Some issues with Lucky

carolina · Mar 24, 2010

As some of you know, Lucky had a Dental procedure done yesterday, to fix a crossbite that was creating holes on the roof of her mouth, making her stopping to eat.
Anyways, I am concerned about a few things... I am a little sad that she is hiding from me and seems to be traumatized from the whole thing...
Lucky was the one kitty who did not hide from me... Not anymore. She got here as a shy cat, and it took me a LONG time, and a LOT of work, and a LOT of patience to get where I am with her not, and to gain her trust...
To see her in hiding again completely breaks my heart in a thousand pieces... And this is just the first day of giving her meds... I can not even imagine how our relationship will be by the end of the 10th day

Something else that happened today that scared me a lot was that she aspirated the meds this morning. I shot the antibiotics on her mouth, and a some seconds later she had a weird cough, sounded like a VERY congested child, like she had a lot of fluids in her lungs.... which brings me to the following scary issue:

Yesterday, when I picked her up from surgery, the Surgeon Vet Tech came out, and said that there was a concern that she was very congested during the procedure, and in looking through her records, they saw that she had been taken to the vet for a cough back in October.
Then he asked if I had tested her for FIV??? Since this issue had never been resolved since October? FIV???

In my mind the issue HAS been resolved - Lucky is not coughing, or sneezing, or congested at home at all, and I am with her 24x7, 7 days a week... This caught me by surprise...
But The cough this morning did scare me, as it did sound like congestion... so.... Since I had to take Hope in for her shots anyways, I made a point to discuss Lucky too.

My vet looked at Lucky's x-ray from October, and saw that there was no congestion, no fluids, nothing that showed anything of concern.
He also said that the cough this morning is consistent with aspiration, and not congestion.
As far as yesterday, he said the it could very well be extra salivation due to stress.
He said that if she has no symptoms at home - no cough, no sneezing, no congestion.... there is not even a concern. He is not worried about it at all.
Just to watch her, and if she shows signs of congestion that doesn't go away, then take her in... But he was not worried...

What do you all think of this?
Oh, and how do I prevent aspiration? Clindrops taste awful, she doesn't eat wet food, so I can not mix it with anything...

mews2much · Mar 24, 2010

If they put a tube down her throat it can cause coughing.
It happened to Wrinkles.
I hope she feels better.

carolina · Mar 24, 2010

Originally Posted by mews2much

If they put a tube down her throat it can cause coughing.
It happened to Wrinkles.
I hope she feels better.

oh, ok... Yes, they did...

mews2much · Mar 24, 2010

Sounds like that is part of the problem.

blueyedgirl5946 · Mar 24, 2010

Carolina, could you put the pill in a small piece of cheese. It works for my cats at times. Also Muffin is taking Denamarin now. I went to the local pet store and bought what they call a piller. It looked too big, but actually when I tried it, it works really well. Pry open mouth with left hand and shoot it as far in the back of the mouth as possible. I then give water in a syringe. I also have seen a piller at my vets office that holds the pill and some water too. I have not tried it, but the idea sounds like a good one. I hope Lucky will continue to improve. You deserve a break.

carolina · Mar 24, 2010

Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

Carolina, could you put the pill in a small piece of cheese. It works for my cats at times. Also Muffin is taking Denamarin now. I went to the local pet store and bought what they call a piller. It looked too big, but actually when I tried it, it works really well. Pry open mouth with left hand and shoot it as far in the back of the mouth as possible. I then give water in a syringe. I also have seen a piller at my vets office that holds the pill and some water too. I have not tried it, but the idea sounds like a good one. I hope Lucky will continue to improve. You deserve a break.

Hi there, it is not a pill, it is liquid... Clindrops...

bunnelina · Mar 24, 2010

Expect a lot of weird, nasty-sounding coughing for up to a couple of weeks, it's normal after surgery, but still upsetting to hear!

