We have two cats who receive thyroid pills. We schedule the evening pill just as dinner is being served, so that they immediately have something to swallow to help the pill all the way down. For the morning pill, I have a syringe of water ready to wash it down. I try to sort of dribble the water rather than squirt it, so it doesn't go down the wrong way. I do a variation on Nina's technique (the variation for people with problem knees!) -- I make a V of my feet and sit them in it, and bend over the cat and do what Nina does. One of the cats tends to get "boxing gloves" when you try to pill her, and it's amazing how a 5-pound cat can swat you away when she wants to! (The other one, who's bigger but as soft as a Gund toy, sometimes "goes limp" and getting him vertical enough is like putting galoshes on a 2-year-old.) I keep her head tilted so that her throat is vertical, and keep my hands up so she can't reach them with her little patty-paws. This works pretty well, although from time to time we'll find a little disc with all the writing digested off to keep us from getting cocky.
Diane R. ____________________________ Diane Rosenfeldt Legal Secretary Quarles & Brady LLP 411 East Wisconsin Avenue Suite 2040 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4497 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________ -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nina Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 12:10 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Becky and Pilling Moe 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 This electronic mail transmission and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. They should be read or retained only by the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the transmission from your system. In addition, in order to comply with Treasury Circular 230, we are required to inform you that unless we have specifically stated to the contrary in writing, any advice we provide in this email or any attachment concerning federal tax issues or submissions is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, to avoid federal tax penalties.
