Riley poorly at vets - having seizures

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Thank you for worrying about me Helen, most appreciated 

Will Riley need all these tablets for life or just the anti seizure ones?

I know that Zoes cat Ollie was really really spaced out on phenabarb and a big doseage but I think it took about six weeks before he became back to normal. Ollie is just epileptic.

So pleased you have loads of options for the pills...................good luck 

Riley looks as good as usual but with a new hair cut   

Hoping everything continiues well and Lu and Riley come back together soon 

[Big Cat Lover]

I'm so glad that Riley is on the mend! He's still a beautiful boy, even with his shaved bits! 

Lots of love, hugs and kisses from me and loads of furry headbutts and snoozling from Lucky. 

[Dawn F]

you can get the really small tins, I'd only leave it a couple of days

[Tiggy's Mum]

I'm not sure I could bear to have it in the house 

Q for tuna eaters... On a similar note, I despise tuna (for a few reasons  ) - I used to use it for Tiggy's tablets on occasion but it's been ages since I had any in the house, roughly how long will it keep in the fridge (in a sealed tupperware pot)?

[Dawn F]

yes amber too!

[Kay and Penny]

marmite mixed into a blob of butter is Tiffany's idea of kitty heaven

[Dawn F]

good that you have options!  hopefully he will always go for something on the list, Amber loves marmite as well!

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

So pleased you've got a number of tricks to try Helen, but also hoping that you wont need to resort to any of them except occasionally.

With coconut oil, it solidifies if kept in the fridge, so it might be possible to pop a pill into a little semi solid oil methinks.  But you'd have to be fairly deft and swift before the oil melted, which it tends to on contact with body heart. 

Anyways, sending Riley lots of loving and soothing vibes and hoping everything continues to progress well and steadily for our very brave little sodja.  xx

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

A slightly out of the box suggestion but how about coconut oil? Yes I know it sounds daft but bear with me.

I use coconut oil as a body moisturiser and recently Jaffa was hanging around when I was using it. He started licking the jar and even tried to lick it off my legs. After checking that coconut oil is safe for cats I started giving him some every time I use it. He's become a little obsessed to tell the truth. I gave Mosi some and he likes it too. I've since found out that it seems quite popular with cats. It's thick and gooey but melts very quickly (so could be messy!). You couldn't hide a pill completely but it would certainly slip down easily.

[maryas]

Marmite  What self respecting cat would eat marmite -  Can you tell I HATE Marmite? 

[/color]

My Bonnie loves marmite 

She was watching me eat marmite crisps ages ago and holding one out to her, so she could smell it, I said "Bonnie, you won't like these darling"

But she licked it over and over again.  So the next time I had marmite on toast I held it out and she ate that too. 

Mary

[Tiggy's Mum]

Well the babybel were for me but he can share! After my suspicious 'treat squeezing' activity at Jollyes I was busy squeezing in the cheese aisle at Asda!  He's still very much out of sorts but having an arsenal of tablet giving tricks has made me relax a bit as it's sooooo important that he gets the medication on time - plus I'm going to have to start coming home from work on my break to give him the tablets and only have a limited time to get back so I need him to be good

[nickynoo93]

So pleased he is doing much better.

Question??? Did you buy any food for yourself? Or do you have what RIley doesn't want?lol

Take care of yourself as well as your boys.

Nicky x

[Tiggy's Mum]

The Asda treat sticks (lamb) were a hit! Didn't even have to mix in any temptations 

[Tiggy's Mum]

  for all the tablet suggestions. Just been shopping and now have:

Sardines in tomato sauce
Tuna
Cheddar cheese
Cathedral city spreadable cheese
Burger cheese slices
Laughing cow triangles
Babybel
Asda stick treats
Webbox treat stick bumper pack (4 different flavours)
Prawns
Pate
Extra thick cream

Was planning on freezing the cream into ice cube trays to pull out a blob if needed, plus the prawns are already frozen. Every thing else should last a fair while in the fridge as I'm hoping to have to use the methods above on the odd occasion only if I can get him to take them in the Natures Menu treats as he's been doing so far.

