Pilling the Monster

[mamaducky]

Hi all,

In need of some advice from the pros.

Due to aggression & territorial issues with my feline family, my biggest guy, Zorro, is on Clomicalm to try to get the anxiety down to manageable levels so that he doesn't terrorize his much smaller sister, Meg.

For the first couple of weeks, he took the pill reasonably well -- but the past couple of days have been just unholy mayhem trying to get them down him. He won't even touch a Pill Pocket (never would!), and when I have been successful in getting the pill into him, it's been by putting the pill into the back of his mouth and then massaging his throat while holding his muzzle shut.

That finally worked this evening, too -- but I've got some nice painful (and bloody) scratches up my arm to show for that "success".

And yes, I absolutely DO know how lucky we are when I compare my situation to these poor families whose kitties are really ill -- and if you're one of those members, please know that you and your kitties are always in my prayers. Meanwhile, though, my right arm and I would sure be relieved if any of you had any better ideas than I've had so far!

Hugs,
Diana

[kitten645]

I feel your pain! Perhaps you can wrap Zorro in a towel or blankie first to protect yourself from the flying razors! I also know someone once mentioned a "pill popper" that shoot the pill to the back of the thoat. I've never tried it though as I have visions on inhaling instead of exhaling and pilling myself I might be afraid of it going down the wrong pipe as well but I'm sure whoever invented it has all these issues covered. Good luck!
Claudia

[mamaducky]

I also know someone once mentioned a "pill popper" that shoot the pill to the back of the thoat. I've never tried it though as I have visions on inhaling instead of exhaling and pilling myself
Claudia

Claudia -- LOL!

You know, though, if the Clomicalm did for me what it's supposed to be doing for him, it might not be so bad...!

Thanks for the "wrapping the towel" idea -- that could make it at least less dangerous!

Hugs,
Diana

[jennielynn1970]

Will he eat wet food if it's ground up and mixed in there?

Can you ask for it to be compounded by the pharmacy so that it can be transdermal? I know for my one cat they did that and I had to rub it into the skin of his ear (which was just weird in itself).

[Laura's Babies]

I grind up Giz's medicine and put it in about 1/2 a teaspoon of wet cat food that I use as a "treat".. Amy and Boo get their Cosequin the same way.. The only problem I have is keeping them away while I mix it into the food..

I too, have used a pill popper but this is so much easier!

[Emeraldgreen]

I was also going to suggest having the meds turned into a transdermal gel. My cat Jimmy is on prednisilone and I've used that on him for a couple of years. As Jenn mentioned, you just squirt out the dose which usually isn't much and smear it on the inside of his ear. It enters his body that way and is so much easier. I use the back of a spoon to get it onto his ear.

You can also take the clomicalm to a compounding pharmacy and have them mix it up with a flavored suspension (chicken, salmon or beef) and then administer the suspension by syringe into his mouth or if you're able to, hide the now flavored meds into a similarly flavored food. But if your cat is anything like a few of my cats, they might be very suspicious of anything that could have 'tainted' their food.

That pill popper thing is pretty cheap, I think it's under 10.00 and most vet clinics sell them.