Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [44]
Topical treatment: Topical application—that is, on-the-skin treatment—usually comes as an ointment, salve, or spray and is the easiest to administer. Pain medicine may come in the form of a patch that’s stuck onto a shaved area of the cat’s body. Tapazol, a drug used to treat hyperthyroid cats, can be compounded into an ointment that’s smeared on the inside of the cat’s ear and absorbed into the system. Take care the cat doesn’t groom away topical medicine before it has a chance to do the job.
Liquid medicine: Applicators similar to eyedroppers or needle-less syringes often come with liquids, and tend to be easier to give than pill forms. Draw up the prescribed amount and then tip your cat’s head up toward the ceiling. Insert the tip of the applicator into the corner of his mouth, and squirt the medicine into his cheek, keeping his mouth closed. You may need to stroke his throat a bit and keep his head tilted up until you see him swallow. Cats usually lick their noses after they’ve swallowed, so watch for that cue.
Pills: Cats hate pills. Although dogs readily take pills hidden in a hunk of cheese, cats usually see through the ruse. Or they may take the treat, but you’ll find the pill later in your shoe. When pills are needed, circle the top of your cat’s muzzle with one hand, pressing his lips gently against his teeth just behind the large, pointed canine teeth. That prompts him to open wide, and when he does, push the pill over the hill of his tongue with your other hand. Aim for the V at the center of the tongue. If you fear for your fingers, use a pill syringe (pill gun or pill dispenser), a hollow plastic tube that places the pill at the back of his throat. Then close his mouth, and gently hold it closed while stroking his throat or gently blowing on his nose to induce him to swallow. It helps to put butter or margarine on the pill to help grease its trip down his throat. Watch for the nose-licking cue that tells you he’s swallowed. It works best to offer a favorite treat liquid, such as a bit of tuna juice or a syringe full of water, immediately after the pill, so the cat swallows the treat, pill and all. Otherwise, the pill may get stuck.
Eye medicine: Eye medicine usually comes as a liquid or ointment. Tip his head toward the ceiling, gently pull down the lower eyelid, and drip or squirt the recommended amount of medicine into the cupped tissue. Then release the eyelid and allow your cat to blink. That spreads the medicine evenly over the surface of the eye. It may take two pairs of hands to administer eye medication safely.
Ear medicine: The feline ear canal is shaped like an L with the eardrum right at the foot of the L. Keep the cat’s head tipped with the affected ear aimed at the ceiling so that gravity will help get the medicine where it needs to go. Liquid and ointment medicine is dripped into the canal. Be sure to gently grasp the cat’s ear flap (pinna) to prevent him from shaking the medicine out. Use your free hand to massage the base of the ear. That spreads the medicine deeper into the canal. Cats with itchy ears tend to enjoy this, and may lean into the massage. Painful ears, though, may require a few treatments at the veterinarians to get him to the point of allowing you to medicate him at home.
Injections: Medicine administered by injection can provide quicker relief, and for certain conditions such as diabetes, injection is the only option. Needles can be scary to pet owners, but cats don’t seem to be nearly as concerned. Injectable medications come in a vial. Insert the needle into the vial and pull back on the plunger to fill the syringe to the prescribed amount. Your veterinarian will explain exactly how much to give for each dose. Point the needle at the ceiling and gently thump the syringe so any air bubbles float to the needle and can be squeezed out with slight pressure on the plunger. Watch for a small drop of fluid to appear out of the needle, which means air is expressed and you’re ready to give the injection. Place your cat on a countertop, table,