Need help with pilling Ripley please

[nepeta]

I just told hubby we need to make a run to PetsMart tonight to look for pill pocket treats.

The pill pockets web site has a link to find a store near you (given a zip code). See Pill Pockets .


My 3 cats all take meds long term and the pill pockets work great for them. It may depend on the taste and smell of the medication though.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Hard to believe you can't make the Pill Shooter work!

Some tips:

* Head holding / mouth opening hand - need to have a FIRM grip on the head AND
the finger & thumb wedging the mouth open HAVE to maintain the mouth WIDE open.

* Pill Shooter TIP must be pushed WAY Back in the throat -
you use the Tip to depress the tongue and prevent the tongue from sealing off
the back of the throat.
If Kitty can "work it back up" - it wasn't "DOWN" far enough.
You need to be "popping" the pill from the gun WAY back beyond the teeth -
Tip should be part way down Kitty's throat.

You need to *practice* -
Use Kitty's favorite Kibble or tiny treats ... it'll sharpen your Shooting skills
AND possibly convince Kitty the Pill Shooter isn't always bad news.

Happy Pilling!

/s/ Phred

[sirrahbed]

sorry to read this Lori

CCL Lisa has a couple kitties that are impossible to pill and what she has had to do with Peanut Butter is to give him liquid antibiotic - and the only way she can get it in to him at this point is to squirt it on his fur. He cleans himself up and get the medicine. I know it is not very accurate this way but at least it gets in to him. I did this last time Eliot needed antibiotic as he also freaks on me. I had to really sneak up on him and squirt quickly It works.

[jazzcat]

Thanks everybody!

I checked out the Pill Pockets and the nearest location to me is 61 miles away, gee!

Phred, thanks for the shooter instructions. I think my main problem now is Ripley's fear. He totally freaks out when we try now. The first time I used the shooter last night it worked like a charm but today he was bucking, scratching and screeching while hubby held him and I tried to get it in his mouth. He has an amazing memory so this shooter may be dead to us now.

Debbie, I remember reading about CCL just squirting the liquid on so I will call the vet first thing Monday and ask for the liquid. It's worth a shot.

I really appreciate all the help. This has been a stressful situation. I'm giving Ripley the rest of the weekend off before I try again. Thankfully he seems to have forgiven me for the moment but he does run and hide whenever I walk in the kitchen which is where I keep the pills. Poor guy.

[nepeta]

Thanks everybody!

I checked out the Pill Pockets and the nearest location to me is 61 miles away, gee!

This doesn't help immediately, but you can also order from Healthy Pets and from Drs Foster & Smith

[jazzcat]

Auggie - thanks for the link. That may be a good alternative to try.

Nepeta - thank for the links for the pill pockets. I think I will order some chicken flavor for him.

Barbara - garden gloves, I love it! I never thought of that. We haven't tried the between the knees thing yet like you and Lorraine but I'm going to. With garden gloves, a towel and using Phred's pill shooter tips it might work.

There is also the liquid on the fur trick!

I knew my PT Pals could help me with this. You all are brilliant!!

[jenluckenbach]

Another think you could attempt (instaed of the peanut butter) is processed cheese like Velveeta. YES, you would still need to get it into the back of his throat (because if he licks at the cheese he will taste the pill), but it should make it slice down better and the initial taste should be that of the cheese.

Give it a try while you wait for the pill pockets to come.

[auggie]

Herbal and homeopathic UTI treatment:
http://www.nativeremedies.com/petali...cats-dogs.html

[Catty1]

Auggie - that link was really interesting...though I notice that it involves putting a few granules on the cat's tongue. Ripley doesn't like anyone trying to open his mouth right now! Do you happen to know if this can be mixed into wet food?

Catty1