giving medication to a very fussy cat

Question
QUESTION: Hi, My cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a couple of weeks ago and I was giving her medication via tapazole in a pill pocket with no real problems. Today it seems that she is aware that there is a pill in it and she refused to take the pill pocket and I tried to get this very small pill down her throat with no avail. The doctor is going to compound the presicption in to a topical form and I guess I can rub it in her ear instead. She loves her ears rubbed but I am afraid she will catch on that also -- Do you have any ideas to help me maybe get her to take her pills again or any thoughts on the topical medication on how to proceed with that! -- Thanks for your help!

ANSWER: Jaclyn,

Transdermal in the ear will not present a problem.  Make sure you alternate ears and then clean the area with alcohol and a cotton swab before you give the next dose in the given ear (but not right after you rub it in her ear).

If the cat LOVES baby food, many cats will eat the pill ground up in baby food.  You can buy a screw like affair which will grind the pill to powder.  Along the same lines, some cats will eat the powdered pill in a bit of tuna fish (get human grade in a can with oil, and not water).

We have given a very, very bitter, bitter medication called Flagyl in transdermal form and the cats do not mind it at all. It was given twice daily for two weeks and no one got tired of having their ears played with. We did right ear in the morning, left ear in the evening and cleaned both ears (with cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol) in the morning about 1/2 hour before medicating.

I hope this helps.

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick response! -- I got the topical form yesterday evening and was able to give to my baby without any real problems! -- She definitely loves her ears rubbed I just hope we can continue and she doesn't catch on to what I am actually doing!

Answer
Jaclyn,

In my experience, they do not seem to taste anything given through their ears, so they are not likely to object!!!!!

It is the taste of some medications they object to, and, then, the fact that they have to be restrained and pilled (no cat likes that!!!!!). You have neither problem with the transdermal method of administering medication.

Best regards... Norm.