Dividing Capsules

[VickieP]

Weatherby's happy pills that he took previously were capsules and he took a whole one twice daily. The new med is a capsule and he is to take 1/2 every day. When I asked at the vet's office how to divide a capsule, the girl told me to cut it in half and dump it out. She then proceeded to show me the easiest way to make sure it was half by using a post-it note to spread it out in a line, this made me think she may have had previous experience with cocaine. I tried dumping it in the crease of a folded piece of paper & spreading it out like that, dividing it in half and then trying to get that half mushed in a piece of slice cheese. Then I had to figure out what to do with the other half, till the next night. I dumped it in a pill bottle, but found that the powder stuck to the side and he wouldn't be getting the full 1/2 dose. Next night, I went ahead and did the same dividing method, but made two little cheese balls and wrapped one in plastic & kept it till the next night. Any suggestions for an easier way?

[mitch5252]

...Any suggestions for an easier way?

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Yeah - quit annoying your dog to the point he needs tranquilizers...
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[mitch5252]

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Why couldn't you do several days worth of cheese balls at a time and put them in a small container in the fridge?
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[Bethers]

I would probably do many at a time, also. Whether cheese balls or anything else that might work and that he'd like.

If you just wanted to store the powder, you could do so in an envelope - but you then need to know the exact amount to remove to give - need a tiny measuring spoon. Could empty all the capsules into it - has to be dry, of course. And you'd lose a little bit - so dividing into your own treat/meds and storing that way is probably simplest.

Can't they get these in any other form. After playing with capsules I had a fit and discovered I could get the same thing at a pharmacy in pill form that I could cut in half - was cheaper, also.

[Acadianmom]

I have used one of the little 1cc syringes to give cats Amoxicilina by mouth. I put the powder in the syringe and pull up a little water and shake it. Then I squirt it in the cats mouth. I leave the unused powder in the capsule and put the capsule back together. If you can tell how much powder to put in the syringe. It's probably such a small amount. I didn't know about putting the powder in a line to divide it since I don't have any previous experience either.

Martha

[JoanE]

Wow, Vicki. I don't feel so bad about having to split my tiny heart pills after hearing this.

[sharon]

I'm with Beth, I'd be checking to see if you can get it either in pill form or the right dosage in 1 capsule. You can also buy empty capsules but that would be a PITA, too.

[mitch5252]

...You can also buy empty capsules but that would be a PITA, too.

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Empty capsules probably wouldn't do the dog much good, don't ya think?
Although they'd be a lot cheaper...
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[avalen]

I always ask for liquid medicine when it comes to the veterinary meds. Makes it really easy for me to just squirt the stuff in their mouth.

[BayouLady]

I am having to split a capsule for Beck, I just gentle turn the longer side and lift it away from the shorter side above a litte glass bowl and give him the small side, leaving the rest in the bowl for his next dosage. It may not be perfect, but it's close enough. When I use the 2nd dosage, I just wipe some of the moist food in the bowl to get the rest.