Old dog on Epiphen

Mutter_2

Marsh_Samphire wrote: »

It was meant to be the week after. Probably to give her time to get used to the Epiphen, I just hadn't realised how strong the side effects were.

I've managed to get her heart pills down her now, they have to be given on an empty stomach and the vet said Epiphen must be given with food, so I'll wait an hour or two before I try again.

I'm glad your cat improved after a couple of weeks, that has made me feel better and I will stick with it.

Epiphem squashed into cheese. Divine.

Marsh_Samphire

It's drops so I put them on a bit of her food and tried to feed it to her by hand, when that didn't work I mushed it up in a bit of pate and she took that, then I let her eat the rest of her food. It did come with an open ended syringe in the box so I might have to get tough and do as Mutter suggested, just grab her and squirt it down next time!

Yes, it's meant to be 12 hours apart but I only managed to give it to her at 1.30pm so I'll give her the second dose as late as possible tonight.

RacyRed

Mutter wrote: »

Epiphem squashed into cheese. Divine.

Lol! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Mutter is right, MAKE her take it and space the doses 12 hours apart, it can make a massive difference.

Marsh_Samphire

This is her on the right

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/VrqPIiPZPrsmM2zbF0JKcQ?feat=directlink

RacyRed

Marsh_Samphire wrote: »

This is her on the right

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/VrqPIiPZPrsmM2zbF0JKcQ?feat=directlink

What a lovely furry family you have! And she is absolutely gorgeous!

OK, sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you, tip her onto her back between your legs and grip firmly with your knees. Use thumb and finger on either side of the back of her jaw to open her mouth and squirt in medicine as fast and as deep as you can.

OR

If she has a favourite treat that crumbles (my cats will kill for freeze dried chicken bits, Thrive) Do a very small bowl of food, (your best porcelain hors d'ourve dishes are usually just the job ) add Epiphen then crumble as much treat as it takes on top.

elfen

See if she'll take it morning and night, this might help if it's regulated, as then her body gets used to the gaps...so 830am and 830pm....

Mutter_2

Marsh_Samphire wrote: »

It's drops so I put them on a bit of her food and tried to feed it to her by hand, when that didn't work I mushed it up in a bit of pate and she took that, then I let her eat the rest of her food. It did come with an open ended syringe in the box so I might have to get tough and do as Mutter suggested, just grab her and squirt it down next time!

Yes, it's meant to be 12 hours apart but I only managed to give it to her at 1.30pm so I'll give her the second dose as late as possible tonight.

Ah, liquid and a syringe, what luxury, never given meds that way.

In that case, lifting her cheek and squirting it in may be sufficient, tipping her head over a little.

Aim for the twelve hour dosage, this was a must according to my Vet. Set your phone to remind you.

Good luck.

Marsh_Samphire

She seems to be a little better today, still very wobbly but not quite as out of it as the last few days. She took the Epiphen in her food this morning - her appetite is coming back which is great. Her heart pills have to be given on an empty stomach so I need to get her back into her routine of eating and giving the different meds at the right times.

Thanks for the support and advice, it really helped to get me through this weekend!

RacyRed

Marsh_Samphire wrote: »

She seems to be a little better today, still very wobbly but not quite as out of it as the last few days. She took the Epiphen in her food this morning - her appetite is coming back which is great. Her heart pills have to be given on an empty stomach so I need to get her back into her routine of eating and giving the different meds at the right times.

Thanks for the support and advice, it really helped to get me through this weekend!

I'm so glad to hear that she is picking up.

Stick with it, it is suprising how easy an epi pet can be to look after and how much fun you will have once you have both adapted.

Mutter_2

Thanks for the update.

She may well live to fifteen or more, so this is just a blip.