Administering Budesonide

[SOBrien]

Hi friends, Boots started budesonide about 2 weeks ago for IBD. We get it through a compounding pharmacy and it comes as a powder form in a gel capsule. At first, I was able to open the capsule and mix it into Boots’ food and he’d eat it no problem. Each day he seems to be more and more aware that I’ve been hiding something in his food and refusing it. I’ve added in some tuna water to the mix the last couple of days but he seems to be on to that too... can anyone suggest any diabetic-friendly tricks that they’ve used for their extremely picky eaters? Thanks so much!

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

Jones was on prednisolone. Kitty's with IBD can be very picky and you need to be careful what you try sometimes. Is there a "treat" that he goes nuts for? Some have used the pill pocket the duck and pea one that doesn't have sugar added.

I never tried to hide Jones meds, I just pilled him followed by some syringed water and a kibble treat.

 

[Sandi and Toby]

When we used budesonide we had the "mini melt" version, just a tiny tablet. We put it directly in his mouth and just held it closed and it would melt, then we followed it up with a squirt of water from a syringe into the side of his mouth.

But generally I use a pill popper for any kind of pull/caplet/gelcap (unless it melts) followed by a water chaser to prevent any esophageal stricture. It isn't one of my favorite things to do, but I never want to introduce possible food aversion by adding meds to the foood of anyone that is already feeling bad.

 

[SOBrien]

Thank you so much Sandi and Tracey! The capsules are so big I never really thought I could get him to swallow it but maybe the vet can help me with my technique. Tuna water is the only thing he’s ever gotten excited about and even that didn’t work today. I am curious about the melt-always, I’ll ask about that too.

Before the pancreatitis and IBD issues he was already extremely picky about food. I’m just about out of diabetic-friendly options so I appreciate the advice about avoiding a food aversion.