Cat prednisolone medication problem - weird issue!
September 5, 2024 11:14 AM Subscribe
Our cat is on prednisolone for either small cell lymphoma or severe IBD - unsure without biopsy. Normally we administer a small dose twice a day by syringe without incident. Our most recent bottle of prednisolone raised a problem....
First, it's stickier than the old stuff - the syringe requires real pressure to expel the entire dose and it takes much longer, so the cat is having medication squirted into her mouth for longer. Second, it makes her wheeze and seems to coat her mouth in a way she finds highly unpleasant. Normally, she gets her dose and runs over to have her treats as a reward, but now sometimes she doesn't even want the treats at all. Nothing else has changed and she does not seem to have any mouth issues, digestive issues, etc - the only change is the new bottle.
I was able to eke out a couple of doses from our old bottle after we'd started the new one and compare them directly, and this is a real difference. I also called the vet and they confirmed that they'd switched to a new distributor, so I ordered a new bottle from an online pharmacy, but that probably won't arrive for a week and meanwhile I have to keep giving the cat two doses of this unsuitable stuff.
Has this ever happened to you? Is there anything obviously wrong? Is there anything I can do to make the medication at least less sticky?
First, it's stickier than the old stuff - the syringe requires real pressure to expel the entire dose and it takes much longer, so the cat is having medication squirted into her mouth for longer. Second, it makes her wheeze and seems to coat her mouth in a way she finds highly unpleasant. Normally, she gets her dose and runs over to have her treats as a reward, but now sometimes she doesn't even want the treats at all. Nothing else has changed and she does not seem to have any mouth issues, digestive issues, etc - the only change is the new bottle.
I was able to eke out a couple of doses from our old bottle after we'd started the new one and compare them directly, and this is a real difference. I also called the vet and they confirmed that they'd switched to a new distributor, so I ordered a new bottle from an online pharmacy, but that probably won't arrive for a week and meanwhile I have to keep giving the cat two doses of this unsuitable stuff.
Has this ever happened to you? Is there anything obviously wrong? Is there anything I can do to make the medication at least less sticky?
Are you sure that the dosage is the same, and that the new stuff isn't more concentrated or something? That's the first thing I would check.
When our cat was in a similar boat, the prednisolone was in pill form, so I can't offer any other ideas.
posted by heatherlogan at 11:26 AM on September 5
When our cat was in a similar boat, the prednisolone was in pill form, so I can't offer any other ideas.
posted by heatherlogan at 11:26 AM on September 5
Is there a reason your pred is in liquid form? I did pred pills for years for my cat’s severe IBD, and they small and easily administered. Are you able to pill your cat?
Either way, I’d ask your vet for advice!
posted by cgg at 12:33 PM on September 5
Either way, I’d ask your vet for advice!
posted by cgg at 12:33 PM on September 5
When I had to administer liquid prednisolone it was done as a monthly subdermal shot - but I'm guessing this would be a different dose? But in any case, I'd be surprised if you couldn't get the correct dose from your vet for a subdermal shot.
posted by coffeecat at 1:15 PM on September 5
posted by coffeecat at 1:15 PM on September 5
I completely understand that you'd want to stick with what is working; we all know how hard it is to get meds into a cat. I wonder if your vet - or a compounding pharmacy - could make you a better formulation.
In the meantime, much as I'd be tempted to try to water down the sticky stuff you currently have, that's probably a terrible and possibly dangerous idea. I think you'll be stuck trying to administer the current stuff until the other formulation arrives. Maybe you could prepare a syringe of water or diluted broth or something and administer it immediately after the sticky med to try to help with the mouthfeel issues your poor kitty is having?
Worst case, hopefully a week of being off schedule/not quite up to regular dosages won't be too bad; from talking to my vets, a lot more people than you may realize are really bad about giving their pets meds; if you're consistent and trying you're way ahead of a lot of pet owners.
posted by misskaz at 2:36 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]
In the meantime, much as I'd be tempted to try to water down the sticky stuff you currently have, that's probably a terrible and possibly dangerous idea. I think you'll be stuck trying to administer the current stuff until the other formulation arrives. Maybe you could prepare a syringe of water or diluted broth or something and administer it immediately after the sticky med to try to help with the mouthfeel issues your poor kitty is having?
