cats w/worms?

Question

2day the vet's supposed 2 give me pills 4 my cats but how in the world am i going to get them to swallow the pills?

Answer 1

Here is a link that shows step by step with pictures for one person giving the pill. If you have someone to help you, they could steady kitty while you open the mouth and give the pill. Put the pill as far back as possible to prevent kitty spitting it out. This method is the best way to guarantee kitty gets all the pill.

Other ways is to hide the pill in a pill pocket. Ask the vet to sell you one for each pill instead of buying the whole bag, since you won't need them after this medicine is given. Most cats will gobble these, but one of mine just turns her little nose up at them!

I have to give my oldest cat a half pill twice daily and she hates pill pockets. Luckily the pills are very small, so I just put the pill in a moist treat and pinch the treat around it. Have several other pieces ready and give a treat that does not contain the pill first. Then slip the pill to them and finally another treat. Bonnie hasn't caught on yet that she is getting medicine, she just thinks she is special and getting treats!

The least effective way is to crush it and put it in their canned food. There is no guarantee the kitty will eat all the food with the medicine, in fact usually don't eat much, because of the smell that the pill gives to the food.

Purrs to you and kitties.

Answer 2

Ask the vet. There is a specific way to do it and he/she will show you. I have three cats and they all act differently. I put the cat on the floor and then sort of straddle the cat so I can get a firm hold of him. Then, take his head and tilt it way back, putting your fingers into his mouth so he opens it. place the pill as far back on his tongue has you can possibley get it and close the mouth, still with his head tilted back. GENTLY massage him under the chin and throat like you would to make him purr until he's swallowed the pill. Or have the vet give the cat an injection or liquid. It depends upon the medication what form it comes in. Ask the vet if you can mush up the pill and sprinkle it into some wet cat food. This may not work because the cat might smell it. I've had a lot of experience with medicating my cats because they had an intestinal parasite, brought in by the kitten and they just kept passing it around. We finally got it under control. Anyway, be sure to get instruction from your vet, have him give the cat a pill so you can actually SEE what he does. One of my cats allowed me to do this, but kept spitting the pill up, so I had to sit there for quite a awhile before she would swallow it. Another will eat ANYTHING and didn't mind at all, but he's a little stupid too. The last was a purebred bengal and he was VERY difficult. i got bitten and scratched. But every time they swallowed one of those nasty pill (you have to watch, they'd salivate if not swallowed because it tasted nasty!) I gave a treat.

Answer 3

Ok there are two ways to give a cat pills... The first way is the easiest.... if it works.

Hide the pill in a about 1 teaspoons worth of soft ground canned food. Give it to your cat! This works on lots of cats.. they don't even notice that you gave them one! However if your cats are some of the few who notice the pill,... they will eat all the canned food and leave the pill behind.

The second way is how a vet gives pills:

Consists of shoving the pill all the way down to the back of the cats tongue.. I am not going to even begin to explain it in words.. I don't feel it would be safe to explain and not actually show you how... I strongly suggest you ask your vet to demonstrate this technique properly for you, before you try it on your own.. if not done correctly you could hurt or even choke your cats...

If you have tried method one and method two doesn't sound like something you think you could do safely on your own, you can always ask your vet to give your cats the pills himself, or ask if there is any other product you could use to treat the worms.

Answer 4

There is a crevice in the back of the mouth between both rows of teeth. If you can handle your cat without injury, you can pop pills through that opening. Check with your vet and see if you can mix the pill with food if you can't get the pill down. Also, there are little treats called Pill Pockets that work, but all cats are different. If all else fails, ask the vet for liquid medication- still hard to get down, but easier than a pill.

Answer 5

I would really hope that the vet or the tech will show you how to pill your cat. If the cats are used to being handled, it will not be an issue. If you are unsure, why not bring the cats with you and have the tech give the pills. I think that if you google "Pilling a cat" you might come up with a discription of just how to handle it.

Answer 6

With cats in particular if you apply a bit of pressure to either side of the mandables (in between the jaw bones where they meet), they cannot close their mouth; then place the pill at the back corner beyond their back teeth to one side, the cat will be moving it's tongue in a swallowing motion, use your finger to help it swallow the pill by pushing down. Just don't choke your cat doing this, I am not a vet, this is personal experience.

Answer 7

I don't know if this is a good technique but years ago, a vet showed me how to give pills to a cat by using a spoon to hold the cat's mouth open while dropping in the pill. This was an older cat being treated for a urinary tract blockage. I thought this method was a bit barbaric but it worked. He never had this blockage again.

Answer 8

Either mix it in a piece of turkey or other delicious food, or get a plastic pill shooter and shoot it down their throats. This is a good question to ask your vet so they can show you how to do it in person

Answer 9

Your just going to have to shove them down their throat.