They didn't have any of the wafer thin ham I used to use for Tiggy (Bernard Matthews, way better for tablet giving than any other make) so that's another possible.

It's a shame vets don't come up with a covering for medication. Maybe they could get together with someone like Dreamies and try to create something that really covers the taste and cats would eat. 

I know, I thought the exact same - hollow dreamies or tempatations would be ideal. At the moment I'm putting down a few temptations then slipping the treat with tablet in onto the pile. In America they have compounding pharmacies that can make any drug beef or chicken flavour, they can even make them into gels you rub into the ear, plus they sell greenies pill pockets (have some on order) which get very good reviews.

Maybe this is something you could practise on Lu (sorry Lu) so you have the technique for when Riley is playing up? (maybe give him a dreamy instead of a pill)
Sending good strong healing vibes for you all! 

Poor Lu!  He's actually much easier to 'force' tablets into as the poor lamb just freezes in terror  Riley thrashes and writhes and it's the front legs coming up that I find hard to control.

I had capsules for Mouse a few weeks ago and opened them and put them in her food, just a few teaspoonful so she got all of the medication. I had no problem at all with her eating it, if Riley likes cheese or marmite try putting a tiny bit in with it too.

Marmite  What self respecting cat would eat marmite -  Can you tell I HATE Marmite? 

[JackSpratt]

He's as handsome as always.

Great stuff Helen. Long may the improvements and return to normality continue.

(We use Pet Remedy diffusers too. )

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

No time to read at mo but sending loads of good pill days 

[Liz]

Helen having 2 cats who are pilled every day for Hyper T one domestic my darling max and Miss Clio feral I have now resorted to the following

Clio as she is on a liquid diet doe to having her teeth out and her gims still being iffy so no pill popper useage I now crush her tablets in her tea not the best way for a Hyper T but so much easier all round

For Max I have used Webbox, Tesco Kitsticks they come in 4 flavours and are easy to wrap round a pill and the other bits could be given to Lu so they both think they are getting a treat.  Smioed salmon extra thin from M & S likewise Turkey, ham and chicken all  & S, Pate of most sorts, sandwich paste, Tubes of squeezy cheese, pill pockets, tuna in brine with brine well squeezed out and raw mince - steak of course and bacon just cooked and last nights way of taking his pills for Max - extra thick M & S double cream - not the best thing but he ate them all and was happy I try to avoid using the pill popper as sometimes when they saw me open the drawer they would run and hide and be stressed out which is not good all round  for any of us and especially not in your Riley's case

[JenGeorgieBob]

Yet another pill tip in case you need one.
Although there are 2 of us at home, my fiance is a baker so morning pill time there is only ever one of us here (me) and it can be quite difficult getting my lot to take their pills. Ginger in particular has decided she is no longer fooled by her fortekor being hidden by food and she can be particularly wiggly. My technique is to kneel on the floor, grab her, push her so her bum is between my legs (so she can't wiggle backwards) then grab her mouth, shove the pill in and voila. It sounds quite rough but it isn't and it takes me about 30 seconds now, if that and doesn't stress them out. (Benji is a 2 person job, as the second anything touches his gums he loses it, understandably as they are so sore). I find because they are hugged into your body they don't wiggle so much, Ginger does get a cuddle afterwards (she is not very food oriented). Maybe this is something you could practise on Lu (sorry Lu) so you have the technique for when Riley is playing up? (maybe give him a dreamy instead of a pill)
Sending good strong healing vibes for you all! 

[CarolM (Wendolene)]

I'm so pleased that Riley is progressing well Helen but that certainly sounds like an onerous medication regimen.      I suspect you will need to become expert at several of the methods already suggested so that if he gets difficult with one you can use another.  Good luck. 
Still sending lots of positive vibes for the lad and his family.

