Is it ok to Crush Pills for Cats? How to Give Your Pet Medication
- Abi
- February 19, 2023
- 8:57 am
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Is it ok to crush pills for cats? Crushed tablets can taste bitter, and your cat may not get the correct dosage. Always consult a vet before crushing medication for your pet.
Crushing pills can be a good way to give your cat medication, but it’s important to know when and how to do it safely. Before crushing any pills, check with your vet first to ensure the medication is safe for crushing. Some medications may become inactive when crushed or have other risks associated with them.
This article will answer the question, ‘is it ok to crush pills for cats?’ We’ll discuss how to hide tablets in pet food and other effective ways to get your cat to take medication.
Is it ok to crush pills for cats?
Depending on the medication, you can crush pills for your cat, but you should only do so after speaking to a vet first. Crushed tablets can taste very bitter, and your cat may refuse to eat food that contains medication.
Some medications, such as worm tablets, are available in a powdered form, which can be added to cat food to make it easier to take. However, cats can be fussy eaters, and if they detect anything unusual in their food are unlikely to eat.
If your vet has given you clearance to crush a pill, ensuring the powder is fine and evenly distributed is essential. This will ensure that your cat’s body properly absorbs the medication. You can use an electric coffee grinder or mortar and pestle to grind the pill into a powder. Ensure you wash and dry the grinder thoroughly before and after use.
Once the pill has been crushed, you can mix it with wet or dry food, using something with a strong smell, like tuna or sardines to help mask the taste of the medication. This will make it easier for your cat to eat the food without noticing that it contains medication.
It’s vital to ensure that your cat is taking the entire dosage of the medication; if your pet eats a little bit of the food containing the crushed pill but refuses to eat the rest, the drug will not have the full effect. If you know your cat is a fussy eater crushing pills may not be the best option.
What is the best way to give medication to cats?
The best way to give your cat a tablet is to tilt your pet’s head back slightly, open his mouth, and put the tablet in as far back as possible. You can then hold your cat’s mouth closed and gently stroke his neck to encourage him to swallow. Ensure that you are gentle when giving your cat a pill and get help from a friend or family member if possible.
You need to ensure you put the tablet far enough back in the cat’s mouth, or he’ll likely end up spitting it out. Aim to put the tablet on the back of your cat’s tongue so it can be easily swallowed without becoming a choking hazard.
If your cat struggles when you give him medication, you can get someone else to hold him to make things easier. Talk to your pet in a soothing voice and wrap him in a blanket while holding him. It can be very stressful for some cats to be held and given a pill, so you’ll need to ensure that your cat’s legs are fully supported.
If you’re finding it hard to give your cat a pill, speak to your vet, who can demonstrate the technique and discuss things you can do to make the process easier. The medication may be available in another form, such as a liquid or powder that can be added to food or as an injection.
Cats are intelligent animals that will detect changes in their routine and won’t take kindly to being given a tablet. You may be able to trick your pet into taking a pill by wrapping it in a piece of cat food.
How is medication given to cats?
There are various medications for cats which are distributed in the following ways:
- Medication is commonly given as a pill, tablet, or capsule
- Liquid medications such as eye or ear drops
- Absorbed through the skin, eg. spot-on flea treatments or collars
- Powdered medicines that can be added to food, commonly to treat worms
- Injections, eg. vaccinations, or injections for diabetes
Is it ok to crush pills for cats: Conclusion
Giving your cat medication doesn’t have to be a difficult process. With the right instructions and safety protocols in place, crushing pills can be a great way to make giving your cat medication easier.
However, it’s best to talk to your vet to ensure it’s safe to crush your pets pills. You’ll also need to ensure that your cat eats all of the food containing the medication so that it can have the correct effect on your pet.
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