by Michael
A friend of mine in the United States, Sylvia, asked about the best way to give liquid medicine to a cat. We know that pills can be difficult to administer to a cat. You veterinarian will decide when and why liquid medicine is appropriate but he or she may not explain the best way to give it and the following method works and comes from the best source of information on cat health care at home: Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook (ISBN 978-0-470-09530-0). Buy this book!
Sometimes liquid medicines are needed for rehydration, for example. The liquid contains electrolytes. Dehydration in cats is serious and can be difficult to spot.
You’ll no doubt be given a plastic syringe (without needle) or plastic eyedropper by your vet. Plastic won’t hurt the cat if she or he bites it. Measure the amount carefully and per prescription. Up to 15 ml can be administered at one go.
Hold your cat’s head by placing “one thumb and forefinger on either side of the cat’s face from above and behind the whiskers”. Tilt the chin slightly upward with the other hand and using the same hand administer the liquid medicine by inserting the end of the dispensing device in to the cheek pouch – the area between the molars at the back of the mouth and the cheek – and slowly dispensing the liquid.
That is it. Your cat should swallow the liquid and not spit it out. Liquid medicine can be expensive! It’s a loss for the cat in health and a loss for the person in money, if it is spat out.
Hope this helps a bit.
