Metronidazole - tips, tricks, recommendations?

It seems the newest addition to our feline family, Colby, had a raging case of coccidia. Imagine my pleasant surprise, to see within hours of being in her new home that she had a raging case of drippy farts and projectile diarrhea. Yes, it's been a fun week indeed!

Finally was able to get her into the vet yesterday and get a diagnosis. He prescribed an antibiotic and the aforementioned 'metronidazole'. Colby is smart and doesn't want to have anything to do with this medication. I should have tried the honey technique before attempting the vinegar technique. I can't believe the strength my frightened kitty was able to muster when I attempted to pry her jaws open (however delicately) and shoot medication into her mouth. Gee, I wonder who wouldn't be bothered by that. Being afraid that I would inevitably harm her, I decided to try the tricky route. Seems she really like salmon. So I steamed a fresh salmon fillet and took two small portions of it. I applied each medication to a different chunk of the salmon.

When presented with these two dishes, side-by-side, Colby devoured the salmon soaked with the antiobiotic and even licked the bowl clean. I was beside myself and literally almost jumped for joy! However, she will not go near the metronidazole.

Does anybody have a suggestion as to how to disguise the bitterness so kitty might willingly eat this putrid substance?

Please, get metronidazole in tablet form. Then get size 0 empty gelatin capsules at your local pharmacy, or, from a local health food store. (The Vitamin Shoppe has them in their stores and online as well.) Coat the gel cap with a little butter and you don't have any problem giving it. No bitter, objectionable taste because the medicine is inside the gel cap.

However, please, keep a very close eye on the possible side effects and talk to your vet immediately if you notice any of the possible side effects listed here

http://www.vetinfo.com/side-effects-metronidazole.html

(One of mine developed a very serious issue with lethargy and loss of appetite. We had to stop the medication.)

A very serious liver problem can be an unexpected, potentially life-threatening side effect. So, please, depending on how long your baby has to take this medication, consider doing a liver enzyme test just to be sure everything is all right.

I have put it in wet food and mixed in.  Just add a bit of water to the concoction and see if that works.  You can also try plain meat baby food.
 

Please, get metronidazole in tablet form. Then get size 0 empty gelatin capsules at your local pharmacy, or, from a local health food store. (The Vitamin Shoppe has them in their stores and online as well.) Coat the gel cap with a little butter and you don't have any problem giving it. No bitter, objectionable taste because the medicine is inside the gel cap.

However, please, keep a very close eye on the possible side effects and talk to your vet immediately if you notice any of the possible side effects listed here

http://www.vetinfo.com/side-effects-metronidazole.html

(One of mine developed a very serious issue with lethargy and loss of appetite. We had to stop the medication.)

A very serious liver problem can be an unexpected, potentially life-threatening side effect. So, please, depending on how long your baby has to take this medication, consider doing a liver enzyme test just to be sure everything is all right.

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Thank you for your response. This is one of the best recommendations I've come across so far. I've tried everything. The little critter simply will not willingly ingest this stuff. It was actually prescribed for its antidiarrheal properties, as opposed to its antiparasitic properties. Since adjusting her - temporarily - to a high fiber and low fat food (given by the vet), her diarrhea has basically subsided. Maybe it's not worth it to force this issue as long as she is taking her antibiotic.
 

I've tried mixing it with beef, salmon, and peanut butter. One whiff and she bolts, unfortunately.