[whyyyyy?]

[wispfox]

"Why is no one making any seeeense?!"

That's my current mental state. Imagine me looking very ernest, confused, and distressed while shaking both fists in the air and saying that.

A ridiculously high number of (non-work, thankfully) conversations today have gone very strange, very quickly. Pretty much all got redirected back on track or defused, as necessary, but I think I spent more energy on interpersonal interactions today than I normally do in a month. Rather makes me want to avoid all (I do mean literally all) conversations for the next couple of weeks in the hopes that people start making sense again (or, alternatively, that _I_ start making sense again).


My cat may have decided that pills crushed and mixed with his wet food isn't tolerable (at least based on ayalanya's attempts earlier today), which is really _frustrating_. If he won't cooperate, how the _hell_ am I going to leave his care to someone else while I travel? I hope it was some fluke, and not that I have to try yet another method already.

I note that I kept wanting to rant today. Considering how rarely I rant, this made for a very strange day. (rant about white on light grey being evil to look at, rant about my cat, rant rant rant!)


Why the hell can't I sleep? Melatonin, why do you hate me?

Comments

[australian-joe.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised you're crushing the pills, actually. Makes them a lot more noticeable by taste, smell and appearance. Normally I just push cat pills into the food and most cats are enough of a guts that they can merrily chow down.

And, er, are you *sure* the vet said aspirin? I'm seeing a lot of information that aspirin is toxic to cats!!

http://www.vetcentric.com/reference/displayFAQ.cfm?ARTICLE=188
http://petplace.netscape.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=1030

Everything I'm finding says that cats metabolise aspirin extremely slowly, which means giving Ash a crushed slow-release tablet is *not* a good idea. Crushing or splitting slow-release alters the slowness and makes for a dose surge.

Apparently feline aspirin must be carefully monitored and has to be supported by blood tests for liver and kidney function before it's safe. The cat needs to be regularly examined to confirm they aren't being poisoned. The dose has to be determined by the vet, too.

So I'm a bit worried about them just telling you to "go buy child aspirin" and leaving it at that.

Ok. Maximum safe dose for aspirin is 25mg per kilogram of cat (or ~11mg per pound):

http://animalpetdoctor.homestead.com/poison.html#anchor_13034

Oh. I see other sites saying the maximum dose is 10mg per kilo, once every three days.

Um. I think you need some clarification of *exact* dosage from your vet.
Baby (not child) aspirins are 81mg, so depending on the dosage values you trust, the correct amount for Ash ranges from half a pill every three days to one pill every day. Uh, that's too broad a range. Get exact details.

Sorry for scaring you!

[ayalanya.livejournal.com]

meep!

i don't currently have the bottle right in front of me, but i do know that it's one (aspirin) pill every three days. i...suspect that it won't be an issue due to that, though i agree with the wanting more info. on the other hand, i don't know how much info wispfox *has* from the doctor about it.

[okoshun.livejournal.com]

Our cat had a heart condition and was on low-dose aspirin for 6 years of his life, 1/2 a pill once a day. He did have to have tests done every 6 months or so to make sure that the meds he was on (aspirin, cardizem and another one) weren't affecting his kidneys.

It's a pretty standard prescription. However, checking with the vet to ensure that it is low-dose (children's) versus regular is probably a good idea.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised you're crushing the pills, actually. Makes them a lot more noticeable by taste, smell and appearance. Normally I just push cat pills into the food and most cats are enough of a guts that they can merrily chow down.

Hmm. 'k. That's what ayalanya tried last night. I shall try that for a while, then.

are you *sure* the vet said aspirin?

Positive. One 81mg aspirin every three days, specifically.

Everything I'm finding says that cats metabolise aspirin extremely slowly, which means giving Ash a crushed slow-release tablet is *not* a good idea. Crushing or splitting slow-release alters the slowness and makes for a dose surge.

Noted. Shall use the chewable kind that I have, then.

Apparently feline aspirin must be carefully monitored and has to be supported by blood tests for liver and kidney function before it's safe.

This is probably why they have me coming back in two weeks.

[australian-joe.livejournal.com]

1x81mg every three days is OK according to all the stats I've seen...

[okoshun.livejournal.com]

I was suprised that the cat ate the food with the crushed pills. My cats won't go near food that has a pill in it lest it be crushed into it.

If your friends don't mind pilling a cat, it might be the better option. It's not that difficult if you cat doesn't put up a fight for it (and over time it's a 2-second process).

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

If your friends don't mind pilling a cat

My cat will spit out the pill. Repeatedly. And I'm uncomfortable putting it so far back that he can't, because I'm concerned about accidentally putting it in the wrong tube (also, I'm not sure I _can_ put it that far back).

[okoshun.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you really have the push the pill back in order for the cat to not spit it out. Some people will put the pill in, hold their cats mouth closed and pat the chin/neck region in a downwards motion to force swallowing. It seems to work.

I don't think it's possible to put it in the wrong tube.

Would visiting the vet again to show different ways of pilling your cat help?

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

really have the push the pill back in order for the cat to not spit it out. Some people will put the pill in, hold their cats mouth closed and pat the chin/neck region in a downwards motion to force swallowing. It seems to work.

I don't think it's possible to put it in the wrong tube.

Noted. Shall try pilling him again tonight, then. Thanks!

Would visiting the vet again to show different ways of pilling your cat help?

Perhaps. Visiting again soon enough anyway, to make sure that the current dosages are the right ones.

[jasra]

This sounds strange, but once you get the pill in Ash's mouth, give him a little toss in the air (a teeny one, really). It should be enough to shock him into swallowing the pill. Works every time with my kitties.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Definitely sounds strange, but noted. :)

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

IME, cats often will take a pill a certain way, and then stop :) So leaving a list of things to try for someone would probably be helpful! You might try sticking the pill in a dollop of wet food *without* crushing -- sometimes they'll just suck it down! Or inside people food?

Liquid meds also have helped me with various cats -- it's easier to squirt down the throat than to pill, sometimes, although it depends on the cat!

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

IME, cats often will take a pill a certain way, and then stop :) So leaving a list of things to try for someone would probably be helpful!

Ah... noted.

You might try sticking the pill in a dollop of wet food *without* crushing -- sometimes they'll just suck it down!

That's what ayalanya tried last night, which appeared to work. I figured - apparently inaccurately - that it'd be easier to notice when not crushed up.

People food is the next thing I try, if this stops working.

Liquid meds also have helped me with various cats -- it's easier to squirt down the throat than to pill, sometimes, although it depends on the cat!

Yep. Had that thought; depending on how the next 1.5 weeks go, I may ask my vet about that option.

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

See? You are so clever that I am gratuitous! :)