First Aid for Cats: Tips for Safely Administering Medication
Cats are the most popular pet in the United States, with over 95 million cats living in homes across the country. A unique aspect of owning a cat is that you need to take care of them accordingly, including administering medication during an emergency. If you’re unsure about how to give your cat a pill or liquid medicine, don’t worry—there are easy ways to do so without causing stress for either party involved. In this article, we will discuss some tips on how to safely administer medication to your feline friend while still being gentle and careful with their health and well-being:
When it comes to cats, you have to be extra careful about giving them their medication
They can be very sensitive and allergic to medications, so it's important that you understand what you're doing before you administer any medicine. First, always consult your vet before giving your cat any kind of medication. Cats are especially prone to having bad reactions when given human medications or food/treats with certain ingredients in them (such as chocolate). It is also important that they not receive more than one kind at a time because this can cause an adverse reaction as well. Finally, never give your cat anything without consulting a veterinarian first--even if it seems harmless (like aspirin) or if the label says "for dogs only" or "for humans only."
Bring the prescription bottle with you
If you don't have the prescription bottle with you, ask the vet to write down the dosage and instructions. If your cat's mouth is too dry, give them some water first before giving them any medication.
Don't put a cat on its back to administer medicine orally
- Cats can't vomit, so they have trouble getting rid of their medicine. If you give your cat oral medications by mouth and it accidentally swallows some, it could get very sick or even die from an overdose.
To prevent this from happening:
- Keep track of how many times you give your cat its medication each day (and at what time). You may need to take it in with you when going out so that someone else can administer the dose if necessary.
- If possible, divide up one large dose into two smaller ones spaced several hours apart instead of giving all the medicine at once--this will help reduce the risk of overdosing if something goes wrong during administration or if there are other reasons why giving medication might not go as planned (e.,g., an allergic reaction).
Give your cat a treat after giving it medication
Once you've given your cat its medication, it's important to give them a treat as well. This will help keep them calm and happy while they recover from their illness.
Here are some tips for choosing the right treats:
- Make sure that the treat is something that your cat enjoys. If you're unsure of what kind of food would be best, ask your veterinarian or consult with one of our experts at PetSmart! We can help you find the perfect snack for any feline friend in need.
- Make sure that whatever item(s) you choose won't cause digestive issues when consumed by your pet.
- Be careful not to overfeed - if too much food enters their system at once, there could be negative side effects such as vomiting or diarrhea which may lead to being harmful if ingested again later down line time frame (I'm looking at everyone here).
Keep the area around your cat's mouth clean
Cats are very clean animals, and they can get sick from eating or drinking dirty dishes. They lick their fur to keep it clean, so they're likely to lick their face after eating or drinking. To prevent this, always give your cat a clean dish each time he eats or drinks.
Also, keep medicines out of reach from kids and pets when not in use; medicine should be kept in a cool, dry place away from sunlight (which may cause the active ingredients to break down).
Cats are much more fragile than dogs
- Cats are much more fragile than dogs, so doctors should take special precautions when giving them medicine or food.
- Cats are more sensitive to medication than dogs, so it's important to monitor your cat's reaction after administering a dose of medicine. If you notice any unusual behavior, contact your vet immediately.
- Do not give cats food or water immediately before or after administering medication--this can cause vomiting in some cases and make it difficult for the animal to swallow properly without choking on its own vomit! Instead, wait at least 30 minutes after giving meds before offering food/water again (and if possible try this trick: put some peanut butter on top of their usual dry food bowl). This gives time for any medications in their system to dissipate sufficiently enough for safe consumption without upsetting stomachs further down the line which might lead back into those same problems mentioned earlier about vomiting etc. It also helps prevent dehydration since most cats will refuse water when sick anyway due to fear/pain etc. but peanut butter contains lots of nutrients so makes perfect sense too :)
Conclusion
Cats are sensitive and delicate creatures, so it's important to administer medications with care. If you have any questions about your cat's health or how best to administer medication, please contact your veterinarian immediately.