Sweetie 1 Me 0

The above video was taken in March, 2020, just before Sweetie became an inside cat.

Her coughing/sneezing fits made me anxious; she had them often.

The vet gave her antibiotics with her dental work in April, 2020, and she stopped having these attacks.

For awhile...then, they came back again.

Imagine being asleep, when the kitty on your chest starts that!

Sweetie went to the veterinarian again, and was diagnosed with having a bacteria called mycoplasma.

It's difficult to get rid of, and it take antibiotics.

But I am the WORST cat piller of ALL TIME!

I wrestled Sweetie, I pinned her down, I popped that capsule in her mouth...and she spat it out.

Two, three, four times this happened, until the capsule was just a bit of mush.

I cried.

Sweetie went off to nap.

The Hubby patted me on the back.

After awhile, I called the vet's office, and explained that I needed more capsules, because I was going to ruin a few!

They offered me a private cat pilling class, and I jumped at the chance.

We gently practised on two office cats, and one large cat-shaped doorstop.

The nice folks showed me how to use my hands, how to burrito a kitty with a big towel, and then to use a pill shooter.

I even took pictures of my own hands, to use as reference!

Tomorrow, Sweetie is getting her meds...no ifs, ands, or buts!

Artified Sweetie
She doesn't take any prisoners!

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

Bacon Ball Ballet

Chuck was prescribed three medicines for his heart condition, and one for his intestinal issues.  I discovered pill paste from a blog comment months ago, and immediately ordered some online.  I have since discovered I can buy it at Petco stores, even if it's pricier.

This is what it looks like: it reminds me of Play-Doh!

We fold the pills into this pliable, soft stuff and roll it into a ball.

Early days, Chuck would just eat the 'bacon ball' (the jar says it's bacon-flavored!) out of my hand. One day, he bit into a buried pill that had a bad taste, and I haven't been able to get him to eat it since. He won't even eat any that is pill-free.  Angel gets a little bit as a treat, once in awhile.

The Hubby picks Chuck up, lays him across his lap, and pries open Chuck's mouth while dropping in the bacon ball.  Chuck hasn't bitten him yet...!  The Hubby gives Chuck mucho lovin' before and after the drop, and they do this every morning and every evening.  It's actually quite a sight.  A pill-dropping, bacon ball-toting ballet!

Bacon Balls

"I want food, not pills!"

Chuck's daily medicine; these are little tiny pills!

Bacon Balls
The manufacturer knows NOTHING about this post!

Chuck gets a lot of meds each day:

1 capsule of Budesonide, an anti-inflammatory for his intestines

1/4 pill Plavix, blood thinner

1/2 pill Lasix, twice a day; diuretic

1/2 pill Enalapril, twice a day; blood pressure reducer

At first, we used those pill pocket things, but Chuck refused to eat them after awhile, so we ended up simply pilling Chuck.  Erm...um...The Hubby does all the pilling; there is no 'we' about it!  

Then, I discovered pill masker while reading a comment on a blog (thank you, whoever you are!), and ordered some online.  It is like edible Play Doh; you simply pinch off any amount, since it's really pliable.  Wrap the stuff around the pills, and you've got a nice brown bacon ball. Well, it SAYS it's bacon-flavored, and it certainly smells like it!  Voila!

Chuck loved his bacon balls; I'd roll everything up before each meal, and he'd chomp away (even the capsule!)  But then, one day, he bit into the Plavix, and he spit that bacon ball out and foamed at the mouth.  I tried again, but he was done.  That pill must be bitter.  So, now I make the bacon ball and hand it to The Hubby, who drops it down Chuck's gullet. Just to be fair, I make a smallish no-pill bacon ball for Angel to eat at the same time.  She eats hers.

I have no photo of a bacon ball to show; it looks like a piece of poop on camera!  I've also discovered that I can get pill masker at one local pet food box store; it's pricier than online, but no shipping.  And luckily, Chuck doesn't seem to hold his twice-a-day pilling as a grudge against The Hubby (or me, for that matter!)  He does get pretty elusive, however...see him hiding in the first photo?