When Cupcake was at the vet, she got a prescription for her runny eye.
The prescribed pills are really big. Much bigger than Cupcake will comfortably take.
So it’s up to the humans to put them into something that goes down more easily. We use gelatin capsules. Size 3 gelatin capsules are a good size for a cat to take. They manufacture special flavored gelatin capsules for pets, but we have tried them and they aren’t worth the extra cost. Cats don’t like taking them any more or less than they do the unflavored ones.
The only problem with getting the medication into a gel cap is that that big pill won’t be into that little capsule.
This means we have to cut up the pill. Before you cut up a pill, ask your vet if the medication can be cut up. Some pills have time release coatings, and the medication doesn’t perform the same way if you cut it up.
We started by cutting the pill into quarters. There are lots of pill cutters meant specifically for cutting pills, but at our house, the pill cutting tool of choice is a miniature cleaver originally meant for cheese.
Even cut into quarters, the pill won’t fit into the gelatin capsule.
So the pill must be cut into smaller and smaller pieces, until they fit inside the capsule.
Once the capsule is filled, put the top on. If it won’t push shut far enough that it feels like it will stay closed, you have put too much in a single capsule.
Now your pill is ready to give in a much smaller form factor that will go into your cat more easily.
If your cat isn’t easy to pill, a good pill shooter can make the task easier for both of you so you can get that pill far enough into your cat’s throat for her to swallow. Look for a pill shooter with a soft tip. They do a better job of holding the pill until it is time to release than the ones with hard plastic tips.
Be sure to follow up pills with a syringe of water or something to eat to be sure the gelatin capsule makes its way down the throat.
Cupcake: With a little help, I will feel all better soon. Watch out, Newton!
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