Help. How to give my Cat a Capsule Medicine?

preciouspepper · Jul 21, 2011

The vet just prescribed Vetanerve capsules for my cat, he said that it will help the back twitching/ear flicking she's been doing so much lately.

The trouble is my cat Pepper doesn't take capsules...

The capsules look like this:

has powder on the inside.

What I do, is I get the powder inside the capsule and that mix it with her lactose free milk... Is that OK?
But she hates it! She probably can taste the bitterness.
What must I do?

stephanietx · Jul 21, 2011

Mix the powder in wet food and serve. Throw the capsule casing away.

cat person · Jul 22, 2011

If your cat does not like wet food or "knows the trick"

you can try baby food in a meat or poultry flavor. You can also ask for a medicine in a way the cat will "easily" take it.

otto · Jul 22, 2011

Is there any reason she can't have the capsule, intact? Pilling a cat is fairly "easy" once you get the hang of it.

My standard pilling method:

For pilling, I advise this: use a dot of something soft and wet s/he likes. You can try mayonnaise, yogurt, even a little soft butter or cream cheese. Just a drop will do. Make sure you have everything ready, in a bowl is good. Pill, and spoon with a little mayonnaise (or whatever)

Use the holding position. Kneel on the floor with your feet crossed behind you, hold kitty between your knees facing out. S/he will try to back away and will not be able to.

With cat in holding position (as described above), put a dot of the mayo (or whatever) on kitty's mouth to keep her busy and to get the saliva flowing (so the pill doesn't stick).

While kitty is licking her mouth, hold pill in one hand, pry open mouth with other, poke pill in, toward side of mouth and as far back as you can.

You can let go of her mouth at this point, but keep a hand on her to keep her still while you get another bit of yogurt (or mayo or...) on your finger and put a dot on her nose and mouth. She will lick off the yogurt and swallow, pill and all.

this can work with liquids too.

I make it sound easier than it is, at first. It does take practice. And you have to approach it with confidence, kitty will sense if you are hesitant. But once you master this method you'll be able to pill any cat, any time. I know I can!

Some pills (baytril for instance) are very bad tasting. For those it helps to put the pill into a plain empty gel capsule. Gel caps go down easier too. Check with vet or pharmacist before using capsules, as a capsule may affect the dissolving time and this may be an issue for some meds.

preciouspepper · Jul 22, 2011

Thank you guys, i will try each method and see which works best. Its such a stress giving her meds-but its for them.

Originally Posted by otto

Is there any reason she can't have the capsule, intact? Pilling a cat is fairly "easy" once you get the hang of it.

My standard pilling method:

For pilling, I advise this: use a dot of something soft and wet s/he likes. You can try mayonnaise, yogurt, even a little soft butter or cream cheese. Just a drop will do. Make sure you have everything ready, in a bowl is good. Pill, and spoon with a little mayonnaise (or whatever)

Use the holding position. Kneel on the floor with your feet crossed behind you, hold kitty between your knees facing out. S/he will try to back away and will not be able to.

With cat in holding position (as described above), put a dot of the mayo (or whatever) on kitty's mouth to keep her busy and to get the saliva flowing (so the pill doesn't stick).

While kitty is licking her mouth, hold pill in one hand, pry open mouth with other, poke pill in, toward side of mouth and as far back as you can.

You can let go of her mouth at this point, but keep a hand on her to keep her still while you get another bit of yogurt (or mayo or...) on your finger and put a dot on her nose and mouth. She will lick off the yogurt and swallow, pill and all.

this can work with liquids too.

I make it sound easier than it is, at first. It does take practice. And you have to approach it with confidence, kitty will sense if you are hesitant. But once you master this method you'll be able to pill any cat, any time. I know I can!

Some pills (baytril for instance) are very bad tasting. For those it helps to put the pill into a plain empty gel capsule. Gel caps go down easier too. Check with vet or pharmacist before using capsules, as a capsule may affect the dissolving time and this may be an issue for some meds.

Thank you, I will try that xD

gloriajh · Jul 23, 2011

I find it hard to imagine pilling a cat - they can't flush it down like we do, with water.

