Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Sorry if this is in the wrong forum! I'm still pretty new to the site!!!
So my cat, Niko, just got her amputation yesterday and they gave her pills (robenacoxib I believe) but she hasn't been really interested in eating yet. As a bit of a side note, I have pill pockets for her that she is used to and loves because I started giving them to her before the surgery but she seems kind of freak out by the smell of any food right now. I don't believe she's in any serious pain yet but as you can imagine I would like to get the pain killers in her so she doesn't have to be in any pain this first week.
That being said, I have two questions:
1) Can I crush the pills up and mix it into some water and use a feeding syringe to help her take it? (Another side note: I work at a Pet Store and know how to give medicine that way without to much stress to an animal)
or
2) Should I ask the doctor for some liquid pain killer in place of pills?
Also what are some pain killers that have worked well to you guys? I don't think we need anything EXTREMELY strong she gets really stressed, scared, and moves around in a very distressed fashion that could stress her stitches when she's on really stronge pain meds.
-Niko and Rachel
Hi Niko and Rachel, thanks for posting here, your future posts won't require moderation.
Oooh I wish I could help you with this one but I have no experience giving meds to kittys but I know others here do! I recall that some folks have indeed given crushed up pills with water and a syringe. Stay tuned, I'm sure they will chime in. thanks again for joining us. I hope she has a speedy recovery.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Always ask your vet if it's okay to crush a pill. Pills that are extended release, for example, should never be crushed because in crushing them, you're giving a much bigger dose at once, which could result in a fatal overdose. MOST vets don't give extended release pills, so it shouldn't be an issue, but it's one to be aware of. (And also handy to know for humans.)
For a cat, the easiest way to get them to take a pill is to put it as far back in the throat as you can, then hold the mouth shut and blow gently in the face to coax them to swallow. The vast majority of cats REALLY don't like this. However, if she's not willing to eat, she's not giving you much choice. You can coat the pill with something yummy to make it less of an insult to her feline sensibilities, but you definitely should make sure she takes her meds.
Unlike dogs, cats can't go without food and water for more than a couple of days before it has a negative impact on their organs, and if they're not feeling well or are in pain, they often won't eat. That makes it extra important to make sure the pain is controlled. People say a dog won't starve itself. The same can't be said for cats.
We have LOTS of experience with medicating cats, as well as with cats who absolutely refuse to eat and drink, having taken in a whole bunch of them over the years.
One of our cats had a serious reaction to a vaccine a few years ago and we had to force feed her for more than a month because she flat out refused ALL food and water. It was force feedings and subcutaneous fluids several times per day for what felt like eternity. Most cats who have that type of reaction to a vaccine don't survive.
Good luck!
-Jen.
We used to give cats pills with a plastic syringe that had kind of a V cut on the narrow end. The pill would fit into the cut and we just depressed the syringe which popped the pill bdown her throat. BUT, you do have to get that kitty into a position where you can open her mouth and get the syringe back there. Easier said than done, that's for sure.
Kathi and Murphy
Murphy is a five year old Lab/Chessie cross. He was hit by a car on 10/29/12 and became a Tripawd on 11/24/12. On 2/5/13, he had a total hip replacement on his remaining back leg. He has absolutely no idea that he has only three legs!
UPDATE: Murphy lived his life to the fullest, right up until an aggressive bone lesion took him across the Rainbow Bridge on April 9, 2015 and he gained his membership in the April Angels. Run free, my love. You deserve it!
Hi Rachel!
I dont have any tips because (dont kill me) Jill is very easy to pill......however, I would give your vet a call and ask if he/she can give you buprenex instead it is SO EASY to adminster. It is liquid, comes in a little syringe, you just squirt right in their mouth.
Jill was on buprenex after her amputation and did great on it.
Jill is a 9-year-old tuxedo kitty. She was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in June 2012 on her toe in her right hind leg. Her leg was amputated on 12/12/12 and she completed four rounds of chemo (2 of Carbo, 2 of Doxy) in April 2013. "Like" Jill's facebook page: https://www.fac.....tty?ref=hl Proud member of the WINTER WARRIORS!!!! Her blog can be read at http://jillsjou.....ipawds.com. xoxo
I found a really neat item at Petsmart. It is called a pill gun. You just put the pill in put it into the back of mouth and shoot it in. Less messy then the syringe. I have to give one med. mixed in water from a syringe and it is a mess.
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
I echo the pill gun, its the ONLY way I can give one of my kitties her allergy meds. But, if that won't work, check if you can get her meds in liquid form. When my pup would no longer eat, our vet sent out one of our prescriptions to a compounding pharmacy out of state and we got its liquid version (in chicken flavor) by mail. I wouldn't crush up any pills at least without checking with your vet first. Plus, it tends to make a mess, taste horrible and you might be worse off in ever getting her to take meds.
Mom to Tripawd Angels Jake (2001-2014) and Rosco (2012-2015) and Tripawd Tanner. “Whatever happens tomorrow, we had today; and I'll always remember it”
Cricket's Mom, Jen, thank you so much for that info! You've got a lot of experience in this department, would you care to write a guest blog post at some point about medicating cats? We could sure use that kind of content here. PM me if interested, thanks for considering it.
Meanwhile, I forgot we had this recent downloads post that may also help:
and this one has some other pill gun tips for dogs
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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