Meandmy Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) **update** Well, I pilled him, and he promptly threw up the pill, some bile, some of last night's dinner, and probably most of the Metacam I gave him earlier this morning. Now what do I do? Do I give him more Metacam? He needs some serious pain relief! And I don't think I'll be pilling him again any time soon My poor old man Shadow got up this morning stumbling around and in obvious pain. He can't walk well, and there's not way to get him downstairs in the shape he's in. Luckily, we have liquid Metacam so I was able to give him a dose of that and some water, but he won't eat anything, so I don't know how to get the Tramadol down his throat. I know it tastes awful and I've never pilled him before, so I'm not sure about just shoving it down Any other suggestions, or at least a good description of how I can pill him? I need to get him downstairs but don't want to try to move him until he's more comfortable. Thanks for any help. I'm so worried about my poor boy Edited January 31, 2010 by Meandmy Quote Jenn, missing Shadow (Wickford Big Tom), Pretty Girl (C's Pretty) and Tori (Santoria) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KennelMom Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) put your hand over the top of his mouth, curl your fingers in till he opens his mouth (they naturally will not want to bite down on their own lips), put pill in the back of his throat as far as you can get it, close mouth and stroke throat until he swallows. Takes, like, 2 seconds and is painless if you are swift and confident. With some dogs I straddle them from behind so they don't wriggle left to right. But, if you've never done it he probably won't even know anything is happening until its over. Edited January 31, 2010 by KennelMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 put your hand over the top of his mouth, curl your fingers in till he opens his mouth (they naturally will not want to bite down on their own lips), put pill in the back of his throat as far as you can get it, close mouth and stroke throat until he swallows. Takes, like, 2 seconds and is painless if you are swift and confident. With some dogs I straddle them from behind so they don't wriggle left to right. But, if you've never done it he probably won't even know anything is happening until its over. Exactly! I find it easiest to "ride" the dog as if he were a horse, and if you do it quickly and gently, it's a lot easier than messing around trying to trick them with food. FYI, it IS bitter, but not horrible. Take it myself! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 I've never had to pill a dog like that but ice cream and cream cheese has always worked here. Pill or no pill, it just slides right down. Good luck Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinw Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 pill pockets work well here. Quote Xavi the galgo and Peter the cat. Missing Iker the galgo ?-Feb.9/19, Treasure (USS Treasure) April 12/01-May 6/13, Phoenix (Hallo Top Son) Dec.14/99-June 4/11 and Loca (Reko Swahili) Oct.9/95 - June 1/09, Allen the boss cat, died late November, 2021, age 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Energy11 Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 If here were interested in eating, I'd suggest griding up the pill into powder and putting it into yogurt, a piece of cheese, or peanut butter. Maybe something like that would tempt him? Good Luck, and sorry he is feeling badly. Yes, that is one good thing about Metacam liquid ... you can get it down, but, there is still the stomach irritation factor, without some type of food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Do you have any Pepcid (famotidine) in the house? Might want to make a Pepcid (1 regular strength, 10 mg famotidine; if you have the 20mg size one of those would be OK) his next pill, wait 30-40 minutes, then try feeding or other pills. Couple pill tricks when you aren't able to stuff down throat: Trick 1 -- Put a blob of peanutbutter, cream cheese, liverwurst, raw ground beef, etc. on the pill. Now put a goodly smear of same on your middle and ring fingers. Put blobbed pill on index finger; offer pill to dog; poke it into mouth if they won't take it; immediately offer middle and ring fingers to lick. Trick 2 -- Crush the pill up in a teaspoon or two of dark molasses. If pup won't just lick it up, stick your finger in it and smear it on their gums, inside lip, etc. You can do the same with peanutbutter but if you have molasses, it seems to be better at hiding nasty flavors. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliemac Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 yep ... all of the above tips work well for mine (they always get a kiss on the tip of their nose first from me ... makes ME feel better at least). I also 'coat' the pills with a small piece of cheese slice (1/8 of a slice) ... I give the rest of the slice to my 2 as a treat immediately after ... but if the throwing up is from the pill hitting the stomach, pre-treat with pepcid. good luck and keep us updated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Swifthounds Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 What everyone else says. Also, if you can, don't give the Tramadol within an hour of the metacam, which is more tummy irritating, even with Pepcid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Smiley Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 I didn't see your original post, so forgive me if this has been suggested already. We have always used a generout dollop of peanut butter. I put a good gob on a spoon, push the pill in and then completely cover it with more peanut butter. Then I let them lick the peanut butter off the spoon like it's a special treat. It has always worked for us. I've also heard someone say they used those Baby Bell cheeses-pushing a pill into one of the wedges. Cream cheese may work or some really smelly canned food like Wellness white fish. