Pill crushing advice please!!

[mattilda]

Oliver is currently on 44....yes 44....Metformin a day for his lami. He started out on 12 twice a day which he ate in his feed no problem. Since that has increased to 22 twice a day he has said no big time and spits most of the tablets out. So I have to crush them up. I started using a pestle and mortar, well the flippin' things are rock hard and ping around like tiddly winks!! However, he does eat them crushed. So I bought a cheap grinder which worked but died today after less than a week. Don't want to pay for a more expensive one if it is going to do the same thing. Anyone had similar experiences and found an easy solution or a grinder that works and lasts?

 

[Highlands]

Coffee grinder?

 

[soloequestrian]

When mine was on these briefly, I used to put them in a little pot and pour boiling water over them 12 hours before I was going to feed them - they dissolve in that time and you can mix with feed or put in a syringe. I have a suspicion that you can get Metformin as a powder as well as tablets though.

 

[hayinamanger]

Try making a large flat parcel for the tablets, using strong paper, then use a rolling pin and a fair bit of pressure.

 

[mattilda]

Ah dissolving the little buggers sounds like a plan. Thanks for your suggestions. He's having another blood test so hopefully the dose will be less.

 

[ihatework]

Mine has recently been on 120 small tablets a day!!!
We just soaked them for a bit so they turned to mush then mixed with his feed.

 

[alsxx]

I put my boys pergolide tablets in a syringe and fill with water. I do this the night before so it's ready and then shake and squirt it in. May not be so easy with 22 tablets though.....!

 

[WestCoast]

Yup coffee grinder. You can get liquid meteor in, but I suspect that it would be too expensive in such large amounts.

Paula

 

[muff747]

I put my boys pergolide tablets in a syringe and fill with water. I do this the night before so it's ready and then shake and squirt it in. May not be so easy with 22 tablets though.....!

Me too. I have to dose 10 x 50 mcg of Pergolide and find about 10 to 15ml of liquid in a small syringe is still watery enough to squirt into his mouth next morning. Suppose it depends on how big/small the Metformin tablets are but you could always put them in a clean feed bucket with a bit of water overnight - then put his feed in and mix it in?

 

[Mince Pie]

What about putting them in a strong plastic bag then crushing under the heel of your foot?

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Sunny had to have a huge number of steroid tablets daily last year and is now on 2 pergolide tabs per day. I know the pergolide tabs don't taste of anything - can't remember about the preds, but have you tried changing his feed to a mix? Sunny now has D&H 16+ mix instead of 16+ nuts. The mix is, as you'd expect, made up of zillions of assorted crunchy things and if I don't add speedibeet to dampen the feed, Sunny doesn't notice a few extra crunchy bits and scoffs them down happily. Does metformin have a bitter taste? Worth knowing this so you know what you're dealing with!

 

[magicgirl]

I use a semi decent coffee grinder and try to make sure I get the 500g not 850g tablets.

 

[Chicolatino]

Ordered a cheap coffee grinder from amazon and have been using it for 6 months. My vet suggested it. Then I dissolve the powder and syringe it back his throat. Otherwise get a wee pile of tablets beside the feed bucket!!! We on 30 a day and I thought that was a lot!!!