Sam to the dentist - White Coats - Update about Emily

[mrspunkysmom]

Congrats on getting them all in carriers and in and only "almost" being late! I admire that!

Sounds like a good report overall. Darn gingivitis! Good luck at the dental, Sam. If mine need a dental but there is no infection, my vet allows me to wait until Feb / Mar - pet dental months. They run special, the drop in cost is significant! Just a thought to pass along to you.

I'll remember that. Sam has stomatitus so it is best to get this done. I can't examine his mouth. He refuses to let you touch him anywhere but the head and on the top or the cheeks. Even the cats can't reciprocate the grooming process.

I will ask about dental specials and how much infection is there at this point.

[mrspunkysmom]

I heard from the vet today.

Spunky has a slightly high creatinine level. Everything else was normal. And he definitely has a heart murmur.

Emily is hyperthyroid. she has her on 0.5 Methimazole 5mg/ml given twice per day. She needs to be treated but before I give her the first dose, I wanted to ask your opinions. She is only 6 pounds.

I also have a question about how to fill the syringe. She marked it, but do I use the bottom of the black stopper or the top? This syringe does not have a flat tip but a tapered nozzle in place of a needle. 1/2 inch to 3/4 maybe.

I don't want to give her too much. I was told this could make her sick anyway for a while. No need to give too much.

And do the does need to be the exact same time every day. How much leeway is there?

[Soapets]

You measure it in the syringe by making the bottom of the black stopper even with the mark on the srynige...so the medicine is right up to the mark. The measurement marks take into account the type of tip of the syringe, etc. Hyperthyroid can make Emily lose weight, because it speeds up the metabolism, among other things. She needs the medicine to counteract the overactive thyroid and the hormones it overstimulates, etc. It is best to give it around the same time every day. DEFINITELY DON'T give it in the morning one day and in the evening the next, etc. You could probably just make it so that you give it to her during the same part of the day every day and still be safe....such as give it to her every morning, or evening, within an hour or two time-span..... Good luck with this! I never have very good luck getting ANY medicine into ANY of my cats!

[mrspunkysmom]

I experimented with the syringe by drawing out and replacing without removing the syringe. The syringe does not eject all of the medicine. What is in the tip stays there. The syringe is well made.

So I squirted what I hope was the correct amount on her food. She ate most but not all of it, so I threw the rest away so that the others don't get it. I might try squirting in her mouth tomorrow.

I have to give it twice per day, morning and evening. I'm just wondering does it have the be the exact time every day or do I have a 1/2 hour leeway?

I may make a trip to the vet tomorrow just to be sure.

[Soapets]

1/2 hour leeway would be VERY reasonable....I know that Nursing homes give at least that much for humans to have their daily medications.....I would think that a one hour leeway would also be reasonable, if necessary. It would be good to ask the Vet for tips at to whether or not to give the medicine in/with food, etc.... GOOD LUCK with everything!

[Taz_Zoee]

I know it's not easy, but I think its best to give the meds directly into the cats mouth. Some meds should not be given on the food. Plus she may not get the full dose that way. This is why with Taz I preferred pills and I used a pill popper (or you could try pill pockets) to inject it into his throat.
Luckily I haven't had to give Paizly or Jax any meds.......yet. *knock on wood*

[Freedom]

I've had 3 cats become hyperthyroid, but the treatment was always with pills not a liquid and syringe. I would never be able to get fluids into any of my cats!

Good luck, I think trip to the vet for a training session is quite appropriate. The vet techs can help you with this, and you should not need to pay for this training session.

[cassiesmom]

Does it have the be the exact time every day or do I have a 1/2 hour leeway?

I think a half hour either way is no problem. Even 60 minutes.

Does methimazole come in a tablet form? Would it be easier to give her a pill vs. a liquid dose?

Fingers and paws tightly crossed for Emily and her meowmie and BIG hugs for the Kitty Kwintet!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm sorry to hear that Spunky has a heart murmur and that Emily has hyperthyroidism. My Storm also has hyperthyroidism and he takes it in the pill form. He also takes the very minimum 2 times a day. He loves the chicken pill pockets so I put the pills in part of one of them and he just thinks he's getting a treat. I would think that the liquid would be harder to get into a cat because it's messier and it would also taste bad too. Good luck.

[catmandu]

I remember taking Six Found Cats to the Vets and it was so chaotic!!!
We prya that Your Cats will do all right on thier new meds , it is so worrying when Our Mature Cats are not well.