Hi Summer. I’m so sorry to hear Susie is feeling poorly. I had a really hard time pulling Oscar too. When he was first diagnosed, he wasn’t eating and was on Cerenia and Ondansetron. Mirataz had absolutely no effect on him. The vet tech gave me some of this pill wrap stuff (almost clay) you break a piece off and roll it into a tiny ball with the pill inside. It really helped me. I can find a link for it if you are interested. It’s bacon scented. I just grab him and tip his face up and throw it in. In any case, we are sending lots of love your way.

Hi Andrea. Sorry I haven't been following everyone's post these days. I am consumed with Susie's problems. Yes, if you stumble across the pill wrap stuff please send it to me. I would rather get a pill safely into her, somehow, then try to syringe it in. I feel like I don't get it all in. Ideally, it would be great if she could just eat it on her own disguised in something else but I don't think that will every happen.

I'm loving that you are finally in the trial! Best of luck to you and your Oscar. You have both come a long, long way.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I believe it is a 1 inch strip on the box. Yes, I also have thought about cutting back the dose. I think giving it every other day is a good idea too as long as she eats. I just got some cerenia in her earlier. I absolutely cannot pill this cat. I had her wrapped in a towel and my Mom was holding her and she just refused to open her mouth. I did end up mixing a little water with 1/4 of a 16 mg pill and syringing it into her mouth. Am I giving her the right amount? I have also seen that I could give 1/2 of a 16 mg pill once a day. What do you recommend.

You may want to switch to Ondansetron Mini Melts for nausea instead. Cerenia (Maropitant) tastes HORRIBLE (bitter) so Susie will not like that. Usually people put it inside a small gelcap, but that's not an option since you can't pill Susie. See below for dosing information from felinecrf.org: Personally, I have used both the 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg doses (see below) with different cats.

"The results indicate that maropitant is an effective, well tolerated and safe anti-emetic in cats at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg."

The manufacturer recommends this dose, as do Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook and Pet Place.

A 10 lb cat (4.5 kg) cat would therefore receive 4.5 mg a day, or a quarter of a 16mg tablet.

However, some cats need up to double this dose, i.e. 2mg per kg (2.2lbs) a day, or 9 mg a day (half a 16mg tablet a day) for a 10lb (4.5kg) cat.

Many vets seem concerned that 2mg/kg might be too high a dose, but it is recommended by ISFM consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of feline chronic kidney disease (2016) Sparkes AH, Caney S, Chalhoub S, Elliott J, Finch N, Gajanayake I, Langston C, Lefebvre H, White J & Quimby J Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 18 pp219-239, which state "2 mg/kg q24h [once a day]." I have heard from a few people who think this dose may have caused some lethargy in their cats but I have not heard of any other issues.

Oral maropitant is famous for tasting horrible, even if you try to use a flavoured variety. Many people place the medication in a gelatine capsule in order to hide the taste. Unfortunately the pills should not be given in Pill Pockets or mixed with food as this may stop them being properly absorbed in the cat's body, but some people do give them this way and still find them effective.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

@Liz & Minnie your Minnie is VERY hard to pill. She also has the trick that Susie has of having jaws of steel that will not open. Do you have any tips for Summer in trying to get meds into Susie? She's having a really hard time right now.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

it also disguised that she had lung cancer

That's scary about the lung cancer. Sorry. It sounds very sad.

 

[Our Dolly Girl (GA)]

Probably not a good idea for a diabetic cat but I put my Funny Face’s meds in tiny amount of cream cheese,velveeta, or liverwurst. (Or butter but it’s melts too fast) She was diabetic but that was not the priority by then. Liverwurst might actually be okay. It is 0% carbs.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

Probably not a good idea for a diabetic cat but I put my Funny Face’s meds in tiny amount of cream cheese,velveeta, or liverwurst. (Or butter but it’s melts too fast) She was diabetic but that was not the priority by then. Liverwurst might actually be okay. It is 0% carbs.

I think all three of those things are low carb. I have used cream cheese (a lot of cats love it). Liverwurst is def. low carb! Hugs!

 

[Pamela & Amethyst]

My vet is happy with her weight loss. I am not. Can prednisolone be compounded into a liquid. I cannot get pills down Susie's throat? I have to syringe the medicine with my Mom holding her. I plan on asking my vet about a steroid and cyprohepadine. Everything needs to be in liquid or transdermal form. Thank you, Jan.

YES Prednisolone can!!! When Amethyst needs it for her Asthma I get it in TUNA Flavor Healing hugs and prayers

 

[Our Dolly Girl (GA)]

I think all three of those things are low carb. I have used cream cheese (a lot of cats love it). Liverwurst is def. low carb! Hugs!

Funny Face had to take 5 pills a day. The cream cheese was perfect and she loved it for many months until one day I went to give her a pill and she had an instant gag reflex before she even tasted it. I went into panic mode but vet suggested velveeta. That was her wonder wrap for a long time. She would get these 5 little velveeta balls twice a day. Her blood pressure and thyroid meds were transdermal. Had to keep track of which ear got which med and alternate. Summer, we are all here praying for you and Susie hoping her test results do not indicate anything serious. Like I mentioned last night, whatever the outcome, most things can be treated or managed. I know how scared you are Summer, most of us have been there. I wish I would have had this forum and all of you when my Funny Face was so sick. It does help having a support system with people that understand and care. We are all here for you two.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

 

[Our Dolly Girl (GA)]

How do you do that? Copy and paste??? Thanks Suzanne.

 

[Katherine&Ruby]

Ruby is a 12 lb cat and she gets ½ of a 24 mg pill, so 12 mgs each time. Vets tend to underdose it. I only give Cerenia if she vomits as it's better for that. A better antinausea med is ondansetron. I give Ruby 4 mgs of that and it does the trick.

