My cat hates taking dental pain meds. What are easy ways to give them?

Hello. You will need to get just a little bit tough with Pookie. You need to scruff her & tilt her head back so that her nose is pointed straight up. This will actually relax her jaw a bit where you can introduce the syringe into the side of her mouth. Drip the Metacam in & then praise her well. This is sometimes the only way I can medicate my own cats. Hope this helps & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I understand! Medicating cats can be very challenging in some cases. I'm not sure what type of medication he is taking, but some options would include mixing in some canned food, tuna, or other special treat. If he won't eat it this way and won't allow you to medicate him by putting the medication directly in his mouth, you could ask your vet about having it compounded into a tasty treat or liquid suspension that might be easier to give.

I can certainly understand your frustration. Cats are very smart at not taking their nedicaiton. I would talk to your vet about getting his medicaiton compounded into a flavor that he likes. There also may be an alternative medication in capsule form that won’t taste like anything that you can hide in a soft treat or a pill pocket. Most vets carry pill pockets or you can get these from your local pet store in many situations (call first). And finally there is a “pill gun” or “pet piller” that your vet should be able to sell you to make it easier to give Diggie his medicaiton. I surely hope this helps you in giving Digger his medicaiton. And remember that cats will often feed off of our energy, so try to keep a level head and be firm with him, then cuddle him and praise him every time he takes his medication well. I also find it helpful to use a large soft blanket to help hold my cats still when I want to give them their medication. This also prevents you from getting scratched. Best of luck to you and take care.

Any wet or semi wet food that he likes such as liver pate, sausages, sardines and just regular wet cat food. With the syrup I would advise giving it to him directly in the mouth as it can affect the taste of the food greatly.

This is a common problem with cats and it's likely that most of them don't get their full dose due to spitting or accidental wastage. While it's best to make sure she gets the full dose, there will be some effect even if she gets a little. I usually don't prescribe antibiotics for extractions unless there appears to be a bad infection. I'm sure your vet prescribed them for good reason, but you can always call and ask how important they are and let them know that it's nearly impossible to give. They may advise you to stop the medication, or have an alternative solution to the problem. I hope that helps and Vivian gets better soon.

No don’t crush the pills. It is very bitter. Shoving it down his throat and then chasing it with water to ensure swallowing is the best option at this point. You should really speak to your vet about having it compounded into a liquid - they can make it chicken or tuna flavor to make it more palatable. They can actually make it it many different forms. Here’s an example. I also believe they will ship it directly to you. ( https://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/items/doxycycline-oral-suspension.html ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Unfortunately, Denamarin only comes in tablet form. You could try pill pockets, or potentially crush it and mix it with a bite of canned all-meat baby food. If that doesn't work, and you're really struggling to get the medication into him, I recommend reaching out to your vet. We understand that many cats are nearly impossible to get pills into! There are other liver support options, such as milk thistle, that can come in liquid form if you need a "plan B" option. It wouldn't be quite as good as Denamarin, but better than nothing! Hope this helps!