Kruuse Buster Pet Pill/Tablet Syringe with Classic Tip

I read quite a few reviews for several different pillers. I decided on this item due to it's soft rubber tip, and it's ability to also use water to help get the pill swallowed. I have a small female Bengal cat, age 10, who began "marking" about a year ago. She lives with 2 male mutt cats who are also her age...raised together. For some reason unknown reason she decided to mark any place one of the males would walk or lay...countertops, window sills, top of the dryer, etc. It got to where it was a nightly thing, and each morning I'd have to hunt down her pee spots and clean them. Totally disgusting and frustrating. I tryed every hormone plug in, collar, natural calming treats, etc., but nothing worked. I was to the point of considering having her put to sleep. My vet recommended trying Prozac, as it was helping one of his cats with the same issue. So I decided to give it a try, as she's a doll baby other than the marking issue. First I tried compounded flavored liquid medication thinking it would be easier, but she vomited violently with the first dosage. So went to pills instead. We had to cut them into pieces, and it took 2 people to pill her each day. Occasionally if I happened not to get it down her throat deep enough, she'd spit the pill out again...and vomit, foam at the mouth, etc. We'd then have to skip that dosage and try again the next day. Not good. A few months later my son was accepted to college, and I knew I'd have to figure out how to pill her alone. I bought this item, hoping it would let me pill her easily alone. I also got a few fantastic tips from some of the reviews, which ultimately made pilling her by myself a breeze! At the same time I ordered the piller, I also ordered some very small # 4 empty gel capsules...one of the review tips! The capsules seemed expensive to me, but I was willing to try them...crossing my fingers that they would work as well has they had for other people. When they arrived, I played with the pillers water feature, but decided for my small cat, I didn't want to risk her choking on water, or inhaling it accidentally. This would work better for a larger animal I imagine. I loaded up a capsule with the meds, and tried it. It didn't eject well, and the tip retained a static charge (even after washing), and the pill would pretty much barely pop out...and then cling to the rubber tip. After trying several more times with the same basic result, both the cat and I were stressed. My son helped also, as this was a new adventure for all of us. Ever try to hold a cat still for any length of time while you "experiment" with shoving something down their throat repeatedly?? Doesn't work well...even with 2 people!! Hmmm...so I figured I had wasted my $$...I was very disappointed!! Then I remembered another tip from a reviewer... Coat the capsule with butter before loading it into the piller...which I did several times to be sure the inside of the rubber tip was also coated well. I also put a small blob of butter on the tip once the pill had been loaded. Went and hunted down the now "hiding" cat, and tried it again...still with help at this point. SUCCESS!! First try. It went down so quick and easy that my kitty wasn't sure what had just happened. PERFECT!!! That was about a month ago. Fast forward to today... Using the piller alone is a breeze, and my cat stays totally calm. Granted, she is NOT fond of having her mouth pryed open to be pilled, but she no longer fights for her life. I sit down indian style, place her between my legs, her back facing my body...this keeps her from backing up...gently reach over her head with my left hand and open her mouth...and POP!!!...it's over. Afterwards, she's actually in no hurry to leave, she let's me pet her and is totally calm. Every once in awhile she manages to spit the capsule back out (about 1 out of 10 times), but since it's coated in butter, I just place it back in the piller and repeat, and it goes down easily. Some advice... Be sure to pull the plunger fully out of the pill chamber. If I don't do this, the capsule doesn't seat all the way in the holding tip. You can visually see if it's back far enough. The capsule size I use ( # 4) is perfect for the piller and my cat. It's also fine for the very small pieces of pill I have to give her (1/4 of a pill). I could actually fit 3/4 of a pill in the capsule if I needed to...cut in several pieces. The beauty of using capsules is that the cat won't taste the medication...only the butter I use...which she likes. I'm sure that the next larger size capsule would work just as well, however, if you need to pill with large capsules, I have no idea how well it would work. But I'd definitely use butter or some other oily lubricant before loading them. The water loading feature is a nice idea, but water dissolves most pills, so if it doesn't go down the first time, it'll be wet and dissolving if you have to try again...and taste terrible for the animal. The soft tip assures that if you happen to bump delicate tissues, it won't scratch or injure anything...when hand pilling I was always worried about scratching her mouth with my nails. Just be sure the inside of the rubber tip is well coated with butter or something else...I really think this is the key to it working easily and quickly After using this piller for about 5 weeks, I can say that it's been a life saver for me. I know others have had issues with it, but I haven't experienced any...other than a small learning curve. For a cat or small dog it's great...size wise for their mouths...which isn't an issue for larger animals. If anything ever happens to this piller, you can bet I'll be replacing it with the same kind!!

