Critter Talk: Pills for Pets – Chewables, Child Proofing and Common Sense
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When it comes to animal-friendly medications, there’s little more satisfying than a well-received chewable. Any time I can predict that a pet will beg for his pills, I know this is a drug his owners will comply with.
And that’s a big deal to those of us who will readily admit to being sticklers for a dutifully administered course of antibiotics, or a lifelong med’s daily trip down the gullet. But so many of my clients won’t, or can’t, do what’s needed, not when the pills arrive as bitter lozenges dipped in sulfurous chalk. Nasty. Taste one if you don’t believe me.
The good news is that animal drug manufacturers are starting to get hip to the concept that animal drugs are best manufactured with ease of administration in mind. And what’s easier than a drug your dog or cat begs for?
Yes, animal-only preparations may be more expensive (sometimes ten times as much, or more), but they’re worth every penny if your pet won’t take her meds otherwise. That’s the sad fact of owning a picky pet who needs to be medicated: you will pay more. And sometimes, if you get very careless or very unlucky, you’ll pay A LOT more.
Consider the following recent example: Golden retriever gets diagnosed with hip dysplasia. He’s off to the specialist in a few days for an evaluation and an exploration of options. In the meantime he’s gotten ten days’ worth of chewable nummy NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to address his painful, gimpy gait. That night, he goes home and eats them all.
Turns out the owners had left the open bottle on the counter after giving him his nightly dose. Nosy dog spills them all on the floor, and next thing you know they’re eaten all up. A trip to the ER and a couple of days in hospital rapidly ensue.
The same might’ve happened with a bottle of Advils (the candy-coating is irresistible to most dogs and some cats), but it almost certainly wouldn’t have with a bottle of the non-chewable pain relievers I could have supplied instead of the attractive ones.
So does this mean I blame myself? Not at all. In this case, I’d blame the intersection of best intentions and meaty flavoring at the corner of bad luck and carelessness. After all, I offered the warnings and the childproof packaging. It was their job to supply the common sense.
Many thanks as always to Dr. Patty Khuly and our friends at Fully Vetted
Related articles:
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) in Treating Sports (sportsinjuries.suite101.com)
- Pooch feeling anxious? There’s a pill for that (theglobeandmail.com)
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I’m kind of in Leslie’s boat too Mike, but it might still be worth it. Currently I’m giving steroid pills to an ill cat who needs to keep weight on and it’s a nightmare. She picks the pieces out of her food when I try to disguise it, when I pop one in her throat like the vet showed me it just doesn’t work well like it does when a pro does it. And an always sullen cat becomes openly hostile, not to mention more than willing to ventilate her tormentor with teeth and claws.
The cat’s Republican, very set in her ways and doesn’t react well to change.
Try mashing it up.
Thanks Leslie! She’s 16, lot of problems but still has an appetite and is quick to purr.
LOL! Those dang Republicans!
Hahaha! Have you tried suppositories? Put her in a crate with a crushed up pill mixed with butter on her paws (she’ll lick it off- If a cat will lick her butthole she’ll lick her paws clean)
Since I’m so broke, something that’s 10 times more expensive is out of the question! So . . . I wrap it in small pieces of cheese, bread or a small amount of ice cream (vanilla) or a very thin coat of peanut butter (no nuts). I used to mix it with his food but he doesn’t gobble it down anymore. If worse comes to worse I put my hand over his snout, pry open his mouth and stuff it down his gullet.
Fortunately he is a dog who is happiest when he has something in his mouth.
Been popping pills down cats for donkeys years. You get so you can do it so quickly they hardly notice.
I’ve never given meds to a dog, Mike. But I have to cats and, yeah, it’s stressful. 10X the cost is something that I would absolutely be willing to pay.
Me too Will and no doubt that is what it will be. Glad to see you by the way.