Using Buprenex pain med for Scooter

Took Harley's brother Scooter into the vet last night. He has had a decrease in appetite, sleeping more, and crouching (like he is in pain). Vet felt it was a flair up of his irritable bowl problem and gave me buprenex (a liquid) to use. The instructions were to apply it slowly to his gum line.

Well, Scooter is a squirmer - and won't hold still long enough for me to get the syringe up to the gum line and once there, it slipped to his mouth. Can anyone give me advice as to how to give this stuff successfully?

Pattie and Harley

 

Ask your vet about giving it via injection. The bupe is oral or injectible. Tell them how hard it is to administer since it must go between the gum and cheek to absorb properly and remind them that you are used to needles.

Tucker takes his via injection.

 

I just squirt it in the check pouch. It is absorbed by the mucous membrane so you do not want to squirt it down the throat. The Buprenex is probably supplied to the vet as a sterile injection solution that can also be used orally. However, it the vet meant it for oral use they might not have maintained the sterility necessary for injection.

 

I tried to give the buprenex to Scooter and it was a disaster. He is now afraid to come close to me and it is eating me up! It is a huge amount of liquid and ended up all over the place. Tonight, I will try and do it in his cheek - may go better than trying to get up up the gum line.

Pattie

 

What dose did your vet recommend?

I'm asking since you said "huge amount of liquid."

When Tucker was 19 pounds his dose was only 0.3ml, a small amount, Bupe is not usually a large amount. I'm not a vet or expert, though.

 

ok, might be over dramatic to say a "huge" amount. it is only 0.325ml but seemed more when it got all over me instead of in the cat. The problem is - it's on me, not in the cat and he still looks like he is in pain. In the cheek pocket may go better and the next dose is tonight.

Pattie

 

Thanks to everyone. I called the vet and got needles to go on the syringe. Tonight - shot went like a dream.

Pattie