View Full Version : How to give a cat oral medication easier??
skiergirl
12-22-2009, 01:27 PM
So my cat had some teeth pulled yesterday and needless to say is not to happy at the moment. She's very easy going but enough is enough and she was fighting pretty good when we gave her the meds this morning
so cat people - is there a good trick to use? She doesn't really claw much so a blanket isn't really needed but we might try that tonight. She has one of those cone things around her neck/head so she can't bump her mouth or scratch. I've been just grabbing her but the scruff of her neck to hold her still while Tye opens her mouth. I just feel bad having to touch her mouth at all to open it and get that syringe thing in there. Is there a trick I'm missing? Some way to hold her more still so her head doesn't thrash around as much?
And no, shooting her, or otherwise getting rid of the cat is not an option -
Particle Man
12-22-2009, 01:31 PM
Cats take pills and medicine in such a way as to create as much drama as freakin' possible. We had to give our cat tapeworm medicine once and you'd think we were killing her she spazzed out so badly.
skiergirl
12-22-2009, 01:33 PM
She has always been super tolerant but I think she's just hurting so much she's had enough. I just don't want to cause her more pain giving her pain meds....
HurricaneHeather
12-22-2009, 01:33 PM
God, Lori this sounds aweful. :(
What we do is one of sits on the floor and drop their body in between our legs and kind of hold them that way. The use both hands to kinda cup their neck(almost like you are going to strangle them, I know it sounds aweful) but you need two hands around their head to keep them there. Then the other person obviously opens the mouth and administers the meds.
BUT, we have never had to do this to a cat who just had 9 teeth removed, so I don't know if that really helps or not. :(
marko138
12-22-2009, 01:33 PM
I cannot offer any advice, but I did have to give my dog pills for 12 days. Being a Lab he thought it was just another treat and gobbled them down.
skiergirl
12-22-2009, 01:37 PM
God, Lori this sounds aweful. :(
What we do is one of sits on the floor and drop their body in between our legs and kind of hold them that way. The use both hands to kinda cup their neck(almost like you are going to strangle them, I know it sounds aweful) but you need two hands around their head to keep them there. Then the other person obviously opens the mouth and administers the meds.
BUT, we have never had to do this to a cat who just had 9 teeth removed, so I don't know if that really helps or not. :(
This is pretty much what we have been doing but even when you get her mouth open she can still twist her head so right as you start to squirt it in she twists and it ends up on her nose or something. it's enough that I hesitate to just shoot it all in quickly in case she chokes a bit but I'm hoping as a day or two goes she might be better about it...
RACER X
12-22-2009, 01:38 PM
i know we would wrap our dogs medicine in cheese, i think w/ the cat we just held it's mouth open and dropped in the pill.
Avatard
12-22-2009, 01:44 PM
Grab cat by the head from behind with your left hand. Grasping head firmly from behind, wrap your thumb into the left side of cat"s mouth between backmost molars, and middle finger wrapped around to same position between molars on your right (cat's left molars). Push the flesh in the corners of the mouth gently inwards between the molars so that the animal cannot bite down onto your fingers. Tilt head up slightly, and press pill into backmost part of tongue, far enough back that a gag won't eject it. Close mouth, tilt head up, and rub throat to encourage peristalsis (swallowing action) .
Done correctly, this can be a 3 second event, and the cat has little time to protest.
acalliste
12-22-2009, 01:45 PM
Is it liquid? I had good luck with sticking the dropper into the side of her mouth and squirting it down her throat as quickly as possible, and then hold her for a minute and keep her head up and mouth closed to make sure it doesn't come back out.
wildchild
12-22-2009, 01:53 PM
we are doing this right now with a toy poodle who just had some teeth removed. we squirt the med on soft food and mix well. she is reluctant to eat it at first but she gives in after a minute or two. at least we aren't having to force it on her. it's no fun to think you are causing more pain to them.
skiergirl
12-22-2009, 01:53 PM
Yes it is liquid in a plastic syringe looking thing you can stick in her mouth.
Avatard - I agree that would work perfectly for pills but she just had 9 teeth removed so touching around her molars is not going to be a good thing for her right now. She has almost no teeth except for her very front ones. And I'm sure her gums are super sore....
