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Post by Linda_Wells on Feb 13, 2002 20:11:48 GMT
Peaches has tonsillitis and needs medication. Peaches is impossible to give medication to! She's only been here since 24th January and is not too sure of us yet, but apparently was never an easy fur person to treat. Two tablets of Synulox a day, and it takes an hour each time!
Malcolm and I have just celebrated our first wedding anniversay. All his stuff, my stuff and my grandmother's stuff is piled in the back bedroom. There is a very heavy walnut dressing table with my clothes piled on it, Malcolm's records and books in front of it...and Peaches underneath it. It's also across the corner of the room.
I had a good idea this morning. Peaches was hungry so I put her breakfast on the landing.. and tried to get behind her. No luck. As soon as she saw me, she shot back into the back room and under the dressing table. Last night I was trying to poke her out from under the dining table or the little settee in the dining room. No way was I crawling under the dressing table!
This morning, after waiting for an hour for Peaches to emerge, I played crafty. I tied a bootlace to the bedroom doorhandle and hid. As soon as Peaches came out to eat, I pulled the door shut. Peaches got her pill, a good combing and a lot of hugs!
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Post by Ann on Feb 13, 2002 20:26:24 GMT
Why is it all cats are so suspicious of being given medication?! I've not yet had to give either of the boys a tablet (and touch wood it will stay that way), but every other cat I've known has acted like he/she was about to be poisoned! They may trust in every other way, but mention pills and it's a different story.
I don't envy you trying to win where Peaches is concerned, although I could just imagine the scenario, having been spread out on the floor trying to beat a cat at his own game more than once myself. Are you also finding, with some wonderment, that you can manage to twist your body into all sorts of positions that you'd previously thought were impossible?
Ann
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Post by Gaby on Feb 14, 2002 15:38:39 GMT
Oh, pills. I used to think it was impossible, which it was, to give any kind of anthing to Lucy and Rufus until my foster kittens Oscar & Emma were diagnosed with ringworm.
Well, it was either the fungus invading their and my lives and home forever or a simple "down the hatch" with the magic pill.
Oscar & Emma got their pills in their food and I took Lucy and Rufus by surprise. Head all the way back, pill as far down their throats as possible and then I would keep their mouth closed and force them to swollow - which they did (lack of choice really - but that can be a good thing sometimes) followed by a kiss and a cuddle (luckily, they don't anything I with them and to them personally). I had to do this 3 times each, I guess being really desparate and determinded helps. And don't hesitate...they always know what you are up to...
Good luck.
Gaby (Lucy & Rufus)
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Post by Linda_Wells on Feb 14, 2002 22:49:17 GMT
Unfortunately, I can't twist into any positions. I don't have any spinal discs in the lumbar region!  As to ringworm, mine don't have it, but the person I had the cats from has, so they've all been treated <<just in case>>. They also have earmites from her, so it's rather like casualty each evening. Three cats being treated for different things! (Sigh) |
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Post by Silk on Feb 19, 2002 22:09:14 GMT
We always used to have huge problems giving cats tablets, untill I hit on an idea when Silk had to start having a tablet every day. If you think about the size of a tablet in comparison to a cats mouth and then imagine trying to swallow a similar sized tablet, dry and without a glass of water it is hardly surprising they try and spit them out. Now Silk will kill (or at least maim with intent) for a piece of ham, or even offer GBH over the possibility of a prawn, and most cats have a food group that they get so excited over having they will devour it with little thought. So what we started doing was this: Take a prawn, put a small slice in it and insert the tablet, or wrap a smal bit of ham around the tab, and if it is a larger tablet, split it into two. You then offer the treat to the cat, (if your feeling realy brave you can even tease them with the offering a little  ) Theory is: Cat wolfs down treat containing tablet, thinking it has just got a special treat. I also think this helps them swallow it. We now use treats like this to get tabs into any of our cats, and rarely fail. |
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Post by topaz on Feb 22, 2002 12:58:27 GMT
We tried the prawn method with our cat Scargill, in fact we tried every method known to man. the kitchen became a virtual laboratory, but all she did was ignore anything tampered with and walk away. In any case i'm sure no matter how you disguise it they just KNOW your up to something. If you so much as think 'vet' or put a coat on she's off like a bat out of hell. Funny thing is, she always blames my wife but NEVER me for some reason, and of course she's always in TOTAL control of us both.
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Heather
Territorial Ruler
Muffin
Posts: 225
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Post by Heather on Mar 2, 2002 1:23:28 GMT
With all the animals we have had over the years , you would think I would be able to give a tablet with ease, but Misty will take off as soon as she sees me with it. I think they see by the expression on your face what you are up to, even when you hide the tablet. She needs a 1/2 one every day for her bowels and it was a battle, until I went away for a few days & "Dad" had to give it to her. She took it without a problem at all! now he gives it to her every morning . With Muffin's allergy pill it's a different matter. The other 3 will take Vit. pill like they are treats.
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Post by Xinzerella on Jul 12, 2002 18:56:41 GMT
<<or wrap a smal bit of ham around the tablet>>
I used to be able to give pills to cats but I've found it virtually impossible recently - maybe because they have learned a few tricks. I've also been wondering if the relatively slender and narrow shape of their jaws (Oriental/Siamese) must make it especially hard to feed them something they don't want to eat! It's like trying to push a pill down the throat of a barracuda.
