liquid gabapentin

[AT]

I have seen Gabapentin liquid mentioned before but I think there was some concern that it contained xylitol sweetener ?
Are there any brands that are safe for dogs?
My dog will not take her tablets, I am having a real struggle with her.
I've already changed her cimetidine to liquid , after a lot of arguing with the vet who wanted to give me ranitadine instead. So I need to know exactly what to ask for when I go back for gabapentin liquid

Thanks

[Karlin]

I'd recommend talking to a neurologist for advice on this. The dosage needs to be accurate and is measured differently with liquid. There is often xylitol actually in the over the counter liquids you add to pet's water to help prevent tartar buildup -- so low dose seems to be fine. Checking this out carefully with a neurologist would seem a good idea especially as it would reassure your vet. It has to be compounded specially I think. Nicki might know -- you could PM her directly.

[Kate H]

How are you givng the tablets? Mine will take anything wrapped up in a slice of cheap supermarket pate - Oliver gulps down three pills at a time that way! Others use cream cheese, ordinary cheese, bits of chicken... But maybe you've run out of options?

Kate, Oliver and Aled

[AT]

How are you givng the tablets? Mine will take anything wrapped up in a slice of cheap supermarket pate - Oliver gulps down three pills at a time that way! Others use cream cheese, ordinary cheese, bits of chicken... But maybe you've run out of options?

Kate, Oliver and Aled

we've tried grated cheese , wrapping them in ham and finally emptying the capsule and wrapping the powder in ham but she's worked that one out
She absolutely will not open her mouth for me to put them down her throat. I have to push them round the back of her teeth. She is a rescue and not used to being handled so it upsets her . & she has neck pain.

[Soushiruiuma]

Room temperature butter, it will make it harder for her to spit out.

But I think you should work on a management technique. Take nice treats (soft cheese like a young gouda or pate works well, you want something high value that will be easy to hide pills in). Feed the treats liberally until she is feeling confident. Then start a catching game. You toss the treat, she catches it, you toss the next as soon as she's ready. Work on speeding up the game until she will catch, swallow, and be ready for the next one without hesitation. My brother's 90 pound american pit bull is really bad about taking pills, so they just assemble a row of treats, and start tossing them. The pill is hidden in one treat, but he never has the time to figure out which one.

She may also do better if you form a small ball (pate, cheese, etc.) and not force it down her throat, just put it in a bowl or on the floor and let her eat it voluntarily.

Or there are these special syringes that hold a pill and you just pop that in the side of the mouth, and press the plunger. http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Piller/dp/..._petsupplies_1

[wolf23]

I have tried two things in the past on a very difficult cat, but I think it would work for a dog. Not sure if they sell these in the UK, but they are called pill pockets made by Greenies. They are soft chews with a hole in the center that can be wrapped around a pill. They are very strong in smell and adhere to the pill so it makes it difficult for a dog or cat to search out the pill. Most of the time because it smells so strong, they inhale it without even knowing the pill is in there. If by chance he chews it and bites into the pill he will get the bitter taste of the medicine and may not take them anymore.

I also second the pill shooter/syringe. I spread a little butter on the rubber tip so they get a small taste plus it slides in the side of the mouth easier, I also follow that with something yummy that they love so they get rewarded for being a good patient.

I love the idea tossing the treats around with the pill hidden in one. Never tried that but I bet that would work on one of my dogs.

If they could only understand we are trying to help them, it would make things so much easier.

Good luck.

[Tania]

finally emptying the capsule and wrapping the powder in ham but she's worked that one out

I was told emptying Gabapentin out of the capsule irritates the stomach, I would check before doing this, you might be creating further problems.

We put the pills in bits of chicken or ham.

[AT]

When I did get them down her she was chewing them anyway ( & they go squishy when they have been spat out a few times ) so the capsules where not intact either way.

[linderbelle]

Abbey was on the liquid in the beginning--it had to be compounded and as such was expensive. Also, it tastes terrible even with flavoring. I had a heck of a time getting it down her. My regular vet tasted it and I said it is flavored chicken and he said that's no chicken I've ever had. He said it tastes like s--t. lol. After Abbey's surgery I had a heck of a time getting her pills down her and the vet gave me a pill pusher. It was wonderful.

[AT]

I'd recommend talking to a neurologist for advice on this. The dosage needs to be accurate and is measured differently with liquid. There is often xylitol actually in the over the counter liquids you add to pet's water to help prevent tartar buildup -- so low dose seems to be fine. Checking this out carefully with a neurologist would seem a good idea especially as it would reassure your vet. It has to be compounded specially I think. Nicki might know -- you could PM her directly.

The argument with my vet was because he was convinced she must have been given cimetidine by the referal vet for a stomach complaint and wanted me to have the ranitadine they had in stock. they eventually let me have a prescription for liquid as they could not get anything else in the right dosage from their suppliers.
So I dont trust him to give her anything .
I will email the refferal vet and see what they say