Looks Like A Spaceship!

These are images of Chuck's PM pill allotment.  The brown stuff is pill masker.  There are five pill pieces, plus one capsule in that glob.  I could try to get photos or even a video of The Hubby dropping that wad down Chuck's throat, but it all happens much too fast to really see anything.  He's learned to a) wait until Chuck has found a place to rest, b) he drops to his knees, tilts the cat's head back, and down the hatch it goes!, c) he rubs Chuck's throat to make sure that lump goes down, then, d) there is at least a full minute of hugging and cooing.  The AM pill allotment is smaller.

I believe that The Hubby's ability to pill Chuck so definitively twice a day, has made all the difference in Chuck's health.  The Hubby has a bowl full of medicine bottles and daily pill envelopes, and when we get close to the bottom of any of the pills, I am informed so refills can be obtained.  At this point, we get three meds from the vet's office, two from a compounding pharmacy, and one more from an online pet pharmacy.  The cost isn't too bad; it's more the organizational factor of phone calls, confirming phone calls, then pick up or delivery.  I, of course, am the buyer and stock clerk.

Which one of us has the more difficult job?  The way we see it, if it keeps Chuck around for a while, then it's worth every cent, and every moment spent.

(But that glob of pills really does look like a spaceship, or a UFO!)

Medication Error

Folks, please PLEASE be careful when administering medications!  The Hubby and I just discovered that we made a huge error when using an old Metronidazole script from one pharmacy, and the new script, from another pharmacy, was for a different sized pill.  Since we have to cut pills to meet the doctor's orders, we didn't realize that the old script was for 1/8th pills, while the new was for 1/4 pills!

Chuck was not injured by the error, but I'm telling this embarrassing story to advise you all that it's important to be on the same page as the veterinarian, AND with anyone else in the household that is assisting with medicine handling!  I take full blame for the lack of communication...if I'd simply x'd out the old prescription label.

With multiple bottles of pills; each one has it's own instructions and how often administered, and the pills from the pharmacy are not the correct dosage size...they must be cut in half or quarters!  So, it's complicated and we've made our first big fat error.  I feel awful about it. The only way I'm not running out in the street for a bus to hit me, is the fact that Chuck is okay...this was a supplemental mild antibiotic for his IBD, NOT one of his heart meds.

In the future, when any new med is introduced, The Hubby and I will converse clearly so we both know what is what and who is who.  When we started, I was the only one cutting up pills and wrapping them, but our process morphed over time to The Hubby doing all the cutting, while we take turns in the pill wrapping.  Clearly, our instructional discussions need to morph too.

We are both pretty shaken by this, so again I warn you all to be careful; color-code, or write across pill bottles with markers, or tape them with different colors if that makes everything CRYSTAL CLEAR TO ALL.

P.S. Chuck is greatly improved using Metronidazole, even at the reduced dosage.  His litter box usage is significantly better, and we are glad his attitude is much more playful and kitten-like.

Sunday Chuck