It's funny I should dig up this old post and read it today, as I was feeding one of the cats a few titbits earlier - bits of cheese with ham wrapped round the cheese. But the ham falls off and the cat eats half the ham, turns and gobbles up the cheese, then washes it down with the rest of the ham. I definitely wouldn't stand a chance if it was a pill in there - how do you get the ham to stay shut?? (Despairing wail). I only managed to get this cat to take part of his worming pill. I broke it up small, having already thought of how it was too big and dry - and then I crushed it and mixed it with meat - he wouldn't touch it! Sssigh.
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Post by Catnip on Jul 12, 2002 20:51:38 GMT
Did you know that vets will have it that Synulox is palatable to cats???!!! Not to MY cats, I'm afraid!!! Though I have heard of some who will eat them like treats! I found the best way to dose most of my Siamese with pills is to go about it with determination and act like I really mean it! Any hesitation and all is lost!!! The element of surprise helps, too! My dear old Jeddy who died last summer had so many pills over the two years he was ill, that he used to just sit and wait for me to pop them down his throat, most times. There will never be another boy like him...... I have two methods which work quite well - the first is this - I place the cat with its back towards me, between my knees as I kneel on the floor. My feet are together so cat can't back up and get away. With one hand I open the mouth and tip back the head all in one motion, and with the other, I quickly pop the pill down the back of the throat. This works okay with a fairly placid cat. With Elsa, who is a little madam and struggles vigorously to avoid being held, let alone have a pill poked down her throat, it is a different matter. The best way to deal with her is to get hubby to hold her firmly upside-down in his arms - then, once I can prise her jaws apart, it is quite easy to poke the tablet down her throat.   You can also buy Pill Givers which are supposed to be handy little tools but I have never tried them so can't vouch for them. Does anyone else have a favourite way to dose a cat? |
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Post by Maria on Jul 12, 2002 22:43:52 GMT
Oh fond memories of pill-giving to cats!!! I am perfectly useless at it.
My vet once showed me a trick that involves a small syringe with a tiny drop of water in it. You get the cat in any of the positions already described, put the pill as far back into the throat as possible, squirt the drop of water into the mouth with the syringe and clamp the jaws shut. The theory is that the water in the mouth forces the cat to swallow and also eases the tablet down the gullet.
That's the theory. When my vet demonstrated, it obviously it worked a treat.
So I try it at home.....I struggle with a small dynamo spitfire; I hear a satisfying gulp; (all the time absolutely terrified of choking the spitfire to death); I'm pretty sure ithe tablet has gone down. Then, ten minutes later I am disheartened as the cat spits out a soggy tablet on the carpet!
Maria (who dreads the vet ever prescribing non crushable pills).
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Post by Ann on Jul 12, 2002 23:14:47 GMT
Even the vet conceded defeat with Sin. This was after he attempted to show my mother how easy it was to give him a pill. A kidney bowl flew in one direction, the pill flew in another and the vet was left with Sin hanging to his chest by his claws. From then on, he only prescribed liquid medication.
Ann
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Post by tutsmom on Jul 13, 2002 2:28:28 GMT
Fortunately, most of the cats I've ever had to pill took it very well. The first few times they are surprised. Once they start getting suspicious, I get the pill out early and put it within reach. Then, when the cat comes by for a lap--I've got them. Of course, it takes a quick, fluid motion to tilt the head back, open the mouth, and pop the pill into the back of the mouth. (Of course, being experienced in medicating and tubing wild birds has improved my technique considerably.)
What amazes me is that, even though I check their mouths afterwards, ever so often, usually days later, I've found a pill spit out. Where did they hide it? (Fortunately, that is a rare happening.)
Leonardo is the exception. He came from a shelter and has a bad tendency to bite and scratch--so we do everything on his terms. When I've had to pill him, I've needed bandages handy and a firm will. I'm hoping that as he watches the others, he'll get better about that (he already has in other ways, so there is hope.) The only thing worse for him is claw clipping. I have to cover him up so he can't do serious harm to me, and grab a paw and clip quickly. The rest of them, I can grab and clip without too much commotion, but Leonardo is the challenge (but he's cute.).
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Post by Maria on Jul 16, 2002 22:53:27 GMT
*Sigh*
(Further to my last post....) I sauntered to the vets yesterday to pick up wormers for my cats. "We use a new kind now" I was told, by the nurse.
Yep, they are non-crushable!!! Wish me luck!
Maria
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Post by Ann on Jul 16, 2002 23:29:23 GMT
*Sigh* (Further to my last post....) I sauntered to the vets yesterday to pick up wormers for my cats. "We use a new kind now" I was told, by the nurse. Yep, they are non-crushable!!! Wish me luck! Maria A full report please. Just as soon as the wounds have healed and you're feeling better. Ann |
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Post by tutsmom on Jul 17, 2002 1:16:22 GMT
You might see if any of the pharmacies there will "compound" the medication for you into a tasty liquid or paste treat. Some pharmacists over here have taken the training necessary to do this and offer it in different flavors. (It's good too for people who can't take pills.) It's how medicines were made before we had large pharmaceutical companies. Anyway....
Since Julilus takes two heart medications, I have to break small tablets into quarters--not an easy feat. I tried this with him, but he preferred (of course, being a cat) the pills to the liquid. I did have to watch out, however, that the others didn't dip their noses into the medicine.
Life is never dull when you live with cats!
Sharon
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) Theory is: Cat wolfs down treat containing tablet, thinking it has just got a special treat. I also think this helps them swallow it.
