Cat Medicine You Can Buy Over The Counter
When Tommy (our cat) got a cold, he was driving me crazy with his whining. He was sneezing all the time, and I could tell he just didn’t feel good. Cats are just like kids, huh? I got to wondering what I could do to help Tommy feel better. I know I’m a grouch when I get a cold, and he must not be feeling well either. As I was researching what over the counter medicine I could give him to help him feel better, I discovered there is an array of medications that cats can tolerate, but there are medications that can cost a cat its life. Be sure to know what medications can help your cat, and which ones can kill him.
Cats are very sensitive to any medication you can give them. There are over the counter medications cats can have, but their sensitivity makes it vital that you follow instructions and dosages exactly. Cats do get sick, and knowing how to treat them and what medications may make the problems worse is important for every cat owner.
Some common over the counter medications we use for human ailments are effective in treating cats, but only in very limited dosages, and some can be toxic. Be sure to talk to your vet before giving any medications.
Just as your children can get a stuffy nose, so can your cat. You can treat your cat’s stuffy nose with the same medication you may use for your children. Afrin Children’s Strength nose drops can be used in a cat. You can safely use one drop in one nostril each day. Do not treat both nostrils in one day, and do not use the medication for longer than five days.
While it is not safe to give your cat any medications containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen (the active ingredients in Tylenol and Advil respectively) you can safely administer aspirin to your cat to alleviate pain. One 81 mg tablet of aspirin can be given to your cat every three days. Give the tablet to the cat with food-never on an empty stomach.
Some tips for giving pills to cats:
- Pry your cat’s teeth open and place the pill on the back of his throat in the center. Hold his teeth closed as he swallows, forcing the pill down.
- Place the pill in a “meatball” of canned food. Feed the cat one or two empty meatballs and then the one with the pill. Follow up with another empty meatball so next time he tastes the medicine, he’ll keep eating anyway, knowing another treat is coming.
- Purchase a premade pill treat. Some companies manufacture a pouch into which you can slip the cat’s pill. The adhesive in the pouch keeps the cat from working the pill free and eating just the treat.
If your cat comes home with an open wound, it is important to treat the wound and prevent infection. You can dilute Betadine solution for a topical use on the cat’s wound. Pour 2 ml of Betadine into 2 quarts of tap water. Use the solution directly on the wound.
While you can purchase charcoal over the counter for use in case your cat eats something poisonous, you must only use it under the supervision of your veterinarian. Give 5 g of charcoal per 10 pounds of the cat’s body weight.
Many cats suffer from motion sickness when in a car or airplane. In order to alleviate that discomfort, and provide a little relaxation for the trip, you can give your cat 12.5 mg of Dramamine every 8 hours.
Believe it or not, there are actually remedies we use for our colds that we can give to a cat to help ease his symptoms, too. Guaifenesin is the active ingredient in the over the counter cough medicine Robitussin. You can give your cat ½ teaspoon per ten pounds of body weight every four hours to relieve the cough. Similarly, you can give a combination medication of dextromethorphan and guaifenesin, found in Robitussin-DM, Benylin Expectorant. This is a combination of cough suppressant and expectorant. It is also administered at ½ teaspoon per ten pounds of body weight, but it is only administered every six hours.
Cats get sick, just like people. Their symptoms are just as unpleasant for them as ours are for us. I was able to relieve Tommy’s symptoms and help him feel better while the cold ran its course. He felt better, and so did I.
It is important to know that you can get medications over the counter for your cat. But it is more important to know what is ok to give your cat, and what is toxic to his system. Always consult your vet before you give any medication to your cat. The vet will help you calculate what dosages to administer, and he will be able to tell you what will be the most effective medication for your cat’s individual needs.
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