? Capsules for bitter pills?

The vet just prescribed Cerenia for Jester, but I'm giving him 1/2 pill daily. The pill breaks apart completely when I try to split it in half.
When I mix it with water and syringe it in his mouth, he winds up with saliva all over his chin from the bitter taste so I have no idea how much he's actually getting.

The vet's office has some #3 pills they said I can have (they were donated). Are they too big for his throat?

I know #4 are recommended. But if I order through Amazon they won't arrive until well after Labor Day and this is a one week prescription.

I've been calling all over Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas (pet supply places, vet's offices, pharmacies, natural food stores, etc.) but no one locally has them for a kitty's throat.

Would I be doing more harm than good with #3 size capsules? I have a pill popper so I don't have a problem that way.

 

Can you pop the pill inside a tasty treat that he will gobble down? That's how I always used to get pills into Squallie. Even the high-carb stuff (pill pockets, etc) didn't bother his BG, because I only used just enough to cover the pill. One of the things he will still eat that I can hide pills in is Prime meatsticks - I break off a tiny portion and stuff the pill down inside (sometimes a difficult proposition!), and he eats it so fast he doesn't realize the pill is there.

 

I have only used #4, but several people have mentioned using #3. I just did a search and several threads were returned: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/search/13014706/?q=#3 gelcap&o=date&c[node]=28

 

I've been instructed not to use pill pockets with Cerenia.

 

Okay - great! Thanks!

 

Oh! No one ever told me that, thanks for the heads-up! Did they say why?
I know if you smear a little bit of butter on the capsules they slide down easier.

 

As I said, I'm giving him half a pill and they break apart completely when I split them.
Not an option.

And the vet just said I also need to wait an hour after the pill before feeding him.

 

Sorry for the misunderstanding! I meant the capsules, after you've put the pieces in, will go down easier with a little bit of butter. And I can understand why putting a bunch of little pieces into a pill pocket or treat would be an issue.

Probably takes the meds a while to kick in, want to make sure the nausea is under control before offering food. I know I have to wait for Squallie's cyproheptadine to kick in before I feed, too.

Hope the capsules work and Jester feels better!

 

I've been using #3 capsules with my cyvies (those are the only ones available for me and even those took me a while to get ) to give them one very bitter med that not even tuna disguised and they've been able to swallow them quite ok, I do use a pill popper to give them and always give them a little bit of water right after I give the capsule to make sure they pass

The good side is I'm able to put the med and some vitamins on the same capsule and so I only give them one instead of two

 

I was told that too, because it's less effective was my answer that I received.

 

I like #5’s. Very small

 

I mostly use #3. YOu can get a lot of meds in those and they are NOT too large at all

 

I take it you folks are referring to getting empty capsules and putting stuff in them? I can see why this works with the intial issue stated here (pieces, bitter), but I am wondering if the capsules may be a little slicker to go down?

 

They are slicker.

 

C.C. I think you are the one who said about petsure test strips. Thanks!

 

I haven't used them, but chicken-flavored empty capsules are listed on Amazon. #4

 

It’s too late now, but a compounding pharmacy will have any size capsule you could want. Just search online for a “compounding pharmacy” near you. Health food stores are another place that MAY have them. Can’t believe your vet didn’t just give a shot of Convenia - unless you are waiting for a culture to come back and may be changing drugs. That is a good reason not to give the shot.

 

I used no 3 capsules for putting tamadol in, which is very bitter, for Sheba and she had no problem swallowing them. I always had a tasty morsel for her to have after she swollowed it.

 

We do have a compounding pharmacy in the area. They don't normally seem to carry small capsules at all. They do have some #3 capsules because the pharmacist got some for a special order, but that's what I already have.

In the meantime I ordered a batch of #4s from Amazon in case this we need them in the future.

Hoping the #4s are more manageable than the #3s.....