Giving meds to a cat - putting pills into liquid

[kedrys]

Imhotep is 12 and ailing, and his vet gave us some pills to give him. They evidently taste terrible, but more to the point, they hurt his throat (he has stomatitis).

Is there anything liquid I can use to mix the pulverized pills into that'll make it easier and more palatable for kitty to take his meds? Tuna juice, anything?

[elleng]

1. ?

Apple sauce?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Cats tend not to be especially fond of applesauce.

Meat baby food might be better.

[elleng]

3. REALLY, ocelot?

Well, whatever of that consistency; worked with my kids!

And I think yogurt worked with my dog.

[CC]

4. Please call and ask the vet if it is

ok to crush the pills before you do that. Some meds are ok to crush but some need to be swallowed whole so it is always safest to ask.


If he says it is ok to crush them try plain canned pumpkin. If they have to be whole maybe something slippery to help them go down like a light cod liver oil coating just before giving them. Make them taste a little better and help them slide down.

[Tammie]

5. I once used a compounding pharmacy

My cat Dixie wouldn't swallow her pill. It was a pill that she would have to take for the rest of her life. So the internist suggested having her pills turned into liquid at a compounding pharmacy. They make it into whatever flavor you ask for. It was easier to get this into Dixie but it was pretty expensive. $7 for the pills versus $45 for the compounded liquid version.

[Suziq]

6. I have found liquid meds easier

When my kitty Maggie was suffering from liver disease last year, I found administering liquid meds. much easier. I also had it mixed at a compounding pharmacy. I mixed it into ground beef and she scarfed it up!

I tried the pill form with Pill Pockets first. Maggie took them with no problem at first, but quickly discovered the hidden pill and that was the end of that.

[kedrys]

7. I've asked my vet and those meds don't come in liquid form

He was on liquid antibiotics a few weeks ago, and I didn't have any trouble. His throat is real sore.

[kedrys]

12. Thank you for suggesting Pill Pockets!

:loveya: I got the last package at Petco, and Immie wolfed everything down, even after he dropped on and the pill started coming out (he eats treats out of my hands). I had no idea those even existed.

I also found a compounding pharmacy, and in the meantime I very finely pulverized his meds, mixed them with butter, and basically painted his face and hands with it so he had to wash off the goo. It went over mostly well, but he avoided me the rest of the day.

The weird thing is that even though his throat is sore, he's eating like a bottomless pit. I hpoe being able to give him his dose without stressing either one of us out will help him put on a few more ounces in a hurry.

[japple]

8. Get a can of salmon--the people kind. It has a lot of liquid

and you can mix it with that. If your cat doesn't like fish, meat baby food (as Ocelot suggested above) would be a good choice. It can be pretty thick, but you can water it down a bit, and maybe bring it to room temp. Watch out, though, if you try to microwave it. It gets hyper-hot really fast.

[AZBlue]

9. Have you asked the vet if there's a liquid form of the med?

Some come in both forms.

[kedrys]

10. I did - they don't

Otherwise I'd be happy to pay whatever to get them in a form kitty can swallow easily.

[AZBlue]

11. Too bad!

Well, it was worth a try!!

The only other thing I can think of is baby food or tuna or salmon. Is it ok to crush the pills? Maybe mixed up in baby food or even wet cat food would work?

[Lorien]

13. Pill pockets

but get the ones made for dogs. They are the exact same thing, but cheaper per ounce.