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meandmy Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) Well, we just got the Pepcid in him (with the help of some cream cheese, but we still had to force it down), so we'll wait and give Tramadol in a little while. Poor guy pooped lying down, and still hasn't been out to pee. I'm waiting for a flood in his bed Nevermind, he threw that up, too, then just laid in his vomit. We are now trying to figure out how to get him downstairs and in the car for the e-vet. Any good thoughts would be appreciated... Edited January 31, 2010 by Meandmy Quote Jenn, missing Shadow (Wickford Big Tom), Pretty Girl (C's Pretty) and Tori (Santoria) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytbookert Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 I don't have much for advice on the pilling but I'm sending hugs. Could there be something else going on? Is your vet open today? The symptoms have me a little worried but I am a super worrier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Swifthounds Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Well, we just got the Pepcid in him (with the help of some cream cheese, but we still had to force it down), so we'll wait and give Tramadol in a little while. Poor guy pooped lying down, and still hasn't been out to pee. I'm waiting for a flood in his bed Nevermind, he threw that up, too, then just laid in his vomit. We are now trying to figure out how to get him downstairs and in the car for the e-vet. Any good thoughts would be appreciated... Can you slide a comforter under him? Then you can either slide it along the ground or pick up the four corners and lift him hammock style. What about getting a transdermal patch for his pain? Fentanyl maybe? Forgive me if you've already discussed it, I don't recall the original posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 I was going to second the Pill Pockets, I use cat size, but it looks like you are beyond that. A blanket might be easier to slide under him (thinner) to use as a carrier. :candle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meandmy Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 I'm at the evet now on my iPhone so excuse the typos. We carried him out on his comforter and he didn't move at all. The wait today is long but well see what they say . I'm worried. Quote Jenn, missing Shadow (Wickford Big Tom), Pretty Girl (C's Pretty) and Tori (Santoria) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigglyWiggly Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 (edited) l Edited January 31, 2010 by BigglyWiggly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meandmy Posted January 31, 2010 Author Share Posted January 31, 2010 l don't edit on my account. Under different circumstances your idea is really a good one Quote Jenn, missing Shadow (Wickford Big Tom), Pretty Girl (C's Pretty) and Tori (Santoria) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Sending prayers. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyGreys Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Sending many prayers. I'm going through the same thing with the Tramadol. Lass can smell it in anything, so I just open her mouth & shove it in as far as possible, it's a lot quicker than her spitting it out 2 or 3 times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatricksMom Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Tramadol tastes awful, according to our vet. And the dog's reaction is to throw it back up, etc. if he tastes it at all--it's not stomach upset, it's an instinctive reaction to the taste. I freaked out the first time it started happening, because Patrick was also foaming at the mouth a whole bunch. Our dog sitter finally realized we had all these extra gel caps around from giving cosequine every morning, so I pop the tramadol in those, pill him, problem stopped. If you don't have extra gel caps, I would imagine you could buy them from a compounding pharmacy--or maybe a friend that gives cosequine would give them to you. Then you can either pill (which I do) or put the entire gel cap in peanut butter or something else tempting (what she does.) Don't grind it up, the worst thing you can do is break open the tablet, it will make the taste reaction even worse. Quote Beth, Petey (8 September 2018- ), and Faith (22 March 2019). Godspeed Patrick (28 April 1999 - 5 August 2012), Murphy (23 June 2004 - 27 July 2013), Leo (1 May 2009 - 27 January 2020), and Henry (10 August 2010 - 7 August 2020), you were loved more than you can know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greytbookert Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 I'm at the evet now on my iPhone so excuse the typos. We carried him out on his comforter and he didn't move at all. The wait today is long but well see what they say . I'm worried. Sending many prayers! I hope it is nothing to worry about... if it helps, I'm worrying with you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greytluv Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 :candle White light coming Shadow's way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaliforniaGreys Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Many prayers! Quote Missing my little Misty who took a huge piece of my heart with her on 5/2/09, and Ekko, on 6/28/12 For the sick, the lost, and the homeless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliemac Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Prayers that there's nothing else going on, and that Shadow will start improving once the pain levels are manageable! Please keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackandgrey Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Jack's Tramadol was in a capsule but I always hid it in raw cat food - salmon as I recall. That always worked. Quote Susan, Jessie and Jordy NORTHERN SKY GREYHOUND ADOPTION ASSOCIATION Jack, in my heart forever March 1999-Nov 21, 2008 My Dancing Queen Jilly with me always and forever Aug 12, 2003-Oct 15, 2010 Joshy I will love you always Aug 1, 2004-Feb 22,2013 Jonah my sweetheart May 2000 - Jan 2015 " You will never need to be alone again. I promise this. As your dog, I will sing this promise to you, and whisper it to you at night, every night, with my breath." Stanley Coren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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