Particle Man
12-22-2009, 01:54 PM
Is it liquid? I had good luck with sticking the dropper into the side of her mouth and squirting it down her throat as quickly as possible, and then hold her for a minute and keep her head up and mouth closed to make sure it doesn't come back out.
you're lucky people on here don't have dirty minds...
oh wait :lol:
pauldun170
12-22-2009, 02:05 PM
you're lucky people on here don't have dirty minds...
oh wait :lol:
tags FTW!!!
Particle Man
12-22-2009, 02:08 PM
tags FTW!!!
yeah, I saw those :lol:
skiergirl
12-22-2009, 02:08 PM
nice....:)
karl_1052
12-22-2009, 02:39 PM
If it is liquid or powder, can you put in on the cats food?
the chi
12-22-2009, 02:57 PM
Is it liquid? I had good luck with sticking the dropper into the side of her mouth and squirting it down her throat as quickly as possible, and then hold her for a minute and keep her head up and mouth closed to make sure it doesn't come back out.
This. When I worked at the vets office we did this and it worked well, just keep her mouth shut (perhaps holding near the nose) until she swallows.
skiergirl
12-22-2009, 04:07 PM
Thanks, I guess I hesitate to stick it into the side of her mouth since I assume it's tender there due to the surgery. Maybe that would work though....just touch it gently. I'll give this a try tonight and we'll see who wins Round #3 of pet meds...
neebelung
12-22-2009, 04:12 PM
tags FTW!!!
:rofl:
z06boy
12-22-2009, 04:30 PM
No advice here either. I've forced pills on/into Pitbulls...Rotties...and a few other breeds that have a reputation but never a cat...and I don't want to. :lol:
acalliste
12-22-2009, 06:10 PM
you're lucky people on here don't have dirty minds...
oh wait :lol:
I know, I got myself all worked up just typing it. :skep:
TYEster
12-22-2009, 06:50 PM
we are doing this right now with a toy poodle who just had some teeth removed. we squirt the med on soft food and mix well. she is reluctant to eat it at first but she gives in after a minute or two. at least we aren't having to force it on her. it's no fun to think you are causing more pain to them.
This is what I want to do.
Holding the cat down for the oral syringe is not my idea of a good time, and makes me literally sick to my stomach.
acalliste
12-22-2009, 07:23 PM
One of my cats will eat food with meds mixed up in it. But I had one cat who could detect it no matter how I tried to disguise the taste, and wouldn't eat any of it. She is the one who had to have it shot down her throat.
It's really no worse than any of other uncomfortable things our pets go through to receive medical care. When I first got my oldest cat, she would never meow or make any noise. The vet was concerned by this, so he stuck his finger in her butt to see if she would meow. She did, and she hasn't stopped since. :didntdo: :wtfru:
HurricaneHeather
12-22-2009, 07:27 PM
One of my cats will eat food with meds mixed up in it. But I had one cat who could detect it no matter how I tried to disguise the taste, and wouldn't eat any of it. She is the one who had to have it shot down her throat.
It's really no worse than any of other uncomfortable things our pets go through to receive medical care. When I first got my oldest cat, she would never meow or make any noise. The vet was concerned by this, so he stuck his finger in her butt to see if she would meow. She did, and she hasn't stopped since. :didntdo: :wtfru:
:lol:
The difference is the look they give you that says, "I expect this crap from the bitch at the vet's office, but from you? You're supposed to love me." Breaks your heart.
acalliste
12-22-2009, 07:44 PM
Yeah, it does. :(
But they soon forget. Mine stay more pissed at me after giving them a bath than after giving them meds. :lol:
The front page is funny. Since i don't really like cats, has anyone figured out how to give it oral?
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/3946/oralcat.jpg
TYEster
12-22-2009, 08:14 PM
:lol:
The difference is the look they give you that says, "I expect this crap from the bitch at the vet's office, but from you? You're supposed to love me." Breaks your heart.
:no: She's barely my cat and I can't stand to see her be this way or any animal for that matter.
People; I could give a fuck about all day long, but animals are different to me.
skiergirl
12-22-2009, 08:16 PM
HAHA, nice Derf! another success for us - pain meds administered. We did the blanket and holding her by the scruff of her neck thing, then just gently get it in there and squeeze. Took 2-3 times to get it all down but she's not too upset. Stuck around to eat right after.
acalliste
12-22-2009, 08:36 PM
Way to go, Kitty!
HurricaneHeather
12-22-2009, 09:09 PM
Oh, good!! So glad it worked this time. Maybe her teeth aren't hurting as much now?
