Administering Medicine to Your Feline Friend
Medicating cats can be an exercise in futility; their notorious distaste for taking medicine is a well-known challenge among pet owners. Should your feline companion cough or gag post-medication, it’s a clear signal to reassess your administration method. Dry pills, for instance, can be particularly problematic.
The Perils of Dry Pilling
Consider the discomfort of swallowing a dry pill without water – now imagine that feeling for your cat. Dry pills can lodge in the esophagus, the channel leading to the stomach, posing a risk to your pet.
Novel Approaches for Administering Pills and Capsules
Tablets and capsules might appear innocuous, but without lubrication, they can stick to the esophagus’ lining, causing distress and potentially harmful obstructions.
Liquid Medication: A Gentler Alternative
Diluting the drug in 6ml of water and using a dropper or needleless syringe can significantly ease the process. It’s advisable to gently introduce the syringe at an angle, from the rear or side, never forcing it. Keep the head level to aid in swallowing and administer the chaser gradually, allowing time for the liquid to go down.
Dietary Distractions: Encapsulating Pills in Pleasure
Turn the act of medication into a treat by concealing the pill within a pill pocket – store-bought or homemade. Use these tasty morsels sporadically, sans medication, to maintain your cat’s trust and cooperation.
Enhancing the Pill’s Passage
Initiate with a teaser portion of a favored food, follow with the pill, and conclude with a meal. This sequence aids the pill’s descent into the stomach.
Beyond Pills: Exploring Alternative Medications
When traditional methods falter, speak with your vet about alternatives. The slight increase in cost for a flavored liquid medication or a gel applied to the inner ear might be offset by the ease of administration and a stress-free experience for both you and your cat.
Conclusion
Ensuring medicine ingestion without the common perils of dry pilling is paramount. With these tactics, you not only ease the process but also guarantee the medication reaches its intended destination – the intestines – and not remain caught in the throat. This methodical approach to cat care minimizes anxiety while maximizing therapeutic benefit.