May 30th, 2016 Update: The new ones (ordered two just in case) came in a couple weeks ago. They look a fair bit different than my old one (still haven't found it) and I was a little concerned after reading a couple of the reviews about quality issues. I gave it a try though with an encapsulated (#3 cap) dose of Zyrtec and it went so much better and quicker than the struggles we had been having with the old "solid" plastic (no rubber tip) that I had been using while waiting. It works even better than the one I lost. Just to be sure I check the tip each time (once daily) before use to be sure it's not loose or anything but I'm very happy with what was sent. I saw the "Single Use Only" but I can't imagine these being used that way outside of a Vet's office perhaps (these couldn't be sterilized). I wouldn't share it among our other cats if any had anything communicable but outside of that, they should last a good while. I'm so happy to have something that works well again. Original: I purchased mine in Nov. 2012 and it's been super ever for my cat(s) (one in particular that needs meds regularly) except that I've lost it and am back to get another (18, May 2016). I don't think mine said "One Time Use Only". I never noticed it at least. From some of the reviews I'm seeing potential problems with the tip. I've tried others (none w/a similar soft tip) but didn't have much luck. Hopefully the quality hasn't changed. Here's what I've learned over the years to make it "easy" with my (now) 8 yr. old, 17 lb, part Maine Coon, male, A-Type cat (one of 3 cats in the house): 1. Always, always, always use gel caps (#4 fits perfectly in this one). Gel caps reduce the drama by 80% (good position and control take care of most of the rest). #4 cap is not very big though. You may need to cut (single-edge razor blade or pill cutter found online or in any pharmacy) the pill and/or grind the prescribed amount and fill one or more caps. I've not had a problem with Prednisone or Zyrtec (I use generic Zyrtec: Cetirizine Hydro..5mg online which is nice and small) or other meds. I tried a number of methods w/o gel caps and w/hard-tipped syringes (for larger pills) with little or no success and a ton more drama. 2. I've not tried it with water but w/#4 caps it shouldn't be needed. It's not always easy to get the exact mouth/throat placement so to make it a bit easier I coat the outside of the tip with olive oil, others have used butter. If I don't get it far enough back, he'll spit it right out so I go far enough back and get a light gag reflex and push the plunger at the same time. Done. He gets a treat in a "special" dish (just diff from regular feeding bowl and always in that same "different" bowl) right after it successfully goes down. 3. I do it myself (60 yr old male, not in the best shape healthwise) and have found the best position for me to do it is from the back. With the syringe positioned (practice which fingers you want where for the the quickest/easiest plunge, you don't want to have to reposition the plunger halfway through the process :)) in my right hand, I "sit" just behind him on the kitchen floor (any place w/o a rug), pulling him into a sitting position as close to me as possible (be the boss, they'll usually react accordingly and be more docile) with my left hand. I shift my left hand up from his chest (using my forearm and elbow to keep him in place) and put my thumb and index finger at the side of his mouth and press/pull down a bit to get him to open up, insert the the syringe, pop the pill and release. Takes some practice but getting it to one quick smooth motion is possible and it's all done before he knows it. Doesn't go that smooth 100% of the time but 90% is fine with me. He huffs and puffs a bit but when I bring out the treat bowl, it's all quickly forgotten. Your mileage may vary.

We have 6 cats, 3 are elderly and require pilling. We have used a particular piller for over 10 years and I thought it might be worth trying a different kind. This piller has several problems. I have small hands and my husband has large hands. Neither one of us found this piller comfortable to hold nor comfortable to use. Perhaps someone with an average sized hand would find it comfortable. The tip is poorly designed with the plunger tip being much small than the rubber around it. It would be easy for a small pill to get stuck in there. Being pilled once is traumatic enough. As an aside, if your animal requires more than one medication, try putting them all into a gel cap. You can buy various sizes of gel caps cheap in quantity and just "stuff" them with the pills. Cut the pills if needed to make them fit better (check with vet to make sure OK to cut pills, some should not be cut). None of my cats would ever eat the pill pockets they sell and this technique saves a lot of struggle. One of my cats takes a capsure and I open up the capsule and pop in the pill she needs and close it back up. She gets both medications at the same time. Obviously, consult with your vet to make sure OK to give this way.