Do you need to give her a big dose? If so, it might be easier to divide it between two syringes and give them one at a time, with a bit of a break in the middle. We did that when we had to give large liquid doses to our kittens, and while it was still no fun, the medicine always stayed down. Whereas trying to do it all with one syringe was a disaster.

Good luck, and don't worry about the cough....

pookie-poo · Mar 24, 2010

Carolina...you and your kitties continue to be in my prayers daily. It seems that you are still being tested, doesn't it?

How much to you give Lucky at one time? One cc, 1/2 cc? I know when I give Cleo her liquid meds (pediatric iron drops, or Flagyl when she was on it) I put them into gelcaps immediately before giving it to her. This helped not only with the awful taste, it also prevents aspiration. Cleo is a pretty large cat at 15 pounds, but the largest gelcap that I'm able to use with her is a size '0'. It comfortably holds 0.7 cc (also called ml depending if your're medically trained.) The '1' size holds 1/2 cc. I order mine online (I'll include the link) but you can often find the larger sizes '1', '0' and '00' in health food stores.

Here is where I purchase mine:
http://www.capsuline.com/index.php?cPath=1_5_6
I've been very happy with their service.

If you'd like, I can send you some size '0' caps to try with Lucky. Unfortunately, I've run out of the size '1'. I really need to put in an order, cuz I just used up my last '4' gelcaps last week too.

Just PM me and let me know!

carolina · Mar 24, 2010

Originally Posted by Pookie-poo

Carolina...you and your kitties continue to be in my prayers daily. It seems that you are still being tested, doesn't it?

How much to you give Lucky at one time? One cc, 1/2 cc? I know when I give Cleo her liquid meds (pediatric iron drops, or Flagyl when she was on it) I put them into gelcaps immediately before giving it to her. This helped not only with the awful taste, it also prevents aspiration. Cleo is a pretty large cat at 15 pounds, but the largest gelcap that I'm able to use with her is a size '0'. It comfortably holds 0.7 cc (also called ml depending if your're medically trained.) The '1' size holds 1/2 cc. I order mine online (I'll include the link) but you can often also find the larger sizes '1', '0' and '00' in health food stores.

Here is where I purchase mine:
http://www.capsuline.com/index.php?cPath=1_5_6
I've been very happy with their service.

If you'd like, I can send you some size '0' caps to try with Lucky. Unfortunately, I've run out of the size '1'. I really need to put in an order, cuz I just used up my last '4' gelcaps last week too.

Just PM me and let me know!

I need to give her 1 cc - I have 000 caps here, but they hold too little... I have a good online source, but.... Can't wait... Any ideas where I can find these things locally? I would love to pill her instead of shooting this down her throat!

pookie-poo · Mar 24, 2010

Try calling around to the local health food stores. Ask if they carry empty gelcaps. Be sure to ask for a size '0' or '00'. Be sure to check the size when you get there, because I bet the size '00' would be too big for Lucky.

I think you must have a size 3, because an actual size '000' is HUGE! and you'd never get that down a cat's throat (it would be okay for a dog.) I commonly use size 4 and 3 with my cats. The size 4 is about the size of a Benedryl capsule, the size 3 is just slightly larger.

Here's a picture of a #4 gel cap

addiebee · Mar 24, 2010

one cc is a lot. Can you draw it up with something like tuna juice if she likes that? not great to give her but would help mask the taste. I did that with Archie and the Flagyl. It helped a little. But it would also be a lot of liquid.

taterbug · Mar 24, 2010

If you could try and aim the meds into the back of her cheek, instead of her throat, that will help. You may have to get her into a bear-hug to do it,tho. It works very well with my girls, and they hate any kind of meds!

mrsgreenjeens · Mar 25, 2010

Or, I know you said the pill form tastes horrible, but if you put it in a Greenies Pill Pockets, would that work? My kitties HATE Greenies, yet they LOVE the Greenies Pill Pockets. Sven, my very pickiest, is currently taking antibiotics, and we just pop it into the Pill Pocket (sold at the Vet) and he gobbles it right up. It's nice and soft, so should be ok with Lucky just having dental work done.

