Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello all, I'm extremely worried. My cat tested positive for MRSA and was given sulfamethoxazole liquid (chicken flavor) to take home. I fed it to her in tuna and she began to drool excessively, that usually worked. We changed flavors and the vet technicians gave her the second round/liquid fish flavor at the hospital and she began to drool worse than before, and vomited about 3-4 times immediately after the vet techs administered it to her. It was decided that we would try to administer it to her in pill form, or else I would have to take her on an hour+ total daily car ride or leave her overnight for them to give her an injectable form of the antibiotic which sounds not only expensive but incredibly stressful. A week later I was finally given sulfameth in pill form and I used a pill gun to feed it to her. She swallowed it immediately and I helped her wash it down with water and a treat. She seemed okay for a little bit. She went to go eat her wet food but she started to act strangely after she finished eating. It was like she had a bad taste in her mouth, kept moving her tongue like she wanted to swallow something. Then she started to drool excessively like she has done before and shortly after projectile vomited.
So my question is, my cat has never had such a negative reaction to a medication/antibiotic and according to the vet, Sulfameth is the only option available for her. Is that correct? I'm not sure how much success we will have with a medication she keeps vomiting.
Thanks for your input
~ Vanessa + Mew ~
I am not a vet, but bad tastes will make them drool... a lot sometimes. Are you giving this medication on a full or empty stomach? I would try to make sure she has food in her system and see if that helps. Even some human antibiotics (erythromycin comes to mind) can cause GI distress and vomiting when taken on an empty stomach. If you can tempt her with a small amount of food, wait a few minutes, say 10 or so and then try to medicate it might help.
I used a pill gun for Huck because he was feral, but pill pockets work very well. I don't know if they will work with a pill gun though. You may have to manually pill her with a pill pocket.
You can wrap her in a towel like a burrito with her paws and body wrapped and her head the only thing sticking out. Then you get her back to your belly like you are going to give her a hug. Left hand take a finger and thumb on either side to apply a small amount of pressure to the side of her mouth and right hand hold the wrapped pill in your finger and thumb. As soon as she opens her mouth get that pill on the tip of your index finger and slide it in aiming for the very back of her tongue. Close her mouth and gently keep it closed while massaging her throat. She should swallow and when she does her little pink tongue will stick out slightly. Thats usually a good indication that it has gone down. You can offer her some chicken broth or my favorite is the Delectable's squeeze ups to make sure it goes down and give her a better taste in her mouth.
I hope this helps you, please let us know.
Jackie and Huck 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry 
Vomiting is a very common problem with cats taking sulfa drugs regardless of the form. I find that cats tolerate Primor much better and it is in the same class. Only the culture results will tell you what works but sometimes doxycycline, chloramphenicol, or quinalone drugs such as Zeniquin are an option. Do you have a copy of the results?
Pam
So so sorry Dr. Pam, I did it again. Did not realize this was the ask a vet forum... 
Hugs,
Jackie, Bo, Andy, Oscar, Phoebe, and the coolest feral tripawd kitty Huckleberry
Online
Jackie, that was really good advice on the various ways to pill a kitty!! All support is valuable!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I asked them about the medication Dr. Pam mentioned, specifically Primor, and first they told me that they didn't test for the effectiveness of treating the infection with that medicine and that they didn't have it available at the hospital and that I would have to find it online. The second time I asked another doctor and she said that it's only been approved for dogs, it would have to be off label, and that it only comes in tablets which tends to taste very bitter because they're not coated and I would have the same problem with the vomiting.
So they told me that it's okay that she vomits after she gets the pill down because at least the medication would be in her membrane. I found that very frustrating because they aren't the ones having to clean up her vomit and feel terrible for putting her through that. 
I have failed to give her about 4-5 pills out of 12 tries so I'm worried it won't be enough. I just tried to give her her next dose and the pill gun the vet gave me is losing its effectiveness, it doesn't "pop" as well anymore so she ended up vomiting once again. I live alone and I try to wrap her in a burrito but I also need both hands to pry her mouth open and hold the pill gun so she's squirming and moving about. I feel like crying from frustration. 
Here is a copy of the results in case there's anything else that can be done:
~ Vanessa + Mew ~
It does look like the only other oral option is Rifampin and that often causes vomiting as well. You can ask your vet about Cerenia which is a pill you give to prevent nausea. Sometimes Pepcid also works. Some cats are just very sensitive to this drug; you can see if the suspension they make for people is any less likely to upset her but it is cherry flavored which cats don't appreciate! It is probably the sulfa drug itself and not the flavor that is making her sick.
Unfortunately most of the medications we use in veterinary medicine are not specifically approved for cats and it is possible the Primor would also make her sick; I have just noticed less issues with it than with the sulfa suspension and especially the pills.
Pam
Dr. Pam, thanks for your insight just one question. Through the help of people here I got through her medication but unfortunately 4-5 capsules were wasted and I was supposed to get a refill of 5 capsules. However the vet hospital I'm working with is a bit unorganized and I won't be getting the 5 capsules until hopefully tomorrow and she would be off antibiotics for a day and a half. Should I worry about the infection getting more resistant from starting and stopping her medication? Thanks again.
~ Vanessa + Mew ~
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