Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
A pill gun can help you give your cat his medication.
Many cats will gag and foam after being medicated.This can be due
to the bad taste of the medication, not swallowing initially or stress.
Foaming is only rarely due to an allergic reaction to the medication, so
do not panic if your cat begins to drool.
Plastic pill guns are available if putting your finger into the cat's
mouth is dangerous or unsuccessful. Ask your veterinarian for one of
these tools if you think you need it. Coating a pill with butter is anoth-
er option. It will make the pill taste better and slide more easily down
the throat. Some cats will lick up pills that are coated in hairball lubri-
cant, because they like the taste of the lubricant so much.
Doesn't It Come Another Way?
More and more veterinarians are using compounding pharmacies.
These pharmacies will take medications and reformulate them into liq-
uids that cats prefer or into capsule sizes that are easier to administer.
Some compounding pharmacies create medicated chews that are fla-
vored treats containing medication. I must confess that one of my own
cats is extremely difficult to medicate, and this form has been the
answer. If you are having difficulty giving your cat a medication, find
out if it can be reformulated.
