Help Needed with Liquid Medicine!

Hey everyone!

So I took Kira to see the vet. and got some medication for her. I'm here asking for some suggestions of how to *properly* administer the liquid medication by syringe.

So far, I just hold her scruff and try and open the side of her mouth with the syringe and try and squirt it in as much as I can. I don't want to do it all at once because well, I don't want to choke her and I don't want her to feel overwhelmed with the amount being given to her at one time. I have to give her 1mL of the medicine. I find it quite hard to give it to her because of this. Today she totally did not want it, she resisted all she could and she salivated alot.

Could you also give me some info of what I should expect?

I hope I can get some good suggestions.
Thanks for reading everyone!

I have great success giving medicine by syringe if I mix it with goat milk or tuna water. As you say, you must be careful not to give too much at once as that can be dangerous, but my cats almost queue up for nice flavoured medicine!

I always get pill form, but once had to give drops to my cat first time arouind. I took old pair of jeans and wrapped him up(tried towel but he was exferal and plowed right through it lol) and held him sitting down so his head was on my knees but tilted up a bit(he wasn't flat out laying down) that worked but after that I never did liquid again. For me pills are easier and also taht cat responed with less puking on pills. Good Luck. RJ

I have to wrap Bunnie in a towel so that her feet are securely covered so she can't kick and claw at me. I sit on a chair with her craddled in the crook of my arm (her butt resting on my lap) and I talk babytalk to her while I put the syringe in the corner of her mouth and slowly administer the medicine....

I don't enjoy giving liquid meds either, and would suggest you ask for the pill form if available. A pet apothecary can fashion something for you, I bet, if they know of one. The colder the meds are, the more the cats can't taste it, in my experience. I'm sure it's not like that with every cat. What kind of medicine is it?

I think it's better to squirt it all in at once, that way you don't prolong the stress for you and the cat. Other than that you seem like you are doing fine. I try to aim as far back in the mouth as possible so more will go down. I find pills to be easier myself. You can also try tipping the cats head back a bit as you do it, then gravity will be on your side.

I scruff my cat and squirt it all in. It takes two seconds and is way less stressful if you just do it.

Just be careful kitty doesn't choke.

I agree with Jenny's suggestion. Draw the dose into the syringe and then fill the syringe the rest of the way with a treat such as chicken baby food or the water that canned tuna or chicken is packed in. It makes the medicine taste like a treat.

If your cat will reliably eat a portion of canned food, you can also mix many liquid meds in there without a problem. Medicines like Clavamox and Amoxicillin, for instance, do not have a bad taste so cats usually don't even notice when they're mixed with their wet food.

Personally, if a cat is not very good about taking meds then I prefer liquid over pills. With a pill they either get the whole dose or they get none of it. With liquid, even if they put up a struggle you can usually get most of the dose into them. That's just my preference.

I have so much better luck with liquids over pills!!

I personally find it easier to come to them from behind, firmly wrap an arm from their behind to their neck where you hold them firmly. Bring the medicine up to their mouth from behind so they don't see it coming, gently put the dropper at an angle from the front corner or side of the mouth and squeeze.

I like someone else's suggestion that you give them some tuna oil or gravy first to get them to like taking a syringe. I'd add a syringe after the medicine also in case the medicine itself tastes bad. In any case, a treat reward (if they are so motivated) is good afterwards.

Originally Posted by Plebayo

I scruff my cat and squirt it all in. It takes two seconds and is way less stressful if you just do it.

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Same way I do it. I also rub her throat while her head is still tilted backwards, as she has a tendency to try spitting medicine out.

I've yet to have a problem medicating her with pills or liquid doing that.

Depending on the instructions on the medicine, she gets treats or a petting session afterwards.

Unfortunately, many medications just don't come in pill form and administering liquids can be messy and wasteful.

In rescue with cats of all ages, I've always had the best luck mixing the medication with a tablespoon of gruel - normally moist food and a little water. Then I suck it up into a syringe to administer. With adult cats I find it easiest to have the syringe prepared and within reach, then approach the cat from behind and kneel over it, using between my legs and under my feet as a trap to secure the cat. Then grasp the upper jowls and shoot the gruel/med mixture.

