A Story For Nienke

[IanForbes]

I thought Nienke would get a kick out of this. It's a post on another forum about dogs and their ability to avoid taking medicine, and how the lady of the house solved the problem. Others might enjoy it as well.

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My dog was diagnosed this week as having a bad case or giardia. This was a bad news-good news - bad news situation.

Bad news: your dog has giardia. Good news: There is a reason why he is no longer housebroken and a good chance that he can return to being housebroken. Bad news: I have to give him medications he doesn't like.

He definitely does not like having a charcoal paste squirted on the back of his tongue from a big syringe. My first attempt at this ended up with most of it on my lap and then poking it down him from there. Not fun! But he seems to love the special, very gentle on the digestion, canned food he's now getting. I hope I can get him back to dry food when this is over.

Now, on to the female wiles part. I was trying to feed him two pills this morning by wrapping them in thin sliced ham. He started amazing me with his uncanny ability to eat the ham while spitting out the pills. I asked my bride, an RN, for help. "Watch this". she said.

She ground up the pills and mixed them with a spoonful of peanut butter. The she called Buddy over to her. As he stood there watching "the goddess", she "accidentally", complete with a faked "Oops", dropped the peanut butter on the floor. Buddy rushed in to lick it all up.

I'm a guy. I never would have thought of that approach. And I'm sitting here wondering if having the three sons really was my idea? I previously thought it was, but I'm really not sure now.

Brad

[ThaiPauly]

Ain't that the truth

My dog is on the same wavelength when it comes to medicine

[Carib]

Take a piece of meat/bacon, make sure the dog smells it, wrap pill in bacon, throw it in the air and he/she will catch it like a ball, and down it goes without a problem. Works for most dogs.

[Nienke]

Very funny, Ian. I just can visualize the whole situation plus the facial expressions of both people.

[annabel]

Heya...chicken hearts work great too ....cut a vertical slit into it and then cut a little sideways also to make the pill fit in snuggly....call Bozo and let him smell it and ooops ..! It's gone ..heheh...or wrap some fish around it...good camouflage for strong smelling medecines ...forget trying to put it down their throat....too painfull for both parties ... ...

Discovered at Carrefour , Duck hearts which are slightly bigger than chicken hearts and more suitable for the crazy larger pills the vet sometimes give ...work like magic also

Cheers !!

[eek]

If only feeding a pill to a cat was as easy!!! >.<

[Carib]

If only feeding a pill to a cat was as easy!!! >.<

Agree with you Eek, cats are very difficult if you just want to save their life..

I think this was posted before, but it is so much fun reading it..

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm, as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call partner from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees. Hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get partner to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get partner to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink one beer to take taste away. Apply band-aid to partner's forearm and immediately remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot and drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve the &lt;deleted&gt;' cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining room table. Find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get partner to drive you to emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Stop at furniture shop on way home to pick out new table.

15. Arrange for Humane Society to collect mutant cat. Call local pet shop to see if they have hamsters.

The official method is as follows:

Step 1

Check the label to make sure the medication is for your cat, and for the specific medical condition she's being treated for. Make sure the medicine is not out of date.

Step 2 Place the cat where she's comfortable - on your lap or a textured surface such as the carpet, a couch or a bed.

Step 3 Kneel or sit beside your cat with the pill or capsule in your right hand, between your thumb and index finger.

Step 4 Place your left hand on your cat's head. Put your thumb behind her right canine tooth and your left index finger behind her left canine tooth.

Step 5 Lift her lips gently - don't pinch - and place the middle finger of your right hand on the incisor teeth of her lower jaw.

Step 6 Open your cat's mouth by pushing down on her lower jaw with the middle finger of your right hand while tilting her nose upward with your left hand.

Step 7 Deposit or drop the pill or capsule in the back of your cat's mouth, behind her tongue.

Step 8 Close her mouth and quickly point her nose down at a sharp angle. This will cause your cat to swallow automatically

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Make sure you have a first aid kit at home, not for the cat but for everyone trying the cat to swallow the pill.

Some " pill pockets" treats are sold, some cats fall for it, but most do not...

A pill gun is can be of use, it basically shoots the pill into the back of the throat, if you are fast enough..catch cat, hold mouth closed and stroke the throath...

Edited July 5, 2009 by Carib

[catmac]

If only feeding a pill to a cat was as easy!!! >.<

Yes, cats are far too intelligent to fall for these tricks! Perseverance is the answer, hopefully before the pill dissolves into a sticky mess after being spat out so many times!

[Tywais]

Giving your cat a pill video

[eek]

Wish id seen that video years ago Tywais. Unfortunately i learned the hard way.

*ouch!* *OUCH!!!* *FffFFJLilhjaois##lksa@@j..!!!!!!!!!* ..and start all over again.