[sheilarose]

How about grinding the pill and mixing it with lick-e-licks, then sucking it up in a syringe? I find getting syringed liquidised stuff easier by miles to get inside the cat. 
I know you said Riley isn't a fan of lick-e-licks but do try them again - I think they've changed the recipe cos my lot hated them at first but now pull them out of the treat drawer (yes, we have a whole drawer for treats here  ) for me to open for them. 

[pappilon]

Sending some gentle hugs for Riley and you Helen
How about raw meat some thing like ck breast or steak that is if he likes raw treats or fresh prawn.
Just a thought what if Riley sees you giving treats to Lu that might make him wanting the treats for himself like a game that is when Lu is more settled to be in the same room.

[Tan]

I have a prob pulling my two so I tend to try and pop them in stinky bit of fish or something wen tried to squeeze in a dreamie lol

One day at a time hun and soon as ya know he will be back xxxxxx

Sending more hugs and live over xx

[Lyn (Slugsta)]

My friends use the pill gun to dose their cats. It is certainly easier, but how easy depends entirely on the cat concerned!

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

Does Riley like Sardines in tomato sauce?  I have found that most pills that can be crushed up are always eaten if hidden in sardines.

The only trouble with hiding pills in food is if he doesn't est the whole portion you have no idea how much or how little of the table he has taken.

Your can buy pills pockets on amazon:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/pill-pockets-cats/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=pill%20pockets%20for%20cats&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Apill%20pockets%20for%20cats

Another idea for disguising pills is a bit of raw sausage meat ... it's pliable so can be moulded round the pill 

[maryas]

Everyone has their own way of giving tablets and some people are luckier than others.

I have to give Bonnie a blood pressure tablet every night and I put it in the middle of her food and she just eats it - no probs.  I don't empty the full packet in her bowl like I do at other times in the day, I just put a bit in and make sure she's not eaten around it and then empty the rest of the packet.

I was browsing on a new website the other day and noticed something at the time I thought I had no use for but maybe it would be ok for you Helen, you never know:

http://www.personalised-pet-products.co.uk/mikki-pill-gun-dispenser-6211-101?filter_name=pill

Mary

[lollycat]

I had capsules for Mouse a few weeks ago and opened them and put them in her food, just a few teaspoonful so she got all of the medication. I had no problem at all with her eating it, if Riley likes cheese or marmite try putting a tiny bit in with it too.

[Mymblesdaughter]

It's a shame vets don't come up with a covering for medication. Maybe they could get together with someone like Dreamies and try to create something that really covers the taste and cats would eat. 

[Tiggy's Mum]

Are any of the tablets suitable for crushing up and adding to food or do they have to be swallowed whole?

Funnily enough I asked the vet the same thing this morning and it's OK for all of them to be crushed - I've never tried this on cats though, surely their whole bowl  of food smelling of nasty tablets would put them off eating it?!

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

The difficulty is that they get to know what's happening and run and hide when it's due.  I've never had to give Jaffa tablets or eye drops for more than a week or so at a time and I've always gone for the shove it down the throat followed by a treat option.  But after a few days he cottons on and makes himself scarce.  I would struggle to do that long term with him.

Are any of the tablets suitable for crushing up and adding to food or do they have to be swallowed whole?

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

I think there you have it Helen -  it's not just trying to hold him, but making sure he doesn't get stressed out by the whole prcedure int he process.      the treat method would seem to be preferable provided he continues to take them that way.

[Tiggy's Mum]

it might be better, given that he is on medication for life, to get him used to having the pills adminstered directly, followed by a treat

at least that way you can get the pills down him even if he is off his food - but you need to start while he is still very food/treat orientated

Yes, I thought that too Kay - especially as the medication times are so crucial.  The only snag with that is that even the vet and nurses had a job trying to give them to him manually, they resorted to tuna and the likes too! If there was somebody else at home it might make it easier but it makes it much harder trying to do it with nobody to hold him. I'm still going to ask the vet for tips when we go on Thursday because there might be something I've been missing all these years!