sharky · Mar 25, 2010

Many health food stores carry small amounts of the empty capsules.. I just cuddle get meds in and then give a treat ...

carolina · Mar 25, 2010

Hi guys... Thanks, but she is not taking pills... She is taking a liquid medicine, Clindamicyn...
We did have a better day today, thanks to my cat bag

I am not squirting back on her throat anymore, as I am afraid of her aspirating it... So she just needs to deal with the awful bitter taste. I am squirting on the bottom of her mouth or her cheek, or wherever, slower, and waiting for her to swallow... She doesn't like it, but I figure it is safer...
I immediately give her some freeze dried salmon, and she looks a little lost for a minute or two, but recovers fast.

so... hopefully she will forgive me after this ordeal.

As far as pilling, yes, I do have greenies, and she likes it!

sharky · Mar 25, 2010

Originally Posted by Carolina

Hi guys... Thanks, but she is not taking pills... She is taking a liquid medicine, Clindamicyn...
We did have a better day today, thanks to my cat bag

I am not squirting back on her throat anymore, as I am afraid of her aspirating it... So she just needs to deal with the awful bitter taste. I am squirting on the bottom of her mouth or her cheek, or wherever, slower, and waiting for her to swallow... She doesn't like it, but I figure it is safer...
I immediately give her some freeze dried salmon, and she looks a little lost for a minute or two, but recovers fast.

so... hopefully she will forgive me after this ordeal.

As far as pilling, yes, I do have greenies, and she likes it!

Ah yes the cat bag ... You and my vet talk so highly of and I will get as soon as the $$ allow...

She will forgive you ...

Maybe for next time ask if they can flavor the meds ... human pharmacies often do it for their kids and pets meds but I know a few vet s who have the ability

mimzysnoopy · Dec 13, 2012

That is a awesome idea my poor baby was foaming from the mouth and throwing up from that clindrop toxin its so nasty clavamox is way better I will never use this clindrop horrible tasting potion again on my baby kitten .....that company should be should down my kitten is so sick now from that garbage

please ask your doctor for something else and tell him or her to stop pushing this garbage to our babies its bad enough they are sick already and very weak and usually when you are sick your tummy is upset already you should never drink something so repulsive it will just make you sicker... I believe it could kill your kitten or cat by making them so sick to there stomachs that they will not want to eat or drink so please do not buy this garbarge ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

mrsgreenjeens · Dec 13, 2012

mimzysnoopy, the thread you posted to is a couple of years old, and luckily, Lucky is just fine now. I hope YOUR kitty is going to be ok

lotsagoodies · Apr 3, 2014

Carolina said:
As some of you know, Lucky had a Dental procedure done yesterday, to fix a crossbite that was creating holes on the roof of her mouth, making her stopping to eat.

Anyways, I am concerned about a few things... I am a little sad that she is hiding from me and seems to be traumatized from the whole thing...

Lucky was the one kitty who did not hide from me... Not anymore. She got here as a shy cat, and it took me a LONG time, and a LOT of work, and a LOT of patience to get where I am with her not, and to gain her trust...

To see her in hiding again completely breaks my heart in a thousand pieces... And this is just the first day of giving her meds... I can not even imagine how our relationship will be by the end of the 10th day

Something else that happened today that scared me a lot was that she aspirated the meds this morning. I shot the antibiotics on her mouth, and a some seconds later she had a weird cough, sounded like a VERY congested child, like she had a lot of fluids in her lungs.... which brings me to the following scary issue:

Yesterday, when I picked her up from surgery, the Surgeon Vet Tech came out, and said that there was a concern that she was very congested during the procedure, and in looking through her records, they saw that she had been taken to the vet for a cough back in October.

