I can't believe it was so easy - Update

So we needed to give Ranger some amitriptylene. In the beginning we had them compounded into tuna treats. Didn't work. Wrapped the treats in other treats, didn't work. Ranger drooled and gagged. Compounding the meds into treats is expensive!!

Then we found out they have a very bitter taste so vet made them up in a liquid and added sweeteners and chicken flavor. Didn't work, drooled, gagged, ran and hid from us after taking it. He thought we were very cruel and he thought maybe he was better off being a stray! We felt so bad doing this to him. We didn't want every night being bad for him. Plus compounding it into liquid is very expensive too!!!

So found this board, got a few great suggestions. Vet gave us 3 pills free so we could see if one of the suggestions would work. We took the pill, smothered it in butter, the pill was cut in half so I thought surely it would still taste bitter. My hubby pilled him, it was real easy, he didn't bite hubby's fingers off like we thought he would. Plus Ranger didn't gag, drool, run or hide. He just got down on the floor, licked his chops like that was pretty good!!!

Summary, we spent lots of money making this pill fancy so it would be easy to give him his meds, when the easiest way was to get the pills, wrap in butter and pill him. Even though the amitriptylene is bitter, the bitter taste didn't come thru the butter.

So now we just have to wait and see if the amitriptylene works for his condition.

Thanks all for your suggestions.

I am also having trouble pilling my cat. The drooling and gagging, plus the evil hurt looks makes the whole thing really unpleasant! Butter is such a good idea!! I just started using something called "pill pockets" and it seems ok. If that stops working I'm totally going to try butter.

Yep, I do the butter thing! Cheap, easy. Now wouldn't you think that they would make cat/dog medication in either a capsale or coated so we didn't have to have such a hard time giving pills.

My experience is that flavored liquid compounds just don't work as far as the cat is concerned. I always ask for pills. Gel caps don't taste at all and even a bitter pill can go down really quickly.

Originally Posted by kbak

Yep, I do the butter thing! Cheap, easy. Now wouldn't you think that they would make cat/dog medication in either a capsale or coated so we didn't have to have such a hard time giving pills.

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You can buy gelatin capsules at a pharmacy and put the pills in them. My friend does this with her cat's amitryptiline and it works beautifully.

I have some veggie caps at home, but they seem so big. I'll have to check with the pharmacy and see if they have something smaller. Thanks, I didn't even think of the pharmacy for empty capsules.