We've used this kind, as well as this kind: Http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00076HUB4/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2701FG002WN6Z I find the shorter length and the dual finger holes more manageable, and the softer tip seems like it would be easier on our cats throat. I tried using the option of sucking up 3 ml of water prior to loading the pill into the device after our vet recommended chasing the pills with water that way. My cat tended to choke on the water, so maybe my technique is off. Choking on the water worries me, so what I do is to chop the pills to a small size that's easy to swallow and have had good luck with this. Another tip that makes the process easier is to have several pillers an pre-load all three pills our cat takes. This way I don't have the cat trying to get away while I'm loading them. I'm going to try something new. I'm ordering some size 4 capsules, hoping the smoothe soft capsules will slide down easier than the rough edges of the chopped pills. We also use pill pockets for another of our cats. If you don't know about those, check them out. If your cat or dog will go for the pill pockets, you don't have to fuss with forcing pills down their throats. UPDATE 12-15-15 I did order some capsules and it's really made things easier for us. The size four capsules are good for say, one small oblong pill. The size three capsules are bigger and thus fit larger pills or more pieces of cut up pills. I haven't tried size two capsules, I'm afraid they'd be too large for the kitties to swallow. So. Both of our cats are 16-17 years old and take several pills. One likes pill pockets and the other doesn't. I put both their pills into capsules because they are easier to swallow. Also, for the cat that likes pill pockets, I've found that he likes it much better if the pills are in capsules. If you put a plain pill in a pill pocket, many times the cat will end up getting a taste of the pill while eating the pill pocket, and this can cause the cat to quit taking the pill pockets. But since the capsules are pretty much tasteless and easy to swallow, he almost never gets a taste of pill when eating the pill pocket. This cat has a size 4 and a size 3 capsule daily. The size four works with just one pill pocket. The size three, being larger, works better if I put one pill pocket on each end of the capsule and smoosh them together. For the other cat who doesn't like pill pockets I still use the piller, and she swallows them much more easily when the pills are in a capsule. They go down more easily, and she doesn't get a bitter taste of the pill since it's in the capsule. The other thing I do that helps when I use the piller is to add brushing, baby talk, and treats into pill time. She loves to be brushed, so I spend several minutes brushing and babytalking with until she's been purring for a while. Then I use the piller to pop that pill down her throat, and I follow up with her favorite treats. The treats also help to make sure the pill isn't stuck in her throat or something like that. Both our cats are on Forti Flora to help with chronic diarrhea. They absolutel LO-O-OVE the Forti Flora. So both of them get Forti Flora after they get their pills. I put about a half inch of water into a little custard dish and pour the Forti Flora into that and shake it a little to mix the powder into the water. You may not believe what I'm about to tell you, but it's true. Both cats look forward to pill time and pester me to do the pill ritual because they associate it with the treats and attention, not any unpleasantness around taking pills.

This is the most amazing pill pusher! I have had cats all of my life, and several have had have medications at some time in their lives. Pills are very bitter most times and it is very difficult to get the pill down a cat without a fight. I got a pill pusher from my vet, but it is very hard to use. It is too long and difficult to push the plunger with enough force to get the pill down before my cat can taste it. It might be okay for big dogs, but not for cats. My cat has an irritable bowel and needs to take 1/2 pill of Flagyl for 7 days at a time. I dreaded having to give him this until I saw this pill syringe. The reviews were great and some people suggested getting gelatin capsules to put the pill in. I got some from a pharmacy and ground the pill to a fine powder with the back of a spoon. Then I took a drinking straw and cut it in half lengthwise about an inch from the end, and then cut half of that off, so I had a nice little scoop! I easily filled the capsules and when the syringe came in the mail yesterday, I immediately drew some water into the syringe, put the capsule into the end of it and captured my cat. I wrapped him in a towel like a mummy, and forced his mouth open, sticking the syringe in right away and pushed the plunger. In went the capsule and the water immediately washed it down. It was over in seconds and my cat didn't even know what had happened! It was the easiest thing! Today was the second dose of his medication and this time it was just as easy as it was yesterday. I am so thrilled that I found this pill pusher, and next time I visit my vet, I will show it to him and suggest he order these for cats. Being able to use water with the pill or capsule is the trick, and I definitely recommend this product to everyone with a cat or small dog. It can be used without the water, too, but so easy with just a little water. The capsules were size #5 and just a little small for the ground up half pill, so I will order some #4 capsules to use in the future. With the #4, I may not have to grind up the pill. Half of it may fit inside of the capsule. I am just so happy with this product and glad that I can now give my kitty his meds without stressing him out or without stressing ME out!

