Top tips for hiding meds in food, urgent

[noarguments]

Operation yesterday to clear out a horrible abscess from paw. Has metacam which she doesn't mind, will eat happily in her food, but the antibiotics (powder out of capsule) obviously smells strongly and she won't touch anything I miss it with. So far tried normal food, sardines, butter, even stirred into some milk. Suggestions from the MN experts please, I really need her to have these ABs. Thanks. X

Mixing meds in food is always tricky. Try if you can use any of these methods, it's the best way if at all possible

This may not work, but could you mix the powder with hairball paste then smear it on her face/chin. She'd have to lick it off. Disclaimer, I'm no expert and I don't know of the powder and paste would interact adversely.

Will try the hair ball paste.... Any other suggestions?

Tuna?

Shiphams fish paste. The stuff in little jars for sandwiches. Sardine is the strongest flavour.

I have to hide pills in something they really love, like a dice of pheasant or beef or something. Make a hole in it and poke the pill in.

Or swaddle in a blanket so no limbs out and syringe in mouth mixed with milk. Some may splutter but some will go in

Can you keep the pill as a pill? If so I find forcible down in one go works better than trickery.

If you can't, get a syringe from the chemist and mix the powder with a wee bit of pate food and some water and put it in there.

Make a cat burrito out of your cat and a towel, so that cat is on its back on your lap (or don't, and have the plasters ready, which I tend to do). Either use your forefinger at the tip of its mouth, bottom jaw, between the fangs to level the mouth open (my method) or wrap your hand around the back of the head and put firm gentle pressure on the 'jaw hinges' so the mouth comes open (DH's method, which I can't make work for me) then syringe or tablet speedily over the back of the tongue. Watch for sneakily holding it in the mouth - holding the jaws closed and massaging the throat helps make them swallow.

It may take a few goes. The trick is to remain calm. Easier said than done. She'll forgive you. Good luck!

• lever, not level!

I always use Pate .... works every time in our house ( even with the kids )

I am about to divulge things I am not proud of.
I have put tablets in cheesy wotsits, prawns, tiny bits of cheddar, primula cream cheese spread and pâté all have worked with the worlds most evil cat.

Sorry lone cat your post made me laugh! How did you discover cat liked wotsits?

Hair ball paste worked tonight, but keeping these tricks up my sleeve for when she realises my treachery. Ours love crisps etc too, I think it's the saltiness. I love the image of a cat burrito, Shaska.!

Evil cat actually doesn't mind meds he just likes to push Lone to extremes.

I'm glad hair ball paste worked.

Never even heard of hair ball paste!

we smear mashed up paste of pills on the cat's hip where we can see she's licked it all off

I'm definitely going to invest in hairball paste, this sounds like a right goer.

Knowing madcat, she will then be walking around for weeks covered in hairball paste, but that will give its own joy.

Oh fluffy last time he was sufficiently sick that I felt I had to take him into work (nurse flee as he arrives) I thought I would save on the treat bill by giving him the two week antibiotic injection. My reward he bit me three times.

Wafer thin chicken, heated up 5 secs in microwave, always works. Makes it smell great for them.

He has truly been sent to try you Lone.

Thinking a bit more about it, hairball paste may work, but might upset her tummy if used days in a row. I imagine her digestive system may be out of sorts due to anaesthetic and antibiotics (certainly the case with my cat). Maybe try the same smearing technique with wet cat food? Same technique, different medium. Not as sticky, but maybe a bit gentler if you will be giving her the powder for days. Anyhow, good luck- it is so stressful when they won't take medicine when it is for their own good!

The trick with our dog is to hide the tablet in one piece of treat - a bit of ham, cheese, whatever she loves, and get another, bigger piece of the same treat. Hold the 2 pieces of the treat and give the pill laden one first then immediately give the second (bigger) piece. Dog is so keen to eat the second treat she gobbles down the first one immediately.

No experience with cats, but definitely works with dogs.