Worst case, hopefully a week of being off schedule/not quite up to regular dosages won't be too bad; from talking to my vets, a lot more people than you may realize are really bad about giving their pets meds; if you're consistent and trying you're way ahead of a lot of pet owners.
posted by misskaz at 2:36 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]
This is my life!
1. I'm not sure if it would help but ask the vet if you can do 2x once a day? My vet has definitely said (at least for mine's condition) that it doesn't really make a difference if it's half twice a day or double once a day.
2. is it at all possible to mix it with a little chicken broth? like draw up the amount needed and then put it in a little dish to thin out with some broth, suck it back up and then deliver?
(I too have a cat that is incredibly particular about how he eats so my only option is syringe down the throat. We have gone from 3 years of meds 3x day to we are down to 1x every other day and my life has changed considerably)
posted by magnetsphere at 5:50 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]
1. I'm not sure if it would help but ask the vet if you can do 2x once a day? My vet has definitely said (at least for mine's condition) that it doesn't really make a difference if it's half twice a day or double once a day.
2. is it at all possible to mix it with a little chicken broth? like draw up the amount needed and then put it in a little dish to thin out with some broth, suck it back up and then deliver?
(I too have a cat that is incredibly particular about how he eats so my only option is syringe down the throat. We have gone from 3 years of meds 3x day to we are down to 1x every other day and my life has changed considerably)
posted by magnetsphere at 5:50 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]
Oh! You may also be able to get it from a local pharmacy as well. I was doing Wedgewood Online for a while and then they were out and I had to do a local pharmacy who could compound it and they could do me up a bottle while I waited.
posted by magnetsphere at 5:51 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]
posted by magnetsphere at 5:51 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]
(I'm not a vet, this is just a common sense opinion) In this case, I don't see how there could be anything dangerous about watering down a liquid medication that's being given orally - it's basically the same thing as taking a sip of water right after. I agree with magnetsphere's approach to try mixing with the dose with water or broth to achieve a more manageable texture.
What you don't want to do is pre-mix water or broth in the full container of medicine, because this could degrade the drug or cause bacteria to grow in the container over time.
posted by telegraph at 6:10 PM on September 5 [2 favorites]
What you don't want to do is pre-mix water or broth in the full container of medicine, because this could degrade the drug or cause bacteria to grow in the container over time.
posted by telegraph at 6:10 PM on September 5 [2 favorites]
Are you using the 1.0 ml syringe? Ask for a 3.0 ml syringe—it’s bigger and has better throughput so it’s easier and faster to squirt the medicine into cat’s mouth.
posted by jabah at 6:45 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]
posted by jabah at 6:45 PM on September 5 [1 favorite]
My cat was on prednisolone for years for the exact same reason as your cat. I gave him pills. They’re TINY and I put them in pill pockets, which he loved—he thought they were a treat. Any reason you’re not doing pills?
posted by Violet Hour at 11:22 PM on September 5
posted by Violet Hour at 11:22 PM on September 5
Ask your vet if the drug can be administered via less-frequent in-office injections or compounded into a cream that is rubbed inside the ear.
I used to have a cat who was missing his lower jaw (he was shot in the face as a kitten) so his mouth didn't fully close and thus there was no way to make him swallow pills and liquids if they couldn't be snuck into his food. He got a lot of injections and ear creams, and his vet told me that said most cat meds can be admitted a variety of delivery methods but vets just tend to offer the cheapest methods first because that's what most clients want. But if the standard delivery method doesn't work for your cat, a good vet can help come up with an alternative method.
posted by Jacqueline at 5:56 AM on September 6
I used to have a cat who was missing his lower jaw (he was shot in the face as a kitten) so his mouth didn't fully close and thus there was no way to make him swallow pills and liquids if they couldn't be snuck into his food. He got a lot of injections and ear creams, and his vet told me that said most cat meds can be admitted a variety of delivery methods but vets just tend to offer the cheapest methods first because that's what most clients want. But if the standard delivery method doesn't work for your cat, a good vet can help come up with an alternative method.
posted by Jacqueline at 5:56 AM on September 6
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posted by Frowner at 11:14 AM on September 5