My cat needs to take some antibiotics, and i cant get her to swallow the pill!! Any tricks? I tried using a pill popper to push it down her throat she she would swallow, but still no success! HELP!!!
2007-11-20 05:20:06 · 13 answers · asked by just a girl in this world 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
im afraid im going to hurt her with the pill popper!
2007-11-20 05:25:55 · update #1
This is copied directly out of my Veterinary Assistant Study Guide. Hope it helps! For my dog though, I just put it in a smooshed piece of cheese and he eats it.
1-Have the cat rolled in a towel to control its legs and prevent being clawed.
2-Hold the cats head firmly with one hand.
3-Use the other hand to open the cats mouth by holding his head from behind with your palm over the back of its head-your thumb should be on one side and your fingers on the other side.
4-Tip his head back, raising his nose to point to the ceiling. This will case the cats mouth to open a little.
5-Now you can place your other hands middle finger nail on the cats incisor teeth and press down slightly, opening the cats mouth.
6-The pill can be dropped into the cats mouth. You may have to push the pill down. Then stroke the cats throat to get him to swallow it.
7-Watch to make sure the cat has closed his mouth and swallowed the pill.
2007-11-20 05:36:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This can be very difficult, depending on the cat, but here are some things I have tried that have worked.
The pill popper is a good idea, but it works best as a two person operation. One person should hold the cat while the second manipulates the pill, pill popper and kitty's jaw. The first person should hold the cat firmly, perhaps wrapped in a towel to imobilize it (paws and claws flailing around are not fun for anyone!). The cat's jaw should open if light pressure from your fingers is put on both sides of it, then you can get the pill popper positioned and push in the pill. Then be sure to give her a treat and lots of love to positively reinforce her behavior and the experience.
You must check with your vet about the next thing, not because it is dangerous but because you have to find out if the pill can be crushed and mixed with food. Some medicines lose their effectiveness if they are cut or crushed, so check with the vet first.
If the pill can be crushed, you can put the crushed medicine into some cat food -- your cat's favorite canned food is best, or a canned food with sauce or gravy works very well. Also, a strong flavored food like tuna might disguise the flavor of the pill, as this bothers some cats. Give a small amount of the food and make sure that kitty eats it all. You should then give her a bit more as an extra treat for taking her pill!
The pill crushing method worked very well for me and my last cat, who had to take medicine for his thyroid the last four years of his life.
If you are not supposed to crush or cut the pill, you might want to place the pill in a spoonful of canned cat food and have the cat eat it as part of this treat. She might be able to eat around it or spit it out, however, so make sure she eats everything! And be sure to praise her when she finishes her treat!
Fortunately, antibiotics only have to be administered for a short amount of time. But if you get your cat accustomed to the process in a gentle, low stress way, it should be easier to give her pills the next time she needs them.
Good luck!
2007-11-20 06:27:15 · answer #2 · answered by Yvonne P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If hiding in her favorite food doesn't work, you'll have to poke it down. Kind of tough to explain, but....
Have a kitty treat ready and make sure kitty know there's a treat in this for her. Place kitty on a highish surface like the top of the washing machine or a counter. Tuck kitty under your non-dominant arm (let's say the left arm) such that your elbow keeps her from backing out of your hold. Use that hand to firmly grasp the loose skin on kitty's neck as close to her head as you can. Use your dominant (right?) hand to open kitty's mouth by pushing her lower jaw down, and then push the pill over the hump in the back of her tongue. Close her mouth, keep her head tilted back and stroke her throat. When she puts the end of her tongue out, the pill has been swallowed. Praise kitty and give her the kitty treat. Then let her go.
I can do this, but I've had lots of experience. My cat runs to me when I say "medicine" because he knows he gets a treat--but he still hates swallowing the pill and has to be grasped firmly by the scruff such that his eyes slit. It might be best for you to get help. Best of luck! it is very important with an antibiotic Rx that she get all the doses the vet says she should get.
2007-11-20 05:37:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
use your pill popper get someone to pop the pill as far back in the throat as possible without hurting kitty and then hold her mouth shut and keep her paws away from you and together as they really do hurt. 2 people needed for a non pill taking cat. Good Luck
2007-11-20 05:24:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there...here's an instructional video to pill a cat manually and with a pill popper by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/pill_or_capsule/full_movie.shtml
2007-11-20 08:58:15 · answer #5 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a bit tricky the first couple of times but you'll eventually get the knack. Hold the kitty's mouth open with the palm of your left hand over its face and your thumb and fingers on either side of it's mouth. Push your thumb and fingers into the corners of kitty's mouth with the same hand, causing her mouth to open. If you can get her lips stuck between her teeth and your fingers, she won't want to try and bite and hurt herself at the same time. With your other hand, pop the pill onto the back of her throat and push it down with your index finger so she won't be able to bring it up. Hold her mouth shut if you can. If you see her licking her nose, you'll know she has swallowed. It may take a few tries but you'll get it eventually. Good Luck!
2007-11-20 05:27:22 · answer #6 · answered by slickshiftin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it helps to have someone else with you. Hold the cat down (make sure you hold down all her legs so she can't scratch you). Open her mouth by pressing on the sides of her jaw. Then put the pill as far down on her tongue as you can, close her mouth and keep it closed. Then, gently massage her throat, which will make her swallow.
Good luck! It's not easy, but it can be done!
2007-11-20 05:24:14 · answer #7 · answered by That's not my name 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
always make sure you follow the pill with some water! Imagine if you were forced to dry swallow a pilll....
2007-11-20 07:19:55 · answer #8 · answered by kananaskis95 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when my cats need pills i pop it oin the back of her throat and rub her neck while holding her head she goes mad but you have to be cruel to be kind , or you can try wrapping it in some ham , good luck
2007-11-20 07:01:54 · answer #9 · answered by loopylou 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dip the pill in some butter. helps it slip down her throat and she will like the taste of the butter.
2007-11-20 06:25:25 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