Has anyone tried a pill popper to dose a cat (or a dog)?

1. 74

   nArchuletaposted 11 years ago

   Has anyone tried a pill popper to dose a cat (or a dog)?
   
   I'm making the quarterly trip to (Lindemann's) grandma's house -- aka, my mom -- and I'm already dreading the Dramamine drama. Has anyone successfully used a pill popper? I've read some have an applicator too big for small pills.
   
   I'm considering the one that uses liquid to stimulate the swallowing mechanism.
   
   

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2. 60

   kimbo325posted 11 years ago

   I tried this with my cat with limited success...he has to take medicine every morning for a heart condition and I thought this would be easier. In my case, he wouldn't open his mouth for the popper any easier than he would for me holding the pill in my hand.  But my case might be the exception--my vet and one of my best friends both say it works like a charm with their cats!

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   1. 74

      nArchuletaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Why do I suspect Lindemann would be the same?

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   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   It makes giving your pets medication so much easier. I would highly recommend it.

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4. 66

   Lady Guinevereposted 11 years ago

   I tried this and could not get the durned thing in his mouth and then when I could it was so big and bulky that I could not get it in the right place.  I gave up using it.

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   1. 74

      nArchuletaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I wondered about that.

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5. 83

   jandeeposted 11 years ago

   Use this method whenever I have to give  large tablets and find it invaluable,just put it to the side of mouth.

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6. 71

   catgypsyposted 11 years ago

   When you get it down to a science, it's pretty easy, but can be tricky in the beginning! At least that's the experience I've had with them. One thing I do is find out if a pill can be dissolved in water. If so, use as little water as you can (like a teaspoon), dissolve the pill and then suck it up into a syringe (one without a needle, obviously). Try to put the syringe in the side of their mouth, toward the back, and then squirt the medicine in there. Using a large spoon works well for dissolving the pill. Just another option.

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   1. 74

      nArchuletaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yea, that worked once. Lindemann, unfortunately, is a smart cat -- hard to trick twice! Thanks!

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   bschiavone08posted 11 years ago

   I prefer to use a pill popper for cats every day at work. One tip I always tell clients: with your thumb and index finger on each cheekbone, gently pull the cat's head backward. The farther you tilt the head backward, the more their mouth will open on its own. Put the pill popper all the way to the back of the throat and pop quickly and remove the pill popper.

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   1. 74

      nArchuletaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My pill popper just arrived. I'll give it a try the way you suggest. Thanks!

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   angryelfposted 11 years ago

   I prefer to wrangle them and give them their medication by hand. I can get it done in under 20 seconds usually. Then again, I give all of my animals their vaccines myself (this one is more difficult LOL), I give them their wormer... Then of course I've had to give pain medications after spay/neuter or injuries, and have had to rehabilitate emaciated animals who refused to eat (had to force feed liquid with syringes). Once you get the skill down, it just becomes totally unnecessary to invest in these things (from my perspective hahaha). Unless the animal is a bit of a biter of course! I myself would have no use for one. But this is a great concept for those who are new to giving medication or for VERY difficult pets

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   1. 74

      nArchuletaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm just afraid of hurting Lindemann. Have you given bitter medicine like Dramamine? He spits it out -- I don't blame him! Thanks for the response.

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9. 0

   Ana Koulourisposted 9 years ago

   I haven't tried this. I usually take a piece of cheese, wrap the pill in it, and give it to my dog that way. He doesn't take kindly to being force-fed pills. In all fairness, neither would I.

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