I always ask if a liquid form is available - a whole lot easier to give - IMO.

http://catinfo.org/?link=pillingcats

... The lining of the esophagus is very delicate and it is not designed to have irritating medications in contact with it for more than the short amount of time it should take for the pill to pass from the mouth to the stomach when swallowed with an adequate amount of liquid or food. When a pill is in contact with this tissue for a prolonged period of time, a painful irritation or ulcer has the potential to develop. Some medications are worse than others. For instance, doxycycline is a well-known antibiotic that is extremely irritating. (More on that below from a human who experienced very painful erosive esophagitis from taking this medication without enough water.) ...

If a liquid isn't available - I'd sure break the thing up and put it into some food rather than trying to send a capsule down the esophagus without a chaser.

If you coat the capsule or pill with something to help it slide down that probably would be of some benefit - if you can hold on to it and the pill/capsule doesn't pop out of your fingers first. I think there are pilling aids - like pill pockets, or this instrument: http://www.kvsupply.com/KVVet/produc...52FF3814CEF8CC

Have you checked with your vet - usually they show you how to pill if you ask.

When I'm having to medicate, I always wrap the cat in a towel - seems to be the best way to do it.

I Googled youtube.com - here's one link showing how to use with a pill pocket - not sure it'd work with a capsule unless you emptied the capsule in the pill pocket???

otto · Jul 24, 2011

I find pills WAY easier to give than liquid. No mess. The dot of mayo or butter or yogurt (or even some mushy canned food) on the nose and mouth, when licked off, washes the pill down.

Or you can use a syringe of water, like I do with Tolly when he gets his denosyl, since that has to go on an empty stomach. But Tolly is a lamb and accepts everything I do to him without complaint.

In general the danger of using liquid is aspiration. Which is why liquid medicines are given with eye droppers rather than syringes.

Mostly, medicating a cat is all in the approach and the human's attitude.

You have to approach with confidence and a matter of fact demeanor. It is very important to not act apologetic to the cat. But don't be over bearing either of course. Take the cat in hold, say what you are doing and why, and do it. Thank the cat and release and act like it's all perfectly normal.

I can pill ANY cat with the method I posted above. Not just my own cats. I've been asked to pill friend's cats too, cats they swear cannot be medicated.

Yes, I am bragging, but anyone can learn to do it, it just takes practice and confidence.

preciouspepper · Jul 24, 2011

Okay I was practicing yesterday, at first I really have no idea how to open her mouth lols But I did it, but when I too the pill and did the actual method myself, I sorth of panic xD And she ran away lols. I'll try again today! Wish me luck

ducman69 · Jul 24, 2011

There are products specifically designed for this.

Greenies makes pill pockets that are absolutely delicious.

http://www.greenies.com/en_US/Produc...llpockets.aspx

otto · Jul 25, 2011

Originally Posted by PreciousPepper

Okay I was practicing yesterday, at first I really have no idea how to open her mouth lols But I did it, but when I too the pill and did the actual method myself, I sorth of panic xD And she ran away lols. I'll try again today! Wish me luck

Practice makes progress. Don't give up! Have everything ready, capsule AND wet treat to put on nose and mouth, before starting.

Kneel on floor cross feet behind you, hold kitting facing out.

Put a dot of mayonaise (or other wet treat) on kitty's mouth. While kitty is licking that off, use left hand (if you are right handed) to open mouth while slipping capsule in with other hand. Push capsule back and to the side as far as you can, then put another dot of mayo (or butter, yogurt or wet food) on mouth and nose.

Kitty will soon learn to accept this, and you will get better with practice. I've had at least one special needs cat needing maintenance medicines for the past 30 years, they all have learned to accept this as part of the routine.

ritz · Jul 26, 2011

I am learning how to give Ritz a pill; my friend is teaching me.
First I had to learn how to pick Ritz up; Ritz is around two years old so she has to get use to it too. It's not as easy as it looks, at least for me. (Ritz is my first cat ever.) My friend had a hard time describing how to pick up a cat because it comes naturally to her

Instead of putting Ritz between my knees, I place her on the sofa to the left of me; essentially I block her in with my body. I hold on to her tightly. Still learning the process of opening her mouth, etc.
I coat the pill with butter before it goes in her mouth; stick pill in; put salmon-flavored cream cheese around her mouth/under her lip. Make sure she swallows it.
As part of the picking up/holding process, I am keeping Ritz next to me until her breathing and body tenseness returns to more or less normal. I pet her and say sweet nothings to her.
With all the other supplies mentioned, don't forget a napkin! I need to wipe off my fingers so her fur doesn't get coated with salamon or butter. As it is, she spends around 15+ minutes grooming herself after I do release her.
I need to watch a how to video IN SLOW MOTION on how to pick up a cat and how to pill a cat. I'm a SLOW learner (and, over think, over complicate things).

