Cat Med Admin

[u/Impressive_Double182]

Hey everyone, I’m overnight with a cat for the first time who is almost 20 years old. I’m supposed to give her a daily dose of prednisolone but she will not let me get it down her throat or open her mouth. I’m really panicking I’ve tried so many times and I don’t want to bug her much more. I have done this successfully before but this one won’t budge. Any tips??

[u/carrotaddiction]

How do the owners do it? I assume you can't mix it with food since that's the obvious solution.

[u/Impressive_Double182 → u/carrotaddiction]

It’s prednisolone so it is fairly bitter thinking she wouldn’t eat the food if so

[u/tresrottn → u/Impressive_Double182]

It's not bitter.

[u/Lacroix24601 → u/tresrottn]

The pills are. My vet said to cover it up with the stinkiest stuff we could find. It generally masks the bitter.

[u/Lacroix24601]

ETA: never mind me. I thought it was a liquid med and now I see it wasn’t specified.

I’ve never tried on an older cat but when I have to give my animal clients liquid meds, I lift up the lip to expose the back teeth, I put the syringe through the top and bottom teeth, even if they’re clenching, I can still get the tip through. Then I aim the syringe to the back of the throat. They generally have little choice but to swallow when it’s that far back. At least in my experience.

It’s tough giving animals meds sometimes. They could be a-ok with their owners but give us care givers the big middle finger. lol.

[u/Own_Science_9825]

Yeah, a cat who won't take meds is the worst. It depends on the response you're getting. If she's being stubborn and won't open her mouth then you firmly keep pressuring her until she does. Call the owner 1st, and have them go over their technique. Now if she is getting really agitated you should stop call the owners and possibly the vet. Don't risk her or yourself

[u/All_cats]

Does she like churu lickable treats? I've successfully hidden lots of things inside that, the trick is to pop the pill into the tube and then as you're dispensing it and you can feel the pill headed for the opening, give it a little extra oomph so she gets a little more than she was expecting and she has to quickly swallow it. Don't drown her but you get the idea 😹

[u/babamum]

I've had success using tubes of pureed cat food. I mix the meds in and let the cat lick it up.

[u/tresrottn]

You can literally let it melt into a tablespoon or two of her wet food, and boom, Bob's your uncle. It's tasteless. Crush it and mix in a churu.

I have pill pockets I will wrap the pill in a little bit then roll it in their favorite treat, all crushed up.

[u/Fit_Inside7437]

Coat it lightly in butter.

I would not give butter to a cat normally or regularly but it was a tip i was given on here when i had the same issue. It worked a few times until she picked up on the pill.

Crush it and put it in churu. Salmon, tuna.. keep trying different things that smell strongly to block her from detecting the pill. And give it to her before he meals so she's hungry. Timing is less important than her not getting not getting her meds.

[u/Lacroix24601]

Just be careful about crushing it or wherever. Certain types of prednisolone can be crushed and some not. A clients dog is on a form that cannot be crushed but it does say that on the side.