Anyone know good tips for putting antibiotic ointment in a cat's eye? I'm single and my two hands don't seem to be enough. It sounds easy but between him tossing his head around and squeezing his eye tightly shut I don't think he's getting any in his eye.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Fill a tuna can with ointment and a little tuna. Maybe the cat will stick its head in.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
you're going to have to get married or have kids to fix this one, seriously. Our cat had to have ointment in an eye as a kitten, it was terrible, within a day or two he was hiding under a dresser, but the reddness went away getting it at least once a day (he has so many more health problems than our old female siamese, in five years he's had to be on antibiotics 4 times, currently for crystalization in his urine)
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
When I have to do stuff like that, I'll kneel on the floor with kitty facing in the same direction as me, but between my legs so kitty can't move much. Then I have one free hand to manipulate kitty's head into necessary position and hold it there, and use other hand to insert ointment/pill/whatever.
It works very well for me and my fifteen pound cat. Good luck.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
Wrap the cat in a towel so that only the head shows. Multiple layers so that the claws can't penetrate. Make sure that you don't over-tighten when rolling the towel around the cat.
Place towel-wrapped cat between knees, then put in the ointment. Works for pills, too.
Posted by bunbun (Member # 6814) on :
quote:Place towel-wrapped cat between knees, then put in the ointment. Works for pills, too.
Posted by jexx (Member # 3450) on :
Actually, bunbun, aspectre gave the advice *I* was going to give (not that I'm bitter or anything, haha). It is a funny visual, though, isn't it? *grin*
Wrapping my little dog in a towel is the only way I can get her to hold still for claw-clipping. Admittedly, cats are far more agile than dogs, but it should still work.
Good luck!
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Well, I couldn't keep his front paws in the towel so we did a lot of wrestling today. Not sure who won. I definitely need more practice. He purred the whole time, and if I let him go to reroll him, he stayed right by my feet and purred louder. He probably thinks it's a game. He pulled his head back into the towel like a turtle a few times.
Next time, a bigger towel.
Y'know, I've been handling my cat's feet regularly since I got him so that he wouldn't object to nail clipping (and he doesn't, except for trying to chew on the clippers) but it never occurred to me to try to get him used to me messing with his ears or eyes.
[ August 26, 2005, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: Theaca ]
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
So the tuna can trick didn't work?
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
It probably would work great if I had a whole bunch more ointment. The little tube I got wouldn't even cover the bottom of the can. I'd like to see that, actually. He does like tuna. Considering how much I've lost so far I might need another tube anyhow.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
When you wrap in the towel, you need to make a tight little kitty burrito (kind of like swaddling a baby-- only tighter.) Fold the kitty's arms down and the towel over. Then fold the bottom up over the kitty's feet (this part isn't as important as the arms, so if you have to make a choice, choose the arms being right and the feet a little off.) Then fold the other side of the towel very tightly all the way around and tuck in, and if you can, safety pin for good measure. Kitty will not be happy, but you will be safe.
Alternatively, use a pillow case. Stick Kitty in the pillow case with just the head poking out, fold around, and safety pin.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, I forgot to add: make sure you don't mind a little kitty urine on whatever you're wearing and whatever towel or pillowcase you're using when you do this. Kitties have been known to pee in revenge for kitty torture of this kind.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:use a pillow case. Stick Kitty in the pillow case with just the head poking out, fold around, and safety pin.
Who let the cat out of the bag?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
By the by, don't you just love the way vets give you these medicines and instructions? "Now, she's going to need the pills twice a day. Make sure she swallows them." (No mention of the three hours it's going to take you to get one pill down her throat!) "This ointment goes in his eye. Just put a little bit in the corner. He won't like it, but it won't hurt him." (No, but YOU may end up in the emergency room with severe injuries from his claws!)
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I finally got the front legs pinned down. I think I got some in his eye, this time. Yup. He's really good at the turtle thing, tho. I have such smart kitty! He purred the whole time, too. Then I gave him tuna juice.
Posted by bunbun (Member # 6814) on :
quote:Kitties have been known to pee in revenge for kitty torture of this kind.
I've worked for guys like this, but they didn't have the excuse of being restrained in a pillow case.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Looks like kitty will be seeing the vet ophthalmologist from Purdue on October 6, if I can get the time off.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Funny, but I don't get injured when I have to do things like this to my cat. Maybe I'm just talented . . .
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
My husband doesn't either, quid.
Of course, he worked as a vet tech for 7 years. So I'd say he has paid his dues.
I never knew there were vet opthamologists.
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I had my doubts but after looking at pictures and reading descriptions I guess the vet is right. I'm having a really hard time giving these ointments. Ugh. If I have to give these a long time, give other types, or nurse him back to health after surgery, I don't know how I'll manage.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I know what that is! A friend's cat had it. Poor kitty.
It's too bad we don't live close to you; I'd volunteer my husband to come give the treatment for you.
Posted by DSH (Member # 741) on :
Try applying the ointment to your finger first, then approach the cat in a different setting and, instead of scratching behind the ears (or whatever) as you reach for his head, go for the eyes. Gently of course!
I was never able to get any ointment into my cat's "open" eyes but they cleared up in no time just the same.
Good luck
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Whatever type of vet is needed, Purdue has it. But thecca I thought you moved out of the area, where are you now? (I'm in bloomington but have family all over the northern half of the state).
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
I am in Fort Wayne now, I moved here from South Bend. This Purdue vet opthalmologist comes to Huntington one day a month and people are referred to her and bring her vet eye problems from all over the area. I drove by it this morning so I would know where to go. It's exactly 31 miles south of me, so that isn't too bad. I don't know if he'd have to go all the way to Purdue if he needs surgery or not. I would think so.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
How did the eye appointment go? My aunt worked at the Fort Wayne mall for a few years (this is my only connection to there, but it's only about an hour from my grandma's).
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
Well, the ophthalmology appt is October 6. The regular vet office just called and left a message today that they wanted to see my cat again in a few days so I suppose I'll make an appointment. I gave him about 8 days of the antibiotic ointment and then quit and I'm supposed to give him 21 days of an antiviral eye drop, supposedly 4-6 times per day. In truth I'm giving it 3-4 times a day and will probably only give it for 14 days. It isn't like there are any studies on this and humans only need treatment for human herpes outbreaks for 7-14 days. He loathes it when I hold him down and put the drop in his eye. I got pretty good at giving the ointment, though.
I'm also supposed to give him l-lysine 500mg twice a day and the pill is big. So after research I am giving it to him crushed in his food about once a day, and will up it to twice a day when he has an outbreak.
He has a sequestrum in his left eye, basically a brown ulcer floating on the surface of the cornea. It is usually from kitty herpes and the ulcer will last years with pain and exacerbations every so often, and the ulcer can get worse and go deeper and even collapse the eyeball. So it looks like many times they recommend the cats get the lesions scraped right off the cornea before they gets too big. Saves on pain and causes less complications in the long run, and improves quality of life. We'll see what the eye doc says. I'm hoping she says it is so superficial that she can scrape it off right then and there in the office in October. *twiddles thumbs*
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Good luck.
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Poor kitty.