Since you already have a hard time controlling Susie's glucose, I would not give her steroids unless it was absolutely necessary to control another more life threatening condition. Inappetence alone can be remedied and managed with many other drugs and diet change. My Olive's GI issues have gotten a lot better with raw food.

You would not be able to do a biopsy if you start a steroid because that will skew the results. Take one thing at a time. You said that an ultrasound was done? What were the results? Did you get a report emailed to you that you can post?

 

[Acadaca]

I'm really sorry Susie is still not feeling well. I hope you get answers soon. The cats and I are thinking of you and wishing good things Summer.

 

[Liz & Minnie]

@Liz & Minnie your Minnie is VERY hard to pill. She also has the trick that Susie has of having jaws of steel that will not open. Do you have any tips for Summer in trying to get meds into Susie? She's having a really hard time right now.

I'm so sorry to read about Susie's situation! I wish I did have tips. I think it was just persistence, though I'm still far from an expert. The best start was the soluble ondansetron that Suzanne suggested, because once I got it in her mouth I didn't have to make her swallow as long as I kept her mouth shut long enough for it to dissolve. I think I watched a lot of youtube videos to get the technique. The way I do it now is I sit with Minnie between me and the left arm of the couch. If she tries back away, there's nowhere for her to go. Pet her to calm her down a bit, then with my left hand try to grip in that special place at the back of her jaw and tip her head back/up. Get the pill between right forefinger and thumb and pry her jaw open with the right middle finger and shoot it in. Takes several attempts.

For the cerenia - way back when, I tried dissolving and syringing, but it made Minnie drool horribly and spit it all out. Very scary, looked like she was foaming at the mouth. She won't do pill pockets any more (she got wise to it, though they worked well for a long time) and I can't hide it in her food. I did manage to pill her a few times with cerenia in a gel cap and a piller that Wendy recommended. It needs to be a short one so you can hold her and still reach the trigger (the long one the vet gave me was hopeless!)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RQQKWC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Good luck. I hope the pill wraps work for you!

 

[Summer and Susie (GA)]

I'm so sorry to read about Susie's situation! I wish I did have tips. I think it was just persistence, though I'm still far from an expert. The best start was the soluble ondansetron that Suzanne suggested, because once I got it in her mouth I didn't have to make her swallow as long as I kept her mouth shut long enough for it to dissolve. I think I watched a lot of youtube videos to get the technique. The way I do it now is I sit with Minnie between me and the left arm of the couch. If she tries back away, there's nowhere for her to go. Pet her to calm her down a bit, then with my left hand try to grip in that special place at the back of her jaw and tip her head back/up. Get the pill between right forefinger and thumb and pry her jaw open with the right middle finger and shoot it in. Takes several attempts.

For the cerenia - way back when, I tried dissolving and syringing, but it made Minnie drool horribly and spit it all out. Very scary, looked like she was foaming at the mouth. She won't do pill pockets any more (she got wise to it, though they worked well for a long time) and I can't hide it in her food. I did manage to pill her a few times with cerenia in a gel cap and a piller that Wendy recommended. It needs to be a short one so you can hold her and still reach the trigger (the long one the vet gave me was hopeless!)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RQQKWC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Good luck. I hope the pill wraps work for you!

Thanks for the piller link. I pulled it up but can't get it before 10/20. Looks really long. Is this the one you recommend? Thank you for the other tips, too.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I'm so sorry to read about Susie's situation! I wish I did have tips. I think it was just persistence, though I'm still far from an expert. The best start was the soluble ondansetron that Suzanne suggested, because once I got it in her mouth I didn't have to make her swallow as long as I kept her mouth shut long enough for it to dissolve. I think I watched a lot of youtube videos to get the technique. The way I do it now is I sit with Minnie between me and the left arm of the couch. If she tries back away, there's nowhere for her to go. Pet her to calm her down a bit, then with my left hand try to grip in that special place at the back of her jaw and tip her head back/up. Get the pill between right forefinger and thumb and pry her jaw open with the right middle finger and shoot it in. Takes several attempts.

For the cerenia - way back when, I tried dissolving and syringing, but it made Minnie drool horribly and spit it all out. Very scary, looked like she was foaming at the mouth. She won't do pill pockets any more (she got wise to it, though they worked well for a long time) and I can't hide it in her food. I did manage to pill her a few times with cerenia in a gel cap and a piller that Wendy recommended. It needs to be a short one so you can hold her and still reach the trigger (the long one the vet gave me was hopeless!)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RQQKWC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Good luck. I hope the pill wraps work for you!

I have used cream cheese (tasty but messy) but I like the idea of velveeta cheese (yucky to me but probably not for cats) and liverwurst! I’m definitely going to try that one! Have you tried any of these @Liz & Minnie ? Thanks to @Our Dolly Girl for the Velveeta and Liverwurst ideas!!

 

[Our Dolly Girl (GA)]

I have used cream cheese (tasty but messy) but I like the idea of velveeta cheese (yucky to me but probably not for cats) and liverwurst! I’m definitely going to try that one! Have you tried any of these @Liz & Minnie ? Thanks to @Our Dolly Girl for the Velveeta and Liverwurst ideas!!

If you buy the cream cheese in the squares not the whipped cream cheese it will work. I did it for many many months. I would put the little ball of whatever you use on a plate/paper plate and see if you can peak her interest. Maybe some on your finger first.

 

[Our Dolly Girl (GA)]

If you buy the cream cheese in the squares not the whipped cream cheese it will work. I did it for many many months. I would put the little ball of whatever you use on a plate/paper plate and see if you can peak her interest. Maybe some on your finger first.

We failed miserably with the piller with both me and Rob at the helm. Dolly would always manage to spit it out. Those YouTube videos are a joke, they use compliant cats.