Giving Your Cat a Pill (Without Getting Scratched)
October 15, 2008
One of my daughter's friends came over yesterday with her kitty in tow. I thought she was just bringing a visitor for Lulu but I was wrong. She needed a little help.
Her cat was on the losing end of a cat fight and is on antibiotics for the nasty puncture wounds that usually result from these encounters. I noticed a few scratches on her hands too and it didn't take long to put two and two together.
After my lecture on the evils of outdoor living for cats we got into the tutorial on pilling a cat.
If you own a cat, at some point you are probably going to have to give it a pill or a capsule. There are a number of good liquid antibiotics on the market and this type of medication can be easier to administer, but some medications come only in pill form.
I don't like to try to sneak a pill in some kind of treat when dealing with cats. This can work with dogs that like to snarf things down indiscriminately, but cats are typically a little more discerning about what they'll accept as food, even from their owners. They like to sniff stuff and mull it over a bit before they go after it and if you try to sneak something by them they'll usually pick it out and discard it.
If your cat is calm and gentle and is used to being handled, giving a pill is a lot easier. Start by calmly picking up the kitty as if you were just initiating a pet and snuggle session. Work your way up the her head and gently rub your hand over the top of her head.
If you are right handed use your left hand to secure the cat's head. I've found an excellent series of photos at the WSU Vet School site to help illustrate the sequence of events. Gently grasp your cats head around the zygomatic arches as demonstrated in the photos and gently tilt her head back. She will usually open her mouth when you do this.
Now, you have to be quick with the next step. Take the pill and pop it in her mouth as far back over the base of the tongue as you can. Quickly close her mouth and blow gently on her nose to stimulate a swallow. If you see her gulp you are probably home free. If not you might have to repeat the whole process.
If your kitty is one of the few that will not open her mouth when you tilt her head back, you have to open it for her with your right hand. Do this with your middle finger while holding the pill between your index finger and thumb. Once you get the lower jaw open, pop the pill in over the base of the tongue and close up shop just like before.
It goes without saying that you have to be gentle and patient to perfect this technique. Getting into a struggling match with your cat will usually result in some blood loss on your part. As we've discussed before, this can have some serious consequences.
If your cat really resists pilling despite all your efforts talk with your vet about other forms of medication or see if you can bring the kitty in and have them administer the meds for you. Often an assistant or veterinary technician can help you with the task. My assistant was much better at this than I was, truth be told.
This article is based on a post originally published by Dr. Larry as Guest Author on the ScratchingsandSniffings.com blog and is used here courtesy of Yvonne DiVita.
This information is being provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as specific veterinary advice for your cat or dog. It should not be considered or used as a replacement for any qualified veterinary care.
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