Expert: Norman Auspitz - 10/24/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi i just recently got a 9 week old kitten from a women who was actually moving away and she told me she was going to give this little guy to the pound so i took him.When i got him she gave me some medicine for him it is called clavamox.And it is tablets 125 mg tablets she told me she dont know how much to give him she forgot how much and didnt want to bother with a vet to call and ask as she was in a hurry to go.I know the talets definitly are clavamox 125 mg i tried to give him a half of a half so i can ensure i am not giving him to much.But he spits it out is there anyway you think i can add water to the pill and suck it up in a syringe and give it to him?I know it is going to have to be liqufied as he will not swallow the pill for anything.Also can you tell me how much of this pill you think i am supposed to give him if not the hole thing?I just need to know so i can treat him she said he has what appears to be feline herpes virus and this is why he is on the clavamox tablets.So please can you tell me if it is ok for me to make this medicine into liquid by adding water with a pill and sucking it up into a syringe for him?And how much of this 125mg tablet should i be giving him?He only looks to weigh about 2 pounds and is small,Thank you so much for reading i really appreciate it god bless

ANSWER: Lynn,

Let me answer your questions and then tell you what I would do.  First of all, the dosage for Calamox is 6.25 mg/pound. Thus, if the kitten truly weighs two pounds, he would get 12.5 mg twice a day. With 125 mg tablest, this is not practical.  To administer Clavamox to cats or kittens, the tablet can be crushed and put in a liquid and given orally by syringe.  If the kitten likes strained meat baby food, often it can be crushed and put in the baby food.

However, I would get the kitten to your vet and have your vet check out what is going on.  If Clavamox is the drug of choice for treatment, the vet can give you liquid form which is much easier to administer.  Also, your vet will weigh the kitten to see how much the kitten really weighs. The vet also may decide to give the kitten a different drug depending on the illness.

Please let me knwo how you make out or if you have further questions.

Best regards... Norm.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi norm i got in contact with the lady i got the kitten from she was going to get some of her last things and i seen her and asked her how much of the pill the kitten is supposed to get?And she said she was giving him a half of a half of the pill mixed in water for easy taking.Does this sound normal to you?A half of a half of the clavamox 125 mg pill for him?Please let me know and thank you so much for getting back to me i really appreciate it god bless

Answer
Lynn,

Like it or not, half of a half sounds like an overdose to me, if the kitten weighs what you say it weighs.  Yes, you can crush the pill and give it in water.

However, were it mey kitten, I would have it checked out by your vet before doing anything.

With all do respect to the lady you got your kitten from, I do not think much of people selling or giving away sick kittens. This is not good practice!!!!!

Best regards... Norm.