Then he asked if I had tested her for FIV??? Since this issue had never been resolved since October? FIV???

In my mind the issue HAS been resolved - Lucky is not coughing, or sneezing, or congested at home at all, and I am with her 24x7, 7 days a week... This caught me by surprise...

But The cough this morning did scare me, as it did sound like congestion... so.... Since I had to take Hope in for her shots anyways, I made a point to discuss Lucky too.

My vet looked at Lucky's x-ray from October, and saw that there was no congestion, no fluids, nothing that showed anything of concern.

He also said that the cough this morning is consistent with aspiration, and not congestion.

As far as yesterday, he said the it could very well be extra salivation due to stress.

He said that if she has no symptoms at home - no cough, no sneezing, no congestion.... there is not even a concern. He is not worried about it at all.

Just to watch her, and if she shows signs of congestion that doesn't go away, then take her in... But he was not worried...

What do you all think of this?

Oh, and how do I prevent aspiration? Clindrops taste awful, she doesn't eat wet food, so I can not mix it with anything...

lotsagoodies · Apr 3, 2014

[quote name="lotsagoodies"

This is an old thread, but because I had good luck with giving ClinDrops to a feral, I want to post what I did, so it might help someone else. All cats are different, but, well, this worked for me. I have a small TNR feral cat colony, and my 2-3 year-old, 12-pound, sweet-tempered, coltish alpha started limping. There are some serious thorned brambles on the preserve where my colony is, and the slightest prick by one if them WILL cause an infection. I let it go for 3-4 days to see uf it would imorove, but it didn't, and when his eyes looked dull and he held the paw up most of the time, I called the vet & was given ClinDrops. I wet my finger at the mouth of the bottle & had a taste, and they are rotten bitter. I wasn't sure I'd be able to get them into him, but I did & here's what I did.

I got a slice of bread ? Pulled out a tiny round piece from the center, no crust. I broke this tiny piece carefully into small pieces, about quarter-inch pieces. His dose was 2 ml per day, and 2 ml is just a tiny bit of liquid. So I slowly, carefully saturated each crumb, drop-by-drop with the med, being careful to JUST saturate each crumb, then stop - then move on to the next crumb. What I did not do was let any excess medicine get on the little bowl the crumbs were in. Just saturate each crumb until the 2 ml dose is contained in the fresh bresd crumbs.

Then I took about a tablespoon of Fancy Feast trout feast and gently, without squeezing that vile medicine out of the saturated bread crumbs, folded the medicine-logged crumbs into the trout feast, like you fold beaten egg whites into a souffle. Distribute the crumbs but don't iverdo.

Then I took a tin of (human food) trout fillets in olive oil from Trader Joe's, and drizzled the delicious-smelling oil over the crumb-Fancy Feast mixture.

The ClinDrops are a water-soluble mixture. If you are delicate about it, the oil will coat the med mix without absorbing it or its ghastly flavor. The total size of the morsel is small and it smells so luscious that it gets inhaled, and the net effect is kind if like an analog of that old Irish blessing: "May ye be in heaven half an hour before the divil knows yer dead."

My little guy did not foam at the mouth or gag or anything but wait for me to bring him his special treat the next day and then the next. Today was day six, and his limp is gone

For a kibbke-only cat, it would be worth taking 5 or 6 or so grains of kibble and putting them to soak overnite in the ClinDrops dose, then when the dose us absorbed in the kibble, mix it with a little more non-soaked kibble and drizzle some fishalicious oil over it and feed it.

My cat really is a feral. He is not amenable to handling, but he's a sweet-tempered, coltish youngster with a healthy appetite. And as I say, I don't know how well this might work for another anumal. But the idea behind it is simply that oil and water don't mix, and if you encase you water-based med in bread crumbs ir possibly kibble, then coat with aromatic oil, the medicine stands a chance of getting down the hatch untasted.

I hope someone who needs this finds it and that it helps.

Some issues with Lucky

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