2 tablets, twice a day….easier said than done. Most cat owners at one point will have to give oral medication to their cat, and this isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Tablets that get chewed on and spat out, a jaw that is tightly locked, or a cat who suddenly disappears when the medication comes out, are all scenarios that most likely will sound familiar to you if you have a pet. However, following the given schedule of doses is important when giving medication in order for it to work as intended, so going in prepared is half the work. In this article, we will give tips on how to give your cat oral medication.
Preparation
A good preparation is key when giving medication to a pet. Read the prescription label, and understand the dosing and administration instructions. If your cat has the tendency to bolt out or hide away when needing to take their medicine, you might want to put them in an escape proof room before getting the medication out.
Get the medication ready in the right dosage, such as filling a syringe, or breaking a tablet. White tempting, do not crush tablets to a fine powder, or empty out capsules, unless you got the approval for this from your veterinarian. Not only does crushed medicine often taste bitter which highers the chances of refusal, some coatings affect the absorption rate of the medication in the body for optimum effect, and removing this coating can affect the effectiveness of the medicine.
Liquid medication should be gently shaken/mixed before dosing to ensure that the contents inside are well mixed. As liquid medication often has to be stored in the fridge, the contents will be cold. You can warm the contents by holding the syringe in your hands for a while to higher the acceptance rate of the medication. Do not microwave medication.
Hiding medication in food
Hiding medication in food is the most easy and less stressful way of administering medication to a cat, but not all cats will fall for this trick. Cats are picky eaters, and any change in taste or texture might make them refuse the meal completely. Some medication also needs to be given on an empty stomach, so for these types of medicine you will have to directly administer it.
If you give medication hidden in food, give your cat a smaller portion (snack size) with the medication first, as a full meal might not get completely finished, meaning not the needed amount of medication is ingested. If your cat has a type of food/snack they particularly love, you can use that to lower the chances of rejection. Kitten pate and wet food are often favourites that cats find hard to resist. Some cats are easier tricked if you make a little game out of giving the medication, for example by rolling the medicine into some meat and make it a meatball, and hide that one between some meatballs without the medication. Offer the meatballs by hand to increase the effect.
While some cats love cheese and/or milk, medication should not be given in them. Most cats have issues digesting lactose, and having milk and cheese can upset their stomach. Additionally, the high calcium levels in these foods can disrupt the effectiveness of some medications, which is the case for example with doxycycline.
Direct administering of medication
Most people find it easiest to keep their cat in their lap when having to directly administer medication. If your cat is particularly wiggly and you don’t have help, you could wrap a blanket around them like a burrito, leaving only their head exposed. If your cat ends up particularly stressed after a few failed attempts, sometimes taking a short break before trying again is what both parties need.
Liquid medication
With your dominant hand hold the dropper or syringe, and with your non dominant hand you can guide the head of the cat. Liquid medications are best given in the pouch between the cheek and teeth. Prevent forceful injection straight in the back of the throat as this increases the risk of the cat aspirating the liquid into its lungs.
Once the medication is in, hold the cat’s mouth closed and gently rub their throat, or blow on their nose, to encourage swallowing.
If a small amount of medication gets spat out, do not re-medicate, but consult with your vet if they have accounted for small losses when prescribing the medication. Praise your cat throughout the process, and give them a treat afterwards (if food after the medication is allowed), to make the experience more pleasant, and hopefully in turn easier in the future.
Tablets
Gently open the mouth of your cat, and place the tablet in the centre of the tongue near the back of the mouth. Gently close the mouth and softly rub the throat to encourage swallowing. A blow on the nose may also induce swallowing. Correct placement on the tongue, and gently rubbing the throat will lower the chances of the tablet being spat out. For cats that tend to bite down on fingers when putting a tablet in the mouth, there are pilling devices available. These devices are also useful for cats that lock their jaw shut, as you can gently pry the jaw open with the pill popper and a free finger on the same hand, and slide it in. Praise your cat throughout the process, and give them a treat afterwards (if food after the medication is allowed), to make the experience more pleasant, and hopefully in turn easier in the future.
Conclusion
Giving medication to a cat can be tricky, but a good preparation is half the work. There are tools available, such as pilling devices, to protect our fingers. All our sitters are experienced in taking care of pets with medical needs, and can administer medication.
Would you like to know more about our pet care services? Feel free to contact us, we are happy to help.