Newspaper Page Text
PET REPORTER
Vets share tips for giving pets medicine
BY DAN WHISEMIWT
danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net
While humans may have made signif
icant gains in bridging the man-pet com
munication barrier, were not there yet,
especially when it comes to medicine.
It would be helpful if we could some
how explain to our pets that the medic
inal pills were trying to give them will
help them. But until a universal transla
tor for animal language is complete, vets
say there are a few tricks that will help
the medicine go down smoothly in the
meantime.
Unfortunately for cat owners, get
ting cats to take medicine means a lit-
tie more finesse. Cats often are wise to
whatever their owners are plotting, lo
cal veterinarians say. One option of
last resort is a pill popper, a device that
looks like a syringe with a plunger on
the end. But good luck with that.
“Sometimes the cats will see you
coming with that and take off in the
other direction,” said Dr. Zak Vrono
with Vernon Woods Animal Hospital
in Sandy Springs.
Dogs, on the other hand, tend to
be a little more accepting of the vari
ous methods of tricking them into tak
ing medications. A pill disguised in a
treat called a “pill pocket” usually does
the trick.
“Dogs are more hunger-driven, and
we usually don’t have a lot of prob
lems with dogs,” said Dr. Eric Mueller
at Dunwoody Animal Hospital. “Cats
tend to not like their face and mouth
touched, it can be a lot harder, espe
cially with clients who did not have to
medicate cats before.”
Dr. Edward Wier at Lawrence Ani
mal Hospital in Brookhaven said there’s
also a biological reason dogs are more
receptive to taking medicine. “Cats,
unlike dogs, don’t have control of their
esophagus,” Wier said, meaning that
the person administering the pill has to
trigger the cat’s involuntary swallowing
reflex.
In some cases dogs can be finicky
too, the veterinarians say.
Mueller said he usually avoids wrap
ping up the pills in tempting snacks.
Sometimes the disguises — like peanut
butter or cheese — carry additional fat
that isn’t good for the animal.
Mueller said he usually gives his
dog, Bubba, his pill by hand.
“My own dog has a food allergy, so I
can’t pill him with any type of food or
treat. I pill him directly, sticking it on
the base of his tongue,” Mueller said.
In some cases the pill can be sprin
kled over food or given in a liquid form
that will be easier for the pets to digest.
Veterinarians said customers with prob
lematic pets should ask vets if there’s an
easier remedy.
For cats that have to take pills, the
options are somewhat limited. There’s
the pill popper, of course. Wier said
one method he’s heard of is putting the
pill in a bit of butter, freezing it and
then giving it to the cat afterward.
Wier prefers a more direct approach.
The trick, Wier says, is to make sure the
cat is looking straight up at the ceiling
when administering medication.
Wier said owners of house cats can
generally put their hands behind the
back of their cat’s head and rotate their
head so it is pointed straight at the ceil
ing. Wier said it’s easier to get a pill in
side a cat’s mouth in this position.
“If you look at the back of the cat’s
mouth, the tongue forms a trian
gle,” Wier said. “If you hit the triangle
there’s an involuntary reflex” and the
cat swallows the pill.
i!fi|Pupcakes Playcare
GROOMING
& Bath & Nails
Ji* Bath & Trim
Spa Groom
PLAYCARE
Open Playground
Superior Quality Customer Service
404.237.7440
www.pupcakesplaycare.com
2989 N. Fulton Drive, Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30305
SPECIAL
Dr. Eric Mueller, an associate veterinarian at Dunwoody Animal
Hospital, demonstrates how he gives his dog “Bubba” a pill.
Vrono recommends reverse psychol
ogy
“Hide it in a treat the best you can
and get them real excited, have them
work for it like they would for any oth
er treat. That way they don’t have the
time to sit there and tell it’s any differ
ent,” Vrono said.
FOR CATS
TOO!
Safe and Effective Solutions to Provide
Freedom for Your Pet,
Peace of Mind for You
We help pets and their owners live
happy, harmonious lives together.
With nearly 40 years of expertise, we
understand your situation, your pets,
and we have the safe solutions to solve
even the most unique challenges.
• Customizable solutions for your home and
yard
• Safe and gentle - any age, any breed
• Most used and exclusively recommended by
veterinarians
Up to
$250
Off!
Promo Code: PET REPORTER. Offer valid on
professionally installed, premium outdoor
containment packages and varies based on
package selected. Must present coupon at
time of purchase. Not combinable with other
discounts or valid on previous purchases.
Participating dealers only. Expires 6/14/2013
■ill——
• Maximum space, safety and freedom for
your pets - ask about Boundary Plus® Call or log on to schedule a FREE
in-home consultation!
% ^ Invisible
tfenCe Brand
Invisible Fencing by Peachtree
770-924-8459 | 866-611-3647
peachtree.invisiblefence.com
www.ReporterNewspapers.net | MAY3— MAY 16, 2013 | 19
