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Thanks for the recommendations TC. I’m hanging out tonight with Turtle. Trying to get her antibiotics and pain med down. She’s not having any of it. Obviously I’m much better at administering meds to humans. So I’ve just mixed them with some food and waiting for her to decide to eat. So now I have several options to watch. Most appreciated!

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I'm assuming Turtle is your cat Karen, and that you've been given pills to administer? If so there are steps to learning how. It's a matter of using their reflexes to your advantage. I can't really explain it, but this guy does (and he's a vet)... https://youtu.be/WnikCuQtFOw

The bit about stopping the cat from backing and holding the jaw up while rubbing the throat are spot on. Need to have collar of shame off while doing it. The whole process becomes very easy once you get the hang of it, like riding a bicycle.

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Thank you Vague Craig! The video is helpful. I have many cats and typically have no problem giving them meds. But sweet gentle Turtle turned into wildcat after major abdominal surgery and sepsis. She’s pretty much had it. Hopefully as she calms down it will be easier.

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Wish I had known this years ago

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I've always had good luck pilling dogs, but I've never succeeded with a cat. it feels like they REALLY hate it. and their canines (can cats have "canines"'s or are they just "fangs?") can really hurt.

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We were lucky today and they were able to switch to liquid antibiotics. Syringe to mouth is much easier on both of us.

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finally, when I was trying to medicate the cat, I figured out the syringe thing. dissolve the pill in water and the syringe I used was the one that came in some kind of fountain pen flushing system I bought years ago. but there are medicine syringes available in any decent drug store as well.

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Sorry for the difficulties with Turtle. Smurfie was fairly easy to medicate with a syringe, but I think that might have been because she was so vulnerable from being moved from her home then to the shelter then here. Might be a different story now. She kind of panicky about being picked up - likes to lap & be with me but picking her up? no. Have to quit now - shes being just a bit too helpful - keyboard & mouse wise!

Hope Turtle feels better soon.

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