otto · Jul 26, 2011

Originally Posted by Ritz

I am learning how to give Ritz a pill; my friend is teaching me.
First I had to learn how to pick Ritz up; Ritz is around two years old so she has to get use to it too. It's not as easy as it looks, at least for me. (Ritz is my first cat ever.) My friend had a hard time describing how to pick up a cat because it comes naturally to her

Instead of putting Ritz between my knees, I place her on the sofa to the left of me; essentially I block her in with my body. I hold on to her tightly. Still learning the process of opening her mouth, etc.
I coat the pill with butter before it goes in her mouth; stick pill in; put salmon-flavored cream cheese around her mouth/under her lip. Make sure she swallows it.
As part of the picking up/holding process, I am keeping Ritz next to me until her breathing and body tenseness returns to more or less normal. I pet her and say sweet nothings to her.
With all the other supplies mentioned, don't forget a napkin! I need to wipe off my fingers so her fur doesn't get coated with salamon or butter. As it is, she spends around 15+ minutes grooming herself after I do release her.
I need to watch a how to video IN SLOW MOTION on how to pick up a cat and how to pill a cat. I'm a SLOW learner (and, over think, over complicate things).

Sounds like you are doing a great job with Ritz, the two of you are learning together what works best for you. Excellent tip about the napkin!

gloriajh · Jul 26, 2011

Originally Posted by otto

Practice makes progress. Don't give up! Have everything ready, capsule AND wet treat to put on nose and mouth, before starting.

Kneel on floor cross feet behind you, hold kitting facing out.

Put a dot of mayonaise (or other wet treat) on kitty's mouth. While kitty is licking that off, use left hand (if you are right handed) to open mouth while slipping capsule in with other hand. Push capsule back and to the side as far as you can, then put another dot of mayo (or butter, yogurt or wet food) on mouth and nose.

Kitty will soon learn to accept this, and you will get better with practice. I've had at least one special needs cat needing maintenance medicines for the past 30 years, they all have learned to accept this as part of the routine.

Thanks for the lesson - and, the idea of giving a dropper of water after pilling - too bad your process is kept such a secret (my vet's office didn't show me anything like this) - we'd all be doing our cats a real favor knowing how to pill efficiently .

ritz · Jul 26, 2011

Another things (Note to Self): pick up Ritz and hold her, telling her how good she is, give her a few special treats AND DON'T PILL HER. In other words, I need to teach Ritz that being picked up isn't always A Bad Thing.

otto · Jul 26, 2011

Originally Posted by Ritz

Another things (Note to Self): pick up Ritz and hold her, telling her how good she is, give her a few special treats AND DON'T PILL HER. In other words, I need to teach Ritz that being picked up isn't always A Bad Thing.

OH YES! Very very important! Thanks for the reminder, I am going to add that to my standard method advice, thank you!

gloriajh · Jul 26, 2011

When I wrap a cat into a towel to medicate - they seem to know something different is going to happen other than a hugging session. Another thing, once they're wrapped, they seem to be more peaceful. (?)

otto · Jul 26, 2011

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

When I wrap a cat into a towel to medicate - they seem to know something different is going to happen other than a hugging session. Another thing, once they're wrapped, they seem to be more peaceful. (?)

Some cats may feel more secure in a wrap.

I've never had to wrap a cat other than Queen Eva and she screams bloody murder when she is wrapped. I don't have to wrap her any more though, only when she first came, for nail trimmings. Thank goodness, I think I would be deaf by now if I was still having to wrap her!

gloriajh · Jul 26, 2011

Originally Posted by otto

Some cats may feel more secure in a wrap.

I've never had to wrap a cat other than Queen Eva and she screams bloody murder when she is wrapped. I don't have to wrap her any more though, only when she first came, for nail trimmings. Thank goodness, I think I would be deaf by now if I was still having to wrap her!

just more proof that one size doesn't fit all.

otto · Jul 26, 2011

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

just more proof that one size doesn't fit all.

Yep, that is one thing we can count on!

preciouspepper · Jul 31, 2011

Thank you so much for the advice!!!

I'm gonna practice againnn and againnn! But hoping that I wont be giving her medicines soon because I want her to stay healthyyy xD

Help. How to give my Cat a Capsule Medicine?

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