Would have given this 5 stars, due to how easy this makes pilling a cat... Downgraded for two reasons. 1) Marked on product [but omitted from on-line description] is fact that this is certified for ONE USE ONLY. Main concern [I'm guessing] is that product does not lend itself to harsh sterilization chemicals or heat. If you are like us and using it on only one animal, sterility is less of an issue. 2) The design and material of the rubber tip means it can come off. Fixable... A dab of clear silicone where it connects with barrel prevents nasty surprises and a possible trip to the vet. [note: use silicone type safe for aquariums etc. i.e. no fungicide (as silicone for kitchen and bathroom will have)] Conclusion: Be aware of the product's limitations, and realize that you're trading low cost with the need to a) modify it slightly, and b) regularly replace it...

A great product and I was really thankful for the reviewer (Deirdre) who recommended the best size empty capsules to use -- #4. I've also used it with #5 capsules, which are the smallest size available (though not easy to find in small quantities except on Ebay). One tip I've heard is to use butter on the pill so that it will go easily down your pet's throat. Granted, this can make it slippery in your fingers and butter gets on the syringe but it seems to help, as my cat is drawn to the taste. The best news for me is I've found other ways to pill my cat and only use the syringe as a back up. I use raw ground meat. If you'd like the details, this is what works for us: I buy 1 lb. each of good quality, ground white turkey meat and ground beef. I divide the meat into balls -- maybe 1-2 tablespoons each -- wrap them individually in plastic wrap and throw them in a bag to go in the freezer. Every few days, I thaw out a new ball to use to barely cover the pill. Sometimes, the ground beef is a little too wet and my cat can more easily separate the meat from the pill, so I put the pill encased in the meat in a bit of paper towel and squeeze out the excess moisture. Because my cat takes meds four times a day, is super picky and I'm wanting to dispense the medication in the smallest possible form, I take the different meds and crush them in a pill crusher and pour them carefully (using a piece of a post card folded in half a a funnel) into the #4 capsules. The number 4 is small but works perfectly for the small amounts of drugs I'm giving to him. Sometimes it takes a few tries as my cat can sometimes separates the pill and meat but generally, it works great. If not, I get the syringe. Another tip -- I now give him another tiny ball of plain raw meat right after the raw meat containing the pill so that he's anxious to gobble the first one down. Cat owners: If you are feeding plain meat to a cat on a regular basis, so that it's making up a significant part of his or her diet, please be aware that you can may need added taurine. Taurine is a vital amino acid for heart health not found in sufficient quantity in the meats we typically consume. So unless you are adding liver or other organ meats to your homemade treats, you might want to add some additional taurine to your cat's diet. Here's an article about that: [...]. I bought taurine capsules by Thorne and am adding about 100 mg to one of his capsules each day or am sprinkled it into the center of a raw meat treat. There are times my cat is even finicky about raw meat. There is a product called Floriflora that is a probiotic for cats. It's really irresistible to cats and so when the going gets a little tough, I grab a packet of that a roll the meat in a tiny bit of the Fortiflora powder. He perks right up and gobbles it down. I hope this helps -- good luck with your companion!

Was really disappointed with this piller, and in the reviews a majority of others have left. First and foremost, it does its job...with a few caveats! First, as read in other reviews, this piller really only works well with small pills (and by small, we're talking a pill a bit smaller than an Advil tab, otherwise you'll have to break it in half). The tip is basically a rubber-type cylinder that's cut in the middle, so it opens up like a set of fish lips which you put the pill into. It has a little rod inside the main shaft which, when the green handle is depressed, pokes the pill out of the fish lips. Now: THIS PILLER IS NOT FIT FOR LIQUIDS! Honestly, that was a tipping selling point of this piller as I figured it'd be nice to have one that can handle liquid as well if in the future my cats are sick and need liquid-based meds. The shaft is designed like a syringe, but the main green handle can only move about 1.5-2 inches in either direction and since the fish lips are parted a bit, there's no reliable suction in the main chamber to hold the liquid. I tried loading it up with water, and sure enough half of the very small amount I could get in there anyway dribbled out. Again, it pushes pills into the mouth and does the basic function, but another issue I had is that it's a bit large which means I have to open my cats mouth quite wide, and animals being as quick as they are have a good amount of time from when you deposit the pill to when you clear the mouth of the piller to basically spit out the pill or move it to the side of their mouth where they can then try and imitate a mouth-foam gag.