The problem with the medication your vet prescribed is that it only masks the problem, it never addresses it. These medications are not without risks, just as any tricyclic antidepressant in humans. The side effects can also affect cats in different ways. Vets who prescribe this to owners without teaching them tips on how to address the environment and limit kitty's stress, are actually being negligent and not addressing the problem.
You said you moved, that's probably why she started urinating in the new home. This was an extremely stressful event for her, and medications are NOT the answer. You have to work diligently to ensure the transition is smooth for her, make her new environment safe and harmonious and keep stress reduced at all costs.
Did the vet bother to rule out potential urinary tract infection?
Kitty won't take pills
Re: Kitty won't take pills
..........Traci
Re: Kitty won't take pills
Okay.....my cat has urinary tract infection, and kitty was diagnosed at the vet yesterday.
I was given 2 different types of pills and a liquid with syringe.
I tried to put the pills in his mouth, he will spit them out. He will literally hold them in his mouth as long as it takes, then spit it out. I've tried to mash them up and put them in the syringe with the liquid. He FOAMS at the mouth and a lot of it comes out. I've mixed it in his food, and he eventually eats it, but he takes forever to eat it and I know he gets hungry.
The cat is very stubborn and he will cause a huge fuss before he thinks about giving in. The vet couldn't examine him without putting him under yesterday. I had to take him to a new vet because the other vet would bust out with a net, gloves and a towel, and my cat would fight and dump his whole bladder all over the place.
How do I get this cat to take his meds? He needs it twice a day for 5 days.
I was given 2 different types of pills and a liquid with syringe.
I tried to put the pills in his mouth, he will spit them out. He will literally hold them in his mouth as long as it takes, then spit it out. I've tried to mash them up and put them in the syringe with the liquid. He FOAMS at the mouth and a lot of it comes out. I've mixed it in his food, and he eventually eats it, but he takes forever to eat it and I know he gets hungry.
The cat is very stubborn and he will cause a huge fuss before he thinks about giving in. The vet couldn't examine him without putting him under yesterday. I had to take him to a new vet because the other vet would bust out with a net, gloves and a towel, and my cat would fight and dump his whole bladder all over the place.
How do I get this cat to take his meds? He needs it twice a day for 5 days.
Re: Kitty won't take pills
What are the pills exactly and what is the liquid exactly?
You need to call your vet back right away and ask for the liquid suspension in lieu of the tablets. It is easier to administer liquids to a cat than tablets.
DO NOT mix any medications with food, not only do you risk kitty not getting the required dose, but some medications can lose effectiveness when scored or left out (exposed to light).
You need to call your vet back right away and ask for the liquid suspension in lieu of the tablets. It is easier to administer liquids to a cat than tablets.
DO NOT mix any medications with food, not only do you risk kitty not getting the required dose, but some medications can lose effectiveness when scored or left out (exposed to light).
..........Traci
Re: Kitty won't take pills
The liquid is Clavamox. The pills are Propantheline and Prednisolone.
When I spoke to the vet yesterday, she said she could offer me some empty capsules to put the small pills in so my cat won't taste the pills. She admitted one of those pills has a pretty unpleasant taste. The vet I took him to moved from it's original location, so we ended up going for quite a drive to get there. I am hoping I don't have to drive back right away. I will ask about the liquid options, but if it will cost too much more, I won't be able to afford that right away. It won't do any good holding off on his medicine until I get next weeks check.
I tried putting the medicine in his food last night because I read this thread:
http://www.cathelp-online.com/forums/vi ... ight=pills
After reading about sprinkling medicine in food, I figured it was worth another shot. I woke up this morning to find that he smeared the food all over the floor, so that's the end of that method.
I was able to give him the liquid medicine today without him spitting it out. I don't think that particular medicine is the one with the ugly taste. I think it is one of the pills, in particular.
I'm going to try putting the pills in his mouth again, but towards his throat rather than on his tongue.
When I spoke to the vet yesterday, she said she could offer me some empty capsules to put the small pills in so my cat won't taste the pills. She admitted one of those pills has a pretty unpleasant taste. The vet I took him to moved from it's original location, so we ended up going for quite a drive to get there. I am hoping I don't have to drive back right away. I will ask about the liquid options, but if it will cost too much more, I won't be able to afford that right away. It won't do any good holding off on his medicine until I get next weeks check.
I tried putting the medicine in his food last night because I read this thread:
http://www.cathelp-online.com/forums/vi ... ight=pills
After reading about sprinkling medicine in food, I figured it was worth another shot. I woke up this morning to find that he smeared the food all over the floor, so that's the end of that method.
I was able to give him the liquid medicine today without him spitting it out. I don't think that particular medicine is the one with the ugly taste. I think it is one of the pills, in particular.
I'm going to try putting the pills in his mouth again, but towards his throat rather than on his tongue.