This is the only method I will use with kittens as aspiration pneumonia is always a concern with administering any liquids via a syringe; changing the consistency eliminates that hazard.

Be thankful this will not be an everyday event and her med therapy will be over soon.

Good luck!
Rachel

Originally Posted by semiferal

I agree with Jenny's suggestion. Draw the dose into the syringe and then fill the syringe the rest of the way with a treat such as chicken baby food or the water that canned tuna or chicken is packed in. It makes the medicine taste like a treat.

If your cat will reliably eat a portion of canned food, you can also mix many liquid meds in there without a problem. Medicines like Clavamox and Amoxicillin, for instance, do not have a bad taste so cats usually don't even notice when they're mixed with their wet food.

Personally, if a cat is not very good about taking meds then I prefer liquid over pills. With a pill they either get the whole dose or they get none of it. With liquid, even if they put up a struggle you can usually get most of the dose into them. That's just my preference.

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Hey that's the best suggestion that really relates to me since Kira's on Clavamox. I think that's what I may do then since she absolutely loves tuna. I guess I can just mix it in with the fish. I'll give it a shot.

Btw, thanks to EVERYONE for their responses. A big help from you. Thank you again!

I hae never had a problem with medicating cats with liquid in a syringe, even the most unwilling cats and I think it is MUCH easier then pilling them, even with a pill popper sometimes. Just move quick, pet them slowly move to the back of their neck then go for it. Scruff the neck, open the mouth and squirt it all in. Do it quick, they will swallow it and they can go about their way. The only way to choke them would be if you shoved the syringe in too far, and i would even call that a choke, just a little gag and you will get better after the 2nd or so time you do it.

I call the cat into the kitchen (on linoleum) and give him a treat first. After he's totally done eating the treat I kneel down behind him (since he wants to move backwards when getting meds) separate my knees enough for him to slide back a little bit. I gently grab one side of his face with my left hand and craddle his chin area while I put the syringe in the side of his mouth on the right. I squirt about 1/2 of the meds after he's done swallowing I squirt the rest. Then I give him another treat.
I had to do this twice a day for 7 days and I had no problems at all.

I am going to try again to give my kitty her worming meds - it isn't much but she can MOVE like lighting and then hides from me for a day or so. I feel so guilty that she gets upset, but I feel worse that I can't get her meds into her.

I will try the methods metioned here. I hope I can do it even if she gets mad. Wish me luck!

Since it is so important to not miss a day when giving meds, maybe consider confining her to a small room until the meds are done. That way you don't have a lot of chasing and hiding going on.

She is confined to the back room - but she can rocket around and flatten herself like a cartoon to get under something - I am truly amazed. She is a rescued feral and isn't truly socialized yet and she is just starting to be less scared. But I am at the point where I either succeed or get a vet to do it - which I cannot afford. I can't wait to get this over with. I have never scruffed a cat, but tonight might be the night.

I find liquid the easiest way to go. Again, like many others who have posted I mix it with wet food, tuna water or some other treat.

If the med has a strong bitter taste is it a bit harder to cover up but it usually does the trick. Some vets will add flavoring which is a great help!

I have always found it extremely hard to give my kitties pills or liquid...but recently, my vet was here and he administered the first does of some antibiotics they were on and he amazingly did it with such ease....... he explained to me that it is not necessary to open their mouths....... just to stick the syringe next to the teeth and squirt and they would swallow......
As I administered the rest of their doses over the course of the next several days ...... it worked like a charm .......... i didnt need another person to help me hold them ... i didnt need to pry the mouth open .......... i would just go find the kitty with the syringe ready ...... and quickly stick it in their mouth .....on the outside of their teeth and squirt ........ they would swallow ......... they would look at me like they wanted to slap the * out of me ...... but i would talk to them and calm them and everything was fine until the next dose. But his technique worked so well ........ I just wish he showed me years ago ....