How do I give a pill?

[auggie]

I also recommend the pill gun. Got plenty of practice pilling 4 cats for several weeks when RB Tazzy gave everyone ringworm.
Phoenix is so easy to give medication to. Wiggle worm slinky cat Tazzy was the worse and had to be wrapped up in a towel first.

[Cataholic]

I don't use the pill gun, and I have been pilling Tex for years. I just put the pill in between my finger and thumb, and use it like a can opener on the side of his mouth, and put it in there, and close his mouth. Usually he just swallows it...

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

I have been giving Connor pills since his ear op. After a couple were spt back up I went back to the vet for a pill-popper - it works great!

I had to give them their annual de-worming recently (and it's a BIG pill).

Connor is such a sweetheart, he just sits and takes it, Ally, even though she is HALF his size, fights like a wildcat. It took two of us and a big bath-towel to get Ally's pill down her!!!!

[jenluckenbach]

Even though the pill popper is suppose to work so great, I heve neverbeen able to get the hang of using it without a lot of stress. (OK, so I am strange)

So I use my good old fingers.

I also lay the cat on my lap but instead of looking straight at me, he would be across the lap, head in left hand, pill in right hand.

scruff (if necessary), pry mouth open WIDE and put the pill as far back as possible. When you get good at it, the pill will go right in the back of the throat where it can go no where but down.

I also, with many months of pilling consecutively, found that you do not need to actually put your fingers into the mouth. Just aim and drop. (NOTE: this revelation only came with MONTHS of experience, you must do whatever is necessary to insure it is where it needs to be)

And Phred is 100% correct, no self respecting cat will CHOOSE to just eat a pill no matter how good you think it is hid in their favorite treat.

[Barbara]

I have never seen these pill poppers around here. We use tricks:
putting it in a piece of full fat cheese, liver pate, we even put slots in wet food and put the pill in. It all works for a certain time but I hope I never get in the situation in which a cat needs pills constantly.

[Randi]

I certainly didn't look forward to give Fister a pill the first few times! I tried several tricks. One of them was to crush the pill, cut open 4-5 shrimps and put the powder inside. It worked with the first ones, but then he got suspicious and didn't want the rest. I also tried giveng him a few shrimps with nothing inside, and then the ones with the pill in - same result!

In the end I thought, I may as well try to give him the pill in one piece, and it's amazing how well that works! I did it while he was sitting in the windowsill, all relaxed. Stand behind him, open his mouth from the side, pop in the pill, close and stroke his throat - that will make him swallow! The less nervous you are about it, the easier it goes!

Good luck!!

[smokey the elder]

My cats have different ways to get pills. Some I can just pop it down the hatch, others will take it in a kitty treat.

[catnapper]

Got better today... just had really bad aim! He let me pry his mouth open about a dozen times after the miss to try and fish it out of the location it fell, and move it to where it should be. He let me do it but I wasn't successful because I didn't want to push my luck. So I left him with the pill tucked between his jaw and gums and opened a bag of treats. I scattered a few across the table and he ate them, pill and all!

I forgot to mention that my little boy weighed in at just under ten pounds yesterday. And I hear he still has some more growing to do!

[catmandu]

I have a Terrible Time , pilling the Found Cats , so my Vet gives me , the medication , in Liqiud Form , and I piut it , on thier paws , or the floor , as they are fast , and I am slow. Actually JJJ3 loves the taste , and wants the medicine , whether he is ill , or not!

[RedHedd]

Originally posted by Craftlady
The way I give pills is hold the animal between my legs with their back side towards me and tilt their head, open their mouth, pop the pill way back in throat area. Close mouth and rub under their chin. Blow on their face little bit they swallow.
This works for me, very rare do I have a pill come back up.

That's what I do, but instead of blowing on their face, I give them a kiss on their little kitty lips while stroking their neck/chest and holding their jaw shut. Usually they're so shocked by the kiss that they swallow. Tricky, but it works for me.

[leslie flenner]

crush with a pill crusher and spill it into some tuna that is mostly oil. only a couple tablespoons cuz you don't want him to get full before he finishes it. Tuna is so stinky, he won't taste the clavamox. Or sardines or mackeral. Or, like jan said some meat baby food- they love that crap~!

[catnapper]

I did it!!! I held him with his back to my stomach, and tilted his head to the side, and opened his mouth withh my left hand. I sort of TOSSED the pill into his mouth at the moment I opened his mouth and hit the bulleye - square center & back of throat! He swallowed it right away! Such a good boy I have!

[auggie]

Catnapper! LOL!
You must have some experience throwing darts.
I never thought of it that way.
Good boy! Pouncer!