Posted: Jun 19, 2012 2:49 am
I noticed that my cat, Franky was having some reddish discharge around his eye which turned out to be bleeding. The vet suspected that it was probably an auto immune response, or possibly an infection. She prescribed a liquid steroid and a liquid antibiotic.
I know my cat, and so I was rightly filled with dread. I had the feeling his condition wasn't going to go away by itself, and I also knew that trying to administer not one but two doses would be traumatic for both of us, emotional in his case, and physical in mine.
I tried using the method that the vet demonstrated, but because he wasn't scared stiff from being outside of his element it failed miserably. Two nights in a row I had to swaddle him in a blanket and listen to him hiss and moan and struggle with trying to keep his legs in the blanket and his claws out of my dermis. He could twist his head in such a way as to be practically impossible to get the medicine in. I managed to do it but wound up bloody each time.
I had a brief talk with one of the veterinary nurses and tried her suggestions, and now I feel like a pro
So I thought I would share for all you other cat people (or not cat people with cats)
1: Get a thick blanket and your medicine all ready in the administering spot on the floor.
2: Bring the cat over to where you are going to give the medicine by the scruff of the neck while supporting them by the butt and hind legs with the other hand. They instantly relax and turn into kittens when you grab them that way.
3: Sit with your legs extended forward, slightly apart, and place the blanket over your legs and push it down so that it forms like a hot dog bun.
4: place the cat into the depression in the blanket between your legs facing away from you, then close your legs tight so that he is secure, then pull his chin up stroking it while comforting him/her.
5: while holding the syringe in your primary hand and your off hand still stroking the chin with pinky and ring finger, use the other two fingers to gently coax his mouth open.
6: when it opens inject the fluid and continue to stroke the chin holding the head up so he will swallow.
Don't forget to give him lots of treats and love after.
I had almost no struggle, and he didn't even seem that upset after. Well a little
I know my cat, and so I was rightly filled with dread. I had the feeling his condition wasn't going to go away by itself, and I also knew that trying to administer not one but two doses would be traumatic for both of us, emotional in his case, and physical in mine.
I tried using the method that the vet demonstrated, but because he wasn't scared stiff from being outside of his element it failed miserably. Two nights in a row I had to swaddle him in a blanket and listen to him hiss and moan and struggle with trying to keep his legs in the blanket and his claws out of my dermis. He could twist his head in such a way as to be practically impossible to get the medicine in. I managed to do it but wound up bloody each time.
I had a brief talk with one of the veterinary nurses and tried her suggestions, and now I feel like a pro
So I thought I would share for all you other cat people (or not cat people with cats)1: Get a thick blanket and your medicine all ready in the administering spot on the floor.
2: Bring the cat over to where you are going to give the medicine by the scruff of the neck while supporting them by the butt and hind legs with the other hand. They instantly relax and turn into kittens when you grab them that way.
3: Sit with your legs extended forward, slightly apart, and place the blanket over your legs and push it down so that it forms like a hot dog bun.
4: place the cat into the depression in the blanket between your legs facing away from you, then close your legs tight so that he is secure, then pull his chin up stroking it while comforting him/her.
5: while holding the syringe in your primary hand and your off hand still stroking the chin with pinky and ring finger, use the other two fingers to gently coax his mouth open.
6: when it opens inject the fluid and continue to stroke the chin holding the head up so he will swallow.
Don't forget to give him lots of treats and love after.
I had almost no struggle, and he didn't even seem that upset after. Well a little