I really need help with ideas for medicating..

Hobbes has not been easy to give medicine to. We had to syringe feed him antibiotics and Hubby held him in this strange way- he wrapped a towel around Hobbes and held him from behind with hobbes' front legs pinned. Looked more like a hug from behind and hubby's arms crossed and held Hobbes tight and I fed Hobbes the Meds through a syringe. There was no way either of us could have managed this alone with him since he struggles a lot. I would suggest not adding a ton of water- just a little. Can you ask the vet if there was a way to compound the powder with some kind of syrup?

Recently I was having trouble giving Hobbes prednisone tablets and those are not tiny. Could not give with food as a whole or after crushing - he refused to eat. Then I got pill pockets (salmon flavor) and he loved it. I gave him about 5 each time with 1 having the med concealed. Perhaps you can give the powder in a pill pocket too?

I have had several cats....and still do that require daily medication. I had one kitty that was horrible with taking any kind of med, liquid, hidden in food, ect. She would always manage to spit it back out or not eat it.

Anyway, I met this really nice guy who was fostering my Harry when I adopted him. He showed me the easiest and quickest way to give medications. I'm not sure if you have tried this or not, but it has helped me so much and now I am able to give meds without the aid of someone else or stressing kitty as little as possible and it has worked with every cat, especially the tough ones.

I was told to just grab them by the scruff of the neck, just like mom would do, and gently pull back and slip the pill or syringe via the side. You may have to use a finger to pry the teeth open, but I find if you go towards the back of their mouths, they open up pretty readily. The trick is to get the pill or the syringe far enough back without choking kitty. I usually hold the syringe/pill between the thumb & middle finger, index on plunger (ready to squirt), and use the ring finger to open the jaw. Like I said, put pressure with your ring finger at the back of the mouth, it usually opens without too much trouble.

I found it to be amazingly easy. I was able to give my tough Emma her liquid thyroid meds daily for 5 years doing this before she passed. Now I'm on to insulin shots twice a day for one of my other kitties for the past year now. I've finally got that down to a science now....lol.

Hope this helps.

Jo Ann

I keep thinking to check some of Carolina's old posts - she had some sort of wrap thing that worked really well with her cats.

I honestly dread the day when I'll have to medicate my cats...so far I've been pretty lucky with pills pockets and baby food, but....my Dharma fights like a wild little lady when she doesn't want something - and I'm afraid of hurting her. And I'm on my own, so don't have that extra pair of hands to help.

Get baby food (meat) stage 2.... make sure it is meat ONLY and NO ONION.

Mix it in there. First, see if she will lap it on her own. If not, use the syringe and apply through the side of her mouth (slowly).

If you have control of the cat's head, you have control of the cat.

There should be some youtubes that will show you the best way to hold your cat. Soon, it will be a piece of cake. It just takes practice.

Good luck.

I'm sorry you have to go through this with Sami. Sometimes quality over quantity is the way to go.
If you're really at the end point with medicating her, I'd wait a little while before PTS. The stress in and of itself may be making her symptoms worse. And you both deserve some happy memories, nice cuddle time, before PTS.
Hugs.

But before you give up, in the "going bald around the mouth" thread, I posted some links you may find helpful. I hope you'll try the cat bag.

Thinking of you and Sami.