Re: Kitty won't take pills
First of all, the post you linked to involves a totally different medication, and it's a neutraceutical, which means it is not particulary a DRUG. That neutraceutical is Cosequin for Cats, and it is already formulated to be flavored specific to the cat's taste (i.e., liver or chicken flavor). That's why it can be sprinkled over food, most other medications SHOULD NOT BE.
Also, capsules are not without risk to cats, since they can lodge in the esophagus and cause fatal obstruction, or, interfere with dissolving of the medication, thereby not distributing the medication correctly. Capsule use should ONLY be reserved in the most special of circumstances, this wouldn't be one of them.
Whatever was the propantheline and predsnisone prescribed for? Is he having trouble urinating? Is his urine flow obstructed? Did the vet find evidence of inflammation or cystals formiing? Was there blood in the urine? What urine markers in the urinalysis were significant, or, what symptoms prompted you to get him seen?
Propantheline is generally not thought to have any evidence of efficacy, so I would ask your vet why she prescribed this. Also, if this is only a urinary tract infection (meaning bacteria in nature only, with NO evidence of crystals), the prescribing of prednisone may be unwarranted. Pred is used usually only when there is inflammation of the bladder, obstructed outflow of urine due to an obstruction or inflammation, it is not usually necessary to prescribe this simply for a bacterial infection!
If your vet can give a valid reason for prescribing prednisone, then she can take back the unused tablets and give you oral suspension (liquid) instead, you might have to pay an additional couple dollars, but that's worth it to get it in suspension form, it would them be called prednisolone. Unfortunately, it too doesn't taste great, but it is easier to administrate when given in liquid form.
The important thing is that the cat gets his required doses of each medication and that doses are NOT missed, because this totally defeats the purpose of the medication and the resolution of the urinary tract problem.
However, I'd strongly advise you to ask her why kitty is on the propantheline, because personally, I don't think that is necessary and there is little evidence for efficacy. If there is evidence that the bladder muscle isn't restricting to allow normal urine flow, there are better medications she can prescribe for this.
As is true with the prednisone, this might also not be necessary, and anytime pred is used, this is NOT without risks. Corticosteroids must be used cautiously and judiciously, and they must be TAPERED off, you cannot simply stop pred useage on one day, it must be tapered off over the course of several days or weeks. If you suddenly cease a course of prednisone, adverse effects can occur! Was a CBC done prior to prescribing the pred? IF not, why? A CBC and/or full bloodwork should always be done prior to prescribing prednisone to ensure kitty does not have any other underlying health conditions or immunosuppression, in which the vet would have to carefully evaluate the need for this medication.
Is your cat overweight? What are you feeding him?
Btw, in the future, please post a new thread if it involves your own kitty, this thread was about another cat, and was started last year.
Also, capsules are not without risk to cats, since they can lodge in the esophagus and cause fatal obstruction, or, interfere with dissolving of the medication, thereby not distributing the medication correctly. Capsule use should ONLY be reserved in the most special of circumstances, this wouldn't be one of them.
Whatever was the propantheline and predsnisone prescribed for? Is he having trouble urinating? Is his urine flow obstructed? Did the vet find evidence of inflammation or cystals formiing? Was there blood in the urine? What urine markers in the urinalysis were significant, or, what symptoms prompted you to get him seen?
Propantheline is generally not thought to have any evidence of efficacy, so I would ask your vet why she prescribed this. Also, if this is only a urinary tract infection (meaning bacteria in nature only, with NO evidence of crystals), the prescribing of prednisone may be unwarranted. Pred is used usually only when there is inflammation of the bladder, obstructed outflow of urine due to an obstruction or inflammation, it is not usually necessary to prescribe this simply for a bacterial infection!
If your vet can give a valid reason for prescribing prednisone, then she can take back the unused tablets and give you oral suspension (liquid) instead, you might have to pay an additional couple dollars, but that's worth it to get it in suspension form, it would them be called prednisolone. Unfortunately, it too doesn't taste great, but it is easier to administrate when given in liquid form.
The important thing is that the cat gets his required doses of each medication and that doses are NOT missed, because this totally defeats the purpose of the medication and the resolution of the urinary tract problem.
However, I'd strongly advise you to ask her why kitty is on the propantheline, because personally, I don't think that is necessary and there is little evidence for efficacy. If there is evidence that the bladder muscle isn't restricting to allow normal urine flow, there are better medications she can prescribe for this.
As is true with the prednisone, this might also not be necessary, and anytime pred is used, this is NOT without risks. Corticosteroids must be used cautiously and judiciously, and they must be TAPERED off, you cannot simply stop pred useage on one day, it must be tapered off over the course of several days or weeks. If you suddenly cease a course of prednisone, adverse effects can occur! Was a CBC done prior to prescribing the pred? IF not, why? A CBC and/or full bloodwork should always be done prior to prescribing prednisone to ensure kitty does not have any other underlying health conditions or immunosuppression, in which the vet would have to carefully evaluate the need for this medication.
Is your cat overweight? What are you feeding him?
Btw, in the future, please post a new thread if it involves your own kitty, this thread was about another cat, and was started last year.
..........Traci