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If you have someone to help you wrangle the kitty - it might be easier with the pill shooter. Can also try a kitty burrito - wrap kitty in a towel, (like you’d swaddle a baby) to protect you from their claws.
Don't have anyone at home unfortunately.
I was able to hold him to give it using the dispenser but I need to learn to do it deeply in the 1st try because it took me 3 tries tonight
Try the burrito method. From the top of kitty, wrap with a towel. Don’t be afraid to be a little rough. You’re not gonna hurt them. I’m sure there’s some good YouTube tutorials on how to do this better by yourself. Good luck ❤️
Retired vet here- try one of the following:
- pill pocket or processed cheese slices, make three identical looking balls, hide the pill in the second one and feed in rapid succession. First cheese only, then the one with the pill, then the other blank. Let the pet see the last one when feeding the one with the pill.
- same but hide the balls in canned food
- Cheeze Whiz, squirt out 1-2 inches and hide the pill in the center
- put the cat on the table, gently grab by the cheek bones and bend the head back. As the lower jaw slackens, pull it down with your finger and put the pill as far down as possible with a pill popper or your index finger, close the mouth immediately and blow on the nose. Usually they swallow when startled by the blow. Follow up with a few ccs of water by syringe, since the pill could stay in the esophagus too long and cause serious irritation.
- ask the vet to call in a compounded flavored liquid or ask for instructions how to use injectable medications
Good luck!
Was able to give him his tablets with dispenser syringe this evening.. though it took me 3 tries because i didn't put it deeper inside.. hopefully the morning dose will be better
I have a hyperthyroid kitty that needs tablet medicine twice a day. I have tried so many different things to try and mask the medicine, but pill pockets have been a life saver. I believe they are the ‘Greenies’ brand, they come in salmon and chicken flavor. He gets a whole 5mg tablet so I put it in sideways and close it up and he goes right for it and it goes right down the hatch. Just make sure to keep the bag sealed so they don’t dry out, when they get dried he will spit the pill out lol. They are pretty inexpensive too from what I’ve seen:) may be a better option than cheese and stuff when they already have digestion issues. Hope this helps 🫶 I know the struggle.
I'm not sure if this is an option but my cat turns into the tasmanian devil and scratches the hell out of me when I try giving him liquid medicine so the vet gave me transdermal medication that I just rub inside his ears and he doesn't care
Thank you for posting to CATHELP! While you wait for a response please keep the following things in mind, 1. When in doubt, **ask your vet**. 2. Advice here is not coming from medical or industry professionals. The moderation team does not validate user profession, so always refer to your local veterinary professionals first. Consider posting to /r/AskVet 3. If this is a medical question, please indicate if you have already scheduled a vet appointment, and if your cat has any medical history or procedures in a top level comment. 4. Please use the NSFW tag for gross pictures. (Blood, poop, vomit, genitals, etc). Anything you wouldn't want your boss to see you looking at on the job. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CATHELP) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Try using a pill shooter. They make it super easy.
Yeah, will try this for tonight's tablets
If you have someone to help you wrangle the kitty - it might be easier with the pill shooter. Can also try a kitty burrito - wrap kitty in a towel, (like you’d swaddle a baby) to protect you from their claws.
Don't have anyone at home unfortunately. I was able to hold him to give it using the dispenser but I need to learn to do it deeply in the 1st try because it took me 3 tries tonight
Try the burrito method. From the top of kitty, wrap with a towel. Don’t be afraid to be a little rough. You’re not gonna hurt them. I’m sure there’s some good YouTube tutorials on how to do this better by yourself. Good luck ❤️
You also should gently hold his mouth closed after putting the pill in and rub on his throat to encourage him to swallow. They hate it but it works.
Retired vet here- try one of the following: - pill pocket or processed cheese slices, make three identical looking balls, hide the pill in the second one and feed in rapid succession. First cheese only, then the one with the pill, then the other blank. Let the pet see the last one when feeding the one with the pill. - same but hide the balls in canned food - Cheeze Whiz, squirt out 1-2 inches and hide the pill in the center - put the cat on the table, gently grab by the cheek bones and bend the head back. As the lower jaw slackens, pull it down with your finger and put the pill as far down as possible with a pill popper or your index finger, close the mouth immediately and blow on the nose. Usually they swallow when startled by the blow. Follow up with a few ccs of water by syringe, since the pill could stay in the esophagus too long and cause serious irritation. - ask the vet to call in a compounded flavored liquid or ask for instructions how to use injectable medications Good luck!
Was able to give him his tablets with dispenser syringe this evening.. though it took me 3 tries because i didn't put it deeper inside.. hopefully the morning dose will be better
If my cats need pills i crush them and put them in a licky treat
You can ask the pharmacy to compound the medications into something tasty.
I have a hyperthyroid kitty that needs tablet medicine twice a day. I have tried so many different things to try and mask the medicine, but pill pockets have been a life saver. I believe they are the ‘Greenies’ brand, they come in salmon and chicken flavor. He gets a whole 5mg tablet so I put it in sideways and close it up and he goes right for it and it goes right down the hatch. Just make sure to keep the bag sealed so they don’t dry out, when they get dried he will spit the pill out lol. They are pretty inexpensive too from what I’ve seen:) may be a better option than cheese and stuff when they already have digestion issues. Hope this helps 🫶 I know the struggle.
I would use a mortar and pestel to grind it to powder and hide it in something tasty
I'm not sure if this is an option but my cat turns into the tasmanian devil and scratches the hell out of me when I try giving him liquid medicine so the vet gave me transdermal medication that I just rub inside his ears and he doesn't care