 | How to give a cat a pill:
We all know how difficult it can be to give oral medications to a reluctant patient! Following these tips may make life a little easier for both you and your furry friend.
- Have the medication ready before you start. Place your cat on a table or counter that's about waist high. It may help to wrap him in a towel. Face him toward your strongest hand
and cradle him against you with your other arm.
- Use your "strong" hand to hold the pill or eye dropper, and your other hand to tilt his head straight up.(Cats have handy, prominent cheekbones, just made for tilting up
their heads!)
- Open his lower jaw with a finger of your "pilling" hand, and drop the medication straight down his throat. If his nose is pointing straight up and the pill is dropped straight
back, it should go straight down!
How to give a dog a pill:
Dogs are usually easier to medicate than cats. You can often entice a dog to eat the pill in a "meatball" of canned dog food. If that doesn't work, you can follow these tips:- Have your medication ready. Put small dogs up on a table or chair. Back large dogs up against a wall or chair so they can't back away.
- Tilt his head back, taking hold of his upper jaw with one hand. Slip your thumb into his mouth just behind his canine tooth; as long as he feels something on the roof of his mouth, he'll be reluctant to close his mouth.
- Open his lower jaw with your pill hand, and drop pill in, pushing it to the back of the tongue. Close his mouth and keep his head tilted up until he swallows.
How to hot compress a wound:
Abscesses and other infected wounds often need to be hot compressed before cleaning. Hot compresses loosen up the debris and discharge within the wound, allowing you to remove more of the infected material. Use a very warm, wet washcloth.(It should be just cool enough to comfortably hold in your hand.) Hold the cloth against the wound for a minimum of 10 minutes. You'll probably have to warm up the cloth at least once. After the compress, use warm water, peroxide or dilute antiseptic to clean away all pus and debris. (Ask your veterinarian which cleanser to use.) If your pet has drains, it's very important to keep the drainsite(s) clean and open. Remove any crusts so the wound will continue to drain effectively, healing from the inside out.
How to brush your pet's teeth:
Brushing is the best way to remove plaque before it can harden into tartar and cause irreversible disease. Unfortunately, no other method can do the trick.The good news is--brushing is fast and easy with these pointers! (Remember that pets with existing dental disease should have a professional cleaning first. Brushing cannot remove heavy tartar or treat periodontal disease.)
- Place small dogs and cats on a surface roughly waist-high. Larger dogs may remain on the floor.
- For dogs, face the pet; for cats, reach around from behind the pet, cradling the body between your arms.
- Here's the Key: Use your free hand to hold the pet's mouth shut while brushing. Insert the brush (or Q-tip for cats and tiny dogs) under the lip, being sure to advance it all the way back to the molars. Brush in a circular motion while bringing the brush forward.
- Repeat on the other side of the mouth and on the front teeth. (It is usually not necessary to brush on the insides of the teeth; the problem areas are most often on the cheek side. If your pet has special problem areas, have a Technician show you the best way to clean them.)
- It's best to brush every day, but even if you can only manage it every 2-3 days it can greatly reduce the need for professional cleaning.
 
|
|
