Benadryl

What brand, what type of liquid, what strength?

My vet just prescribed some Benadryl for my cat recovering from a cold. He still has some sinus issues - and needs to get that dried up.

Since I've never had to use this type of medication, I know little about it - so when the vet told me to get some Benadryl, and told me the dose to give, I didn't know I needed to ask which strength I need to get - guess there's an Adult strength, and a Child's strength.

He did warn me that it may be difficult to give to him because it was sweet (?).

He's at lunch now, so thought I'd pose the question while I wait for him to return.

Is there anything else I need to ask about Benadryl before I try to administer to my cat?

Compounded - very interesting - I am already a Compound Pharmacy customer - this is something I'll check in to.

The vet told me the dose amount was liquid form - he talked about getting a 3 cc syringe for a 1 cc dose 2 x's a day, sorry I didn't mention that earlier, ugh. I'm waiting to hear back from him to know if the liquid is in the adult or child's strength - if I actually get to talk to him, I'll try to remember to talk to him about getting it compounded.

scary! we should never read the precautions - that's why I never take drugs!... that is, -- with some minor exceptions.

YIKES!
what to do
what to do ????

My vet just called.
He said that the strength is 12.5 per 1 teaspoon, and that I should give 1 cc every 12 hours.

So, AddieBee - the strength may be 12.5 if taken in the dose of 1 teaspoon, but 1 cc is less than 1/4 tsp ... so he wouldn't be getting the full 12.5 dose, right?

??

(I measured 1 teaspoon of water and got a little over 5 cc's)

I need to dry him up with something, now I'm really wondering what to do - before I head off to the pharmacy ... hmmm

thanks to the helpful postings - I wasn't in panic mode when he began foaming and drooling - I did manage to get a little over 1/2 cc into him - well whatever actually stayed, who knows? ...

started cleaning him, and the floors, and the walls (yes, everything in the area got slung with drool) ... he was still foaming, bubbling, drooling when I called the vet

the person answering the phone started to tell me the Dr. was with another patient getting ready to go into surgery when I interrupted her and started telling her what was happening - I could tell she quickly changed gears - said that she would get a note to him and call me right back

she called, Dr. said foaming, etc was due to the fowl taste of the benadryl, not to be concerned, and that he would call me as soon as he got out of surgery

he just called - told me that some cats do this out of a response to the taste, that it wasn't anything to be concerned about, he would be okay - but, was sorry that I had all that mess to clean up

FYI - Gray has been diagnosed with FIV, I'm keeping him away from the other cats - and, now all this extra work of disinfecting isn't really what I wanted to do with my day

Anyway - since Dr. doesn't feel that we'd do well with pills, or capsules, he's calling the compound pharmacy to see what they can have made up for me to give Gray.

Will NEVER use BENADRYL on another cat -
I wasn't going to use it after reading the links, and experience of others here - but, Gray was just about over the hump of the cold and I thought that if this stuff worked - even a little might help clear up his nose so he could smell food and eat. He's hungry - but what I'm giving him just isn't stinky enough.

I've gotta go - hope what I've typed makes sense - other cats are calling, ugh!

My Dr. said that he was going to talk to the Pharmacist about a chicken flavor.

I did ask the Doctor about dermal - he was concerned about irritation at the application site causing yet another problem.

Frankly - I'm not all that sure that I will use whatever I get - the situation will have to be very, very necessary before I go though this again. The clean up and disinfecting process is just too much to deal with right now.

Thanks for telling me how it works with you, when the Vet calls I'll have more information so I can ask better questions.

I was unable to get to the phone when my Dr. called. He left me a voice mail message that he had already arranged for a chicken flavored brew to be made.

I will go with the flow on this one - then, if it doesn't work I know there's another option for us. I'm sure this pharmacist would be able to make up something for Gray's skin if I find I need it - as it turns out, this pharmacist is also my compound pharmacist.

Thanks, Pami.