1/29 OT: How to give Pepcid

[Kathy and Kitty]

I know this should probably go in Health, but this feels like home.

Kitty stopped the barfing every 4-5 days after the deworming (or after switching to Turkey FF? - can't decide which thing worked). But now there have been a couple of minor spit-ups, and about once a day, I hear him swallowing a lot -- as if his stomach is upset.

Only other symptom is that he is shaking his head. We clean his ears, he stops, then he does it again.

So I want to try Pepcid, and I wanted to ask for pointers.

1. Is Pepcid AC okay? Walgreens didn't have just plain Pepcid.

2. When do I give it -- when I catch him swallowing frequently, or just every morning, to ward off what I figure is nausea?

3. I know I give 1/4 pill -- but I've never pilled Kitty. He's OTJ -- is a bit of Pill Pocket a good idea? Or would a piece of deli turkey or chicken be better? How much do I wrap it in? Do I count on him to just eat it, or do I have to hold his little mouth closed (isn't that dangerous?) :sad:

Advice much appreciated.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

You want the Pepsid AC (not Pepsid Complete).

You can use a Pill Pocket. If you can find the allergy formula variety they don't contain corn syrup so they are diabetic friendly. Gabby loves the allergy formula Pill Pockets and will eat them as treats. They are very smelly!!

Smooshing the 1/4 tablet in a chunk of cheese or cream cheese, raw or cooked chicken, or wrapped in deli meat will also work. I've dropped pills down Gabby's throat. If you do that, you need to give a couple of treats or a water chaser.

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Thank you, Sienne!!!

I have cream cheese in the house, and cheese. I'll try those first, but I am thrilled to hear there's a non-carb pill pocket.

I want to make the first experience good enough that he'll allow a second! I assume the idea is to offer it, and hope he scarfs it without biting into it. I will moosh/smoosh it together into the smallest piece possible.

And what do you think -- give it when he has symptoms, or prophylactically?

 

[Nicole & Baby]

Hi, Kathy & Kitty.. a long time ago my Vet shared a trick to pill a cat & since I have never had an issue pilling Sadi or Baby. In summary.. I get the pill, open the mouth & stick the pill in the back of the throat & rub the nose with a wet finger.. the touching the nose with water makes them swallow.. a reflex. Neither one of mine like the Pill Pokets but those are worth a try too ;-) I really find the trick the vet shared to work wonderfully & fast.

"Quickly place the pill as far back over the tongue as possible. Try to place it on the back one third of the tongue to stimulate an automatic swallowing reflex.
Close the cat's mouth and keep it closed while you return the cat's head to proper position and blow lightly on the nose to encourage swallowing or in my case I rub the little nose with a wet index finger"

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Thanks, Nicole. I love to rub his little nose, so that trick works for me!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I wouldn't give Pepsid on a regular basis. If Kitty looks nauseous, give it a try. Is he eating?

The only issue with directly dry pilling is a pill can get stuck in a cat's throat. Follow it with treats, food, and/or water.

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Does "dry pilling" = putting it on tongue and closing mouth?

And what if it DOES get stuck?? I am way more scared of pilling than Kitty is.

Yes, he is eating fine. I gave him the turkey FF for a few weeks; he demanded multiple applications of freeze-dried chicken, but ate fine -- in fact, almost 3 cans /day.

When I saw that he was getting nauseated again and had barfed once, I figured the food wasn't the problem, and I gave him the chicken FF again. He ate it a lot more enthusiastically than before he went on the turkey diet!

(He ate it without the chicken dust, until he figured out that he could have both the good food AND the chicken dust by sitting at his plate staring at me with his big blue eyes. He is very smart.)

He is also drinking water, but his numbers are beautiful -- last test was 80. He is not losing weight. He walks slowly, but not sure how much more slowly than usual. Sleeps someplace warm all day, but he does that every winter.

 

[Nicole & Baby]

Does "dry pilling" = putting it on tongue and closing mouth? And what if it DOES get stuck?? I am way more scared of pilling than Kitty is.

I want to clarify.. you place the pill in the back of the throat, not just on the tongue. I cannot answer about it getting stuck, I safely suggested/shared the tip because it has worked wonderfully for my 2 cats for 10 years, once my vet shared it with me. You have a lot of tips now & every cat is different, you will just need to know which works for Kitty.. I would definitely do whatever with ease so Kitty does not pick up on your stress.. make it a nonevent ;-)

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Nicole... I may have to place a swig of wine at the back of my throat to reduce MY stress. Or get DH to rub MY nose with a wet finger? :lol:

You are absolutely right, though. He will know if I am nervous. I've learned to sing to him, yes go ahead and laugh, when I cut his nails. It's amazing how much better he takes it! I know, I'll sing "Just a spoon full of sugar..." while I attempt this. :mrgreen:

Whenever i try to learn a procedure, and I get to the actual event, I realize there are so many variables. Throat? Tongue? Hold jaw? :roll:

 

[Nicole & Baby]

:lol: as long as kitty doesn't get the wine & you the pill! It might help you to go to youtube & watch a video for pilling a cat.

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

:lol: as long as kitty doesn't get the wine & you the pill! It might help you to go to youtube & watch a video for pilling a cat.

Okay, you made me laugh.

Good idea -- i'll find a video.

 

[Just-As-Appy]

Tony loves cheddar, and so I use a piece of cheese about the size of the tip of my little finger. I squeeze it a few times to make it soft and then wrap around the Pepcid. He licks my fingers and then finds the cheese and glomp - gone. Becasue he's already licked my fingers, he has lots of saliva to swallow the small ball of cheese.

 

[Cyn and Cosmo]

In addition, you might want to ask your vet for a vial of injectable famotodine. I mean, giving a pill is great and might be easier for some of you, but if kitty is barfing it all up,.... well. (and we're kind of comfortable shooting SQ, right?). It's 0.25ml every 12 hours, IIRC. I kept it in the fridge. Some vets will also give you syringes pre-filled...

as for making sure Kitty drinks something after, offer chicken broth or tuna water as a treat.