How can I get my cat to take liquid antibiotics?
Posted on November 05th, 2008 in Answers
Crystizzle asked:
She is starting to get a little URI, so I got some antibiotics for her. However, she is acting nuts. She bites and hisses, and fights like crazy. My boyfriend and I both were holding her, trying to get her to at least open her mouth long enough to take it, but she just bit me. Is there anything else I can do, to be less traumatic for her? Like hide it in something, or in her water?
She is starting to get a little URI, so I got some antibiotics for her. However, she is acting nuts. She bites and hisses, and fights like crazy. My boyfriend and I both were holding her, trying to get her to at least open her mouth long enough to take it, but she just bit me. Is there anything else I can do, to be less traumatic for her? Like hide it in something, or in her water?
This post has 8 comments
November 7th, 2008
You can try to put it in her food but that is often hit and miss. The best way is to wrap her in a towel (like a little burrito aka purrito) and then with one person holding her, the other person grasps the top of her head, tilts it back and then with a finger of the other hand, gently pulls the chin down to open the mouth. Squirt the liquid into her cheek, not the back of her throat or she will choke.
Other option, just lift up her lip with the syringe and squirt it into her cheek. Saves the fingers.
Do all of this quietly and talking calmly to her explaining what you are doing and why.
November 9th, 2008
First- wash your hand thoroughly to clean the bite wound. Cat bites are frequently infected, so unless it was a very superficial wound, you should probably talk to your doctor tomorrow- you may need antibiotics too.
Is the antibiotic Clindamycin? It tastes awful, and it’s hard to give it to cats. You might try mixing it with a little honey or with a couple of bites of tuna or salmon. Don’t mix it with a full meal, because if she doesn’t eat it all, you won’t know how much med she got. Some pharmacists can compound medications in flavors for pet- ask your vet for a pharmacist in your area if you’re interested.
November 11th, 2008
The quickest way is to load liquid antibiotics into a syringe (without a needle) and quickly shoot it into his/her mouth. In and out quick.
There are some hollow treats that you can buy from the pet store but you have to be sure he/she will accept the hollow treat or you’ve wasted a dose of your antibiotic.
November 12th, 2008
Sandra R gave excellent advice. Some cats are easy to give liquid meds too, others are a nightmare. My Persian, Percy, will start foaming at the mouth as soon as he sees the syringe.
The way I’ve found it easiest is I have the syringe all ready, and sit on the floor crosslegged with him on my lap. I give him a few licks of chicken baby food to make him happy and get a NICE taste in his mouth then I quickly put the syringe into the back corner of his mouth. You really don’t have to get the mouth open if you do that - you just put the syringe in that spot in the back corner. You also won’t risk getting bit, either.
I usually have a second syringe with some watered down baby food just so he doesn’t have that icky taste in his mouth. Gotta love that when we get Clavamox from the vet it’s usually bubblegum or banana flavored since it’s kid’s medicine they’re giving us!
November 15th, 2008
I had the same problem with my cat, after she got spayed they sent her home with pain medication and antibiotics, and I wasted the first dose because she spit it out, so I found the best way was to put it in her favorite food…she loves Tuna Fish, so I would put it in the tuna fish and stir it up and she never even knew it was there. So pick your animals favorite food, whether t be canned food like friskies, famcy feast, or tuna, and mix it in there. Its best if its something you wouldnt often give her.
November 18th, 2008
Hold the cat on your lap with one hand wrapped around her, close to your body. Place the dropper in the side of her mouth and quickly dispense the medicine. Rub her throat to make her swallow. Can’t put it in the water because this will not fool her and she will not get the full dose. If she still fights, ask the doctor for pills.
November 21st, 2008
my mom woks for a vet. hold her down and put it like in the side corner of her mouth with a suringe and squirt it into her mouth. i guess that angle like is the best or somthing thats what they do there
November 24th, 2008
Yeah, I had a similar problem. Both cats seemed to like it ok, but one of them fought it like the devil anyway. What worked for me was doing it just before mealtime and serving the food so that she came into the kitchen expectantly. I also had everything ready before she came around. The most effective thing was to scruff her, which put her is a bit of a torpor (though she would STILL wriggle and push me away) and aim the syringe at the back corner of her mouth.
A towel can also be effective, as others have said, though personally I found it tough to secure it in a towel with one hand and administer the drug with the other. I found the towel worked best when I had help.
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