|
|
Post by johnnysauntie on Jul 13, 2011 8:52:01 GMT -5
So, as I mentioned in another thread, Derby has allergies, and my vet has prescribed him an antihistamine. We now have a big jug of capsules, with the instruction to break open the capsules and feed the powder. He's getting a dozen 2x a day and it took me forever last night to make up 5 days of doses.
I'm thinking of getting a cheapo coffee grinder and buzzing the capsules instead of fiddling with each and breaking them open. Good idea? Bad idea? Other ideas? I do want to minimize work for the barn staff, and give them a pre-made baggie with the meds.
|
|
|
|
Post by BoyleHeightsKid on Jul 13, 2011 10:16:23 GMT -5
What I have done in the past was to see what size dose those 12 capsules was after they were dumped out. Then you can dump them all into a container and just measure with a little (or big) scoop from there.
You can to a trial run with the grinder, but the capsules might gum up.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnnysauntie on Jul 14, 2011 7:32:06 GMT -5
not a bad idea, BHK - but I really want to get out of opening up all those dang capsules. If the grinder doesn't work, I'll find some other way to chop them up. I am not opening two dozen of those little buggers and then carefully squeezing all the power out of each on a daily basis!
|
|
|
|
Post by niaru on Jul 14, 2011 12:44:30 GMT -5
I would call the vet and ask if the med comes in any other form than capsules (powder, liquid, etc) that would make it easier on you, because I agree, what a PITA!
|
|
|
|
Post by animaldoc on Jul 14, 2011 14:08:10 GMT -5
If you coat the capsules in a little molasses and then mix it with sweet feed (or whatever) will he eat them? We usually tell people to open the capsules because horses won't eat them, but he'd actually get more of the dose if you don't open them.....and the capsules are just gelatin so they won't hurt anything.
I'm thinking the coffee grinder will gum them up too, those things are sticky....
|
|
|
|
Post by abowls on Jul 15, 2011 14:31:54 GMT -5
We sometimes had to give meds that came in capsules to horses at the hospital. Sometimes you can take a dose syringe and put the capsules in it then pull up hot tap water in it and they will melt nicely so you can just dose them by mouth with the syringe. Sometimes it doesn't work. It depends on how sturdy the capsules are and how what's in them is affected by hot tap water. If the capsules are to hard they won't melt. Some medicines don't do well with hot(ish) water (they become inactivated) and sometimes it just makes a goopy mess. That probably doesn't sound that appealing huh? If it works for your particular formulation though it's crazy easy. If you have to do it for the barn people and they don't feel like giving it to him using the dose syringe they could just squirt it on his food.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnnysauntie on Aug 26, 2011 14:48:59 GMT -5
update: I got a small mini-food processor from Target. I dump about a half cup of the flax seed supplement I'm feeding, plus 10 capsules, then buzz. The capsules don't pulverize but they do break up. The horse is eating everyting - capsule bits, powedered meds, supplements - no problem. Works really well for my situation - and the fact that I want to minimize the effort the barn staff have to make in feeding.
|
|
