Printable View
You CAN get a cat used to taking meds. Smokey the YOunger had an eye infection that wasn't responding so I had to give her 4 different antibiotic creams over a 3 month period. At first it was a 15-30 minute ordeal twice a day of "where's Smokey?" Gradually, she realized that she WAS going to get her eye meds and finally made only the token fuss required by the Cat Union. :)
Good luck!
thanks for the suggestions.
i understand the point- but size means nothing when the boy fights for his life when i try to give him meds. i have scars from eye drops from 2 yrs ago.
he takes 2 liquid meds- supposed to be twice a day, although i'll be happy with once at this point.
eventually, he gets his meds- i just hate to force it on him cuz this cat holds a grudge- big time. i don't want him hating me, or shying away when i try to pet him. if only he knew this was saving his life.
truth is, i'm frustrated. i want him to be well so badly, and when he was eating the meds on his own- it was almost like he was ok.
but now that i have to force them on him, somehow it feels like he's not doing as well- he sure isn't getting the doses he used to
so i'm scared his health might start to decline.
i just had to whine, don't mind me.
tara
you may be bigger than the cat, but I think he wins on the sharp claws dept! I KNOW exactly how you feel, I am like you... I was very upset and desparate when my cats, 4 of them needing 2 meds , each med 4 X a day! it was hell! I guess what the others say, if you really hunt him down and force him then maybe he would get used to it... who knows. what does your vet say? he just really might need kitty prozac or something like it. have you tried the feliway? and a drink for yourself after each "medicating the cat" experience! let it go for a day or 2, he will be ok for just 2 days, it will calm him somewhat. then try tuna, peoples tuna, sardines, anything! baby and spoil him, while you get the feliway...?feliway might not work, but I think it will calm him, and if not then ask your vet about behavior modification because if this is a med he needs for his lifetime, he has to have it.
I know what you mean! I had to give Pixel meds for a few days and it was like World War Three!
I just tried the "variation" thing and that worked for her, but she wouold have outstubborned me had it gone on for too much longer.
One thing that might help you a little bit is keeping his claws nice and clipped regularly...though I imagine he doesn't like that either!
Ozzlou,
Have you considered switching from a liquid dosage form to a pill/capsule? I know that the prednisone comes in an oral tablet form that you can obtain from your local pharmacy. You may have to cut the tablets, but there are pill spliters for that.
Rutin is also available in a solid tablet from you local health food store.
http://www.michvet.com/Newsletters/fall1997.pdf
By using a tablet form you can use some of Phred and Boots tricks for getting the medicine down.
Good luck.
Cheryl
Ozzlou: I'm sorry you are still having problems. I really don't know what to suggest at this point. When I was first having problems with Speckles I did leave her at the vet for a couple of days for them to administer the meds but I was so inexperienced and scared too! The cat picks up on that and fights all the more. I really wish you luck and wish that I had something else to suggest. Sorry.
Ozzlou
what about chicken liver? get them from the grocery store, in the already packaged section. boil them, then, cut them into tiny pieces, big enough to cover the pill. Freeze them...keep out a few days supply at a time...this is pretty tempting stuff for the kitty..so, it might work.
that's disgusting.
anyway- he takes a 2 liquid meds.
is that something that would mix with liquid?
it sounds so incredibly gross.:p
thanks for the suggestion!
tara
slick,
i always appreciate the support.
i'm kind of giving in to the fact that i may always have to give ozzy his meds- the hard way.
as i give in to that, the calmer i am.
like i said before...it makes me feel like he's not doing well, and that he's sicker than he seems. it makes me think about how if i don't do this right, eventually the lack of medication will really hurt him. i hate thinking about what this disease can ultimately do to him.
i am getting better at it. we spend quality time together on the bathroom floor.
my worst fear has always been that he'll hate me for it, and start to not trust me anymore. so, i'm trying to make it as pleasant as possible.
thanks for writing,:)
tara
hi cheryl,
ozzy doesn't take pills.
we tried that one before, and that's why we went to liquid. he likes to eat around it, and leave the tablet...
the vet tried to show me how to use the pill shooter before...lol
2 vet techs AND the vet , and they still couldn't get it down his throat.
:rolleyes:
thanks though,
tara