Becky,
Do I have this right? Moe has a rash of bumps around his neck and the
vet thinks it's some sort of allergy? Is that why she suggested
Benedryl? If that's the case, clavomox wouldn't help him anyway. My
fiv boy, Starman has very sensitive skin and an allergy to flea bites.
Something that has helped him is the antihistamine Chlorpheniramine.
It's over the counter too and if the Benedryl doesn't help Moe, the
Chlor might, (Star is 20lb and his recommended dose was 2-4mg, 1-2x daily).
As for pilling... The best way I have found to pill a cat is to wrap it
in just enough Pill Pocket to cover the pill and then hide it in a tiny
bit of something yummy they love to eat, like tuna or chicken pieces.
Pill Pockets come in several different flavors so get the one that
matches the treat best. You can get Pill Pockets at most pet food
stores now. As long as Moe is eating well this might work and it turns
pill time into something to look forward to. If they won't eat it in
this way a pill-popper can really help you with placing the pill far
enough back on the tongue and also helps you avoid getting your fingers
munched. It also speeds the process and avoids having to retrieve the
pill from wherever they spit it out, (practice with it before hand to
see just how far the pill popper projects the pill). With really
reluctant pillers, the easiest way for me, is to kneel on the floor and
get the cat between your legs with his head near your knees and your
body sort of hovering over him. Close your heals up tight so he can't
squirm backwards and escape. When you have him gently trapped this
way, take your left hand and cup it over his face, (as if you are
petting his whole head from nose to ears). When you have your index
finger and thumb on both sides of the back of his jaw, gently pry open
his mouth and tilt his head slightly backwards. With your right hand
put the pill in his open mouth all the way at the back of his tongue and
gently force the pill into the hole of his throat. As soon as you pull
your right hand away, he'll close his mouth, keep it closed while
stroking his neck until you are sure the pill has gone down. I always
wrap the pill in a tiny bit of Pill Pocket just in case it is foul
tasting, or in case they chomp down on it. Wrapping something like
Doxycycline in pill pockets help too because it protects against
abrasion to the lining of their throat. Make sure you offer him
something tasty directly afterward to insure the pill goes all the way
down his throat and doesn't get stuck. If he's too upset to eat after
pilling, then have a syringe ready with a couple cc's of water to wash
it down before you release him.
What I have found helps most of all when medicating my animals is to
change my attitude toward it. They are already nervous enough without
me adding to it by being apprehensive or apologetic. Put on your
nurse's hat and do everything very matter of factly. Let him know you
understand that this is unpleasant, but that it is necessary for him to
feel better. I always praise them exorbitantly afterward and tell them
thank you for being so good, (even if they weren't). You can also wrap
him up like a little mummy in a towel to cut down on the squirming.
Once they figure out that they have to put up with this, (they have no
choice), and if you can make it a quick process, they start to accept
being pilled with a little more grace.
Good luck sweetie, don't forget to put peroxide on those scratches!
Nina