Either way....PHEW!
skiergirl
12-22-2009, 09:25 PM
She's still giving me the 'i hate you' look - after she ate she went under the bed and just glares at me...
but she spent an hour sleeping on my lap when I got home so she'll be ok.....
Particle Man
12-23-2009, 09:23 AM
how's the kitty doing this morning?
wildchild
12-23-2009, 09:57 AM
how's the kitty doing this morning?
you want her to tell you her p%$# is hurting this morning don't you? :lol
Particle Man
12-23-2009, 10:00 AM
you want her to tell you her p%$# is hurting this morning don't you? :lol
not exactly :lol:
skiergirl
12-23-2009, 10:02 AM
Well I don't know about hurting but the Pussy is sure pissed off...:)
pain med and antibiotics this morning and she freaked out. She twisted so much I'm sure it hurt cause with that syringe in her mouth she had to have bumped her gums thrashing about. She even cried out a bit, but she got them all, then went directly under the bed and wouldn't even come out to eat or drink but I'm guessing she will when we leave.
She must be feeling a little better though, she was purring this morning before we tortured her.
karl_1052
12-23-2009, 11:52 AM
Well I don't know about hurting but the Pussy is sure pissed off...:)
pain med and antibiotics this morning and she freaked out. She twisted so much I'm sure it hurt cause with that syringe in her mouth she had to have bumped her gums thrashing about. She even cried out a bit, but she got them all, then went directly under the bed and wouldn't even come out to eat or drink but I'm guessing she will when we leave.
She must be feeling a little better though, she was purring this morning before we tortured her.
She's gonna shit on your pillow today.:lol:
One of my cats will eat food with meds mixed up in it. But I had one cat who could detect it no matter how I tried to disguise the taste, and wouldn't eat any of it. She is the one who had to have it shot down her throat.
It's really no worse than any of other uncomfortable things our pets go through to receive medical care. When I first got my oldest cat, she would never meow or make any noise. The vet was concerned by this, so he stuck his finger in her butt to see if she would meow. She did, and she hasn't stopped since. :didntdo: :wtfru:
have you tried the finger in the butt again? Might be a switch up there
Particle Man
12-23-2009, 01:15 PM
so he stuck his finger in her butt to see if she would meow. She did, and she hasn't stopped since. :didntdo: :wtfru:
I'd freakin' meyow too
:wtfru:
skiergirl
12-23-2009, 01:19 PM
Thanks I'll give that one a try tonight.....:) but what should I do about the cat?
Particle Man
12-23-2009, 01:29 PM
have you tried the finger in the butt again? Might be a switch up there
:lmao: :lol: :lol hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Tmall
12-23-2009, 01:37 PM
I never bothered to read the thread.. But, when I give my dog meds, I just shove em to the back of his mouth to where he has no choice but to swallow. This way has never been a problem.
Smittie61984
12-23-2009, 08:33 PM
:lol:
The difference is the look they give you that says, "I expect this crap from the bitch at the vet's office, but from you? You're supposed to OBEY me." Breaks your heart.
Fixed
Captain Morgan
12-23-2009, 09:12 PM
:lol: I saw the same thing derf did. Figured it was about meds and was going to say "put it in the food" but I see that it's liquid, so that won't work. Hope the cat doesn't hate you too much.
TYEster
12-23-2009, 09:17 PM
:lol: I saw the same thing derf did. Figured it was about meds and was going to say "put it in the food" but I see that it's liquid, so that won't work. Hope the cat doesn't hate you too much.
But why not? I mean, if it DID mix in... We feed her food either right before or right after the meds. And if I mix it in and she doesn't like the smell, she'll eventually get hungry enough to eat it.
skiergirl
12-24-2009, 09:54 AM
I think we have learned the trick now - Tye holds her wrapped in a blanket by the scruff of her neck. I sit in front of him and sorta hold her head with my fingers on top and my thumb goes right on her nose/front upper teeth and I tilt her head back. This does 2 things to help it give me a better angle for the syringe to get in there and lets me see AND forces her to open her mouth as she can't breath through her nose as easily - then Squirt that shit in and let go.....
it's going MUCH better since we've learned this! Takes less time and is less traumatic to her too. I think she only dislikes us now and doesn't fully hate us any longer. maybe in a few more days we'll be moved up to only annoying....
Gas Man
12-25-2009, 03:04 PM
I didn't read the entire thread... but if you blow in an animals nose with their mouth closed... it forces them to swallow.
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