[Kay and Penny]

it might be better, given that he is on medication for life, to get him used to having the pills adminstered directly, followed by a treat

at least that way you can get the pills down him even if he is off his food - but you need to start while he is still very food/treat orientated

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

Sympathies Helen.  I remember trying to give Paddy his Felimazole (which are tiny) - what a palaver.  He resisted all attempts, and could sniff them out in any form of treat we tried to use as a bribe.  I would forever be fining half dissolved tablets clumps behind items of furniture or behidn the dining room table.     

[Tiggy's Mum]

Thanks ladies 

Might be worth looking into various options for hiding the meds so that you have something else ready in case he decides not to eat the natures menu treats!

That's started already  He'll sometimes eat it willingly but other times has to be cajoled into it and others just isn't interested in them. I've tried tinned chicken breast ( ) - not interested, tuna - passable but as he licks the 'blob' it breaks open and exposes the tablet, salmon paste ( ) - not interested. I've resorted to trying to cut the top off a Whiskas temptation and poke the tablet in the small hole and hope it sticks!

I've ordered some greenies pill pockets from the US and if they're as good as the reviews suggest will need to stock up. Also on my shopping list is cheese, pate, prawns, chicken webbox and wafer thin ham. I also checked with the vet this morning and there's no problem with grinding the tablets so I could add them to cream for him to lick off. Thankfully he's quite food orientated so fingers crossed between those options I will be able to reliably dose the meds, it's such a worry as it's sooooo important he doesn't miss a dose or even be a few hours late as there is a very high chance he will have a seizure  I think I'll ask the vet on Thursday for tablet giving tips the manual way too just in case.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Good news that he's remaining twitch and seizure free. 

it will take a while to get the meds all sorted - it may be that as time goes on some of the doseage can be reduced but if not he will probably get used to them and start to feel better.  He might be able to maintain good health on a lower doseage than he required to stop the seizures.  It is still very early days, as Sue says.

Fingers crossed things go ok between him and Lu.

Might be worth looking into various options for hiding the meds so that you have something else ready in case he decides not to eat the natures menu treats!

[Dawn F]

speaking as a human on these type of meds they do space you out for a while but that does go away, I slept almost constantly for the first couple of weeks!

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

Helen, fingers well and truly crossed here.

I think the thing to remember is, that it's still early days in Riley's recovery, and the meds by their nature, work to keep everything as calm as possible.  Riley's been through a major episode in his life and he's still very much coming to terms with what's happened to him.  After Paddy's stroke, it took a number of months for him to adjust to all of the changes in his health, but he came through, and I'm convinced Riley will too.  He needs time.      And I know you'll give that to him by the shedload, but I also understand - I think all of us do - your desire to have Riley back to his old rumbunctuous self as soon as possible.   

[Tiggy's Mum]

  all 

I guess the main thing is there's been no seizures, or any twitches that I've seen, but now I'm worrying about how the medications he's on are affecting him  He's very sedate, a bit 'vague' and spaced out. I know these are a side effect of the anti-seizure medications but I'm hoping they'll lessen as time goes on as he's more like an old man than the 6kg kitten that he used to be - rocket-ing around the house, springing up doorframes and just generally making his presence known.

He has a blood test on Thursday to check that one particular medication has reached it's 'steady state' and I guess if that's higher than it should be that would be causing the extra-sedateness. The worry there is that it's only since this medication was increased on the 16th that he's been seizure free so if the level is high and they want to reduce it there's a whole other worry that if it's reduced back to what it was the seizures will start again 

He's being a bit picky with his tablets too which is making me anxious... four times a day! Aaargh!

Lu is still being a bit hissy (have had them in the same room for a few minutes each day, with Lu on the bed and Riley on the floor) but I want them to get back together so the house is now 'open' - fingers crossed!

[Tan]

Sending over tons of snooogles and cuggles for you all. Hope Riles is ok hun 

[Dawn F]

bless him, he does look pretty relaxed though - hope you are getting a bit more chilled yourself