Introduction
Giving a cat a pill can be a daunting task for many pet owners. It is important to know the best way to give your cat medication so that it is safe, effective and as stress-free as possible for both you and your cat. Read on to learn the best techniques for giving pills to cats.
Preparation
Before trying to administer any medications, make sure that you have all of the necessary supplies at hand — including the pill itself, treats or food (depending on what method you will be using), and gloves if desired. You may also want an extra person available in case assistance is needed. Familiarize yourself with how much medication needs to be given, how often it needs to be administered and any other instructions provided by your veterinarian before beginning.
Methods of Administration
There are several different methods of giving pills that can work depending on the individual situation:
- Hide Pill in Food/Treats: This is one of the simplest methods but requires some preparation ahead of time since most cats are very suspicious about taking medicine disguised in food or treats.
- Drop Pill Directly into Mouth: This technique requires holding onto your cat firmly but gently while dropping the pill directly into its open mouth.
- “Pill Pocket”: You can purchase specially made “pill pockets” which allow you to insert medication inside a soft treat like pup dogs or tuna flavor.
- “Capsule Gun”: If you need more precision than just dropping it into their mouth or hiding it in food/treats, consider investing in a capsule gun. This device allows precise placement of pills within an animal’s throat without having direct contact with them.
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Executing Your Plan
Choose whichever method works best for both you and your cat based on what has been discussed above – remember safety first! If administering by hand ensure that there are no sharp movements which may startle them – instead hold them securely but firmly while speaking soothing words softly until they take their medication.When placing pills inside food items or treat pockets use something soft enough so they won’t feel resistance when biting down on whatever contains their medicine.
Finally if using capsule guns try not place too much pressure against their throats as this could cause choking.
With each attempt make sure not only that they swallow properly but also watch out for vomiting afterwards which could indicate improper dosage being administered.
And remember patience! Your pet may not always cooperate right away especially if unfamiliar with such procedures – stay calm throughout process and reward generously whenever successful!
