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A spoonful of sugar might help our medicine go down, but dogs typically pose a bit more of a challenge. While some dogs dutifully eat their pills with dinner, most tend to need a little encouragement. These tips for giving your dog a pill will make the process more pleasant for everyone involved.
Use Pill Pockets
Not all medication can be given with food. But if it can, or wrapping it in a piece of cheese makes it easy to slip into your dog鈥檚 system. Keep in mind that this approach works best for dogs that wolf down without chewing. Dogs that chew may bite into the unpleasant-tasting medicine, making them harder to trick next time. It should be noted that dogs with food sensitivities or allergies might have issues with the ingredients in , so consult your veterinarian if your dog has had problems with food in the past.
Try Compounded or Liquid Medications
Sometimes you can opt for a flavored compounded medication or a chewable 鈥渢reat鈥� tablet. This works well for dogs that don鈥檛 like to swallow their pills. However, these medications can be more expensive 鈥� depending on the drug 鈥� and your veterinarian may caution against compounding certain drugs because it could impact their effectiveness. Also, not every pharmacy will compound medications. Ask your veterinarian to guide you to pharmacies that are noted for compounding medications.
Use a Pill Device
Administering pills to your dog can pose certain risks. For instance, in order to get the pill far enough back on your dog鈥檚 tongue for them to swallow, you need to put your fingers in their mouth. This can lead to accidental bites. place the medication in your dog鈥檚 mouth, so that you don鈥檛 have to expose your fingers to danger. A dog鈥檚 tongue has a hump, and in order to succeed in getting them to swallow the pill, you need to place it behind the hump. Once you鈥檝e done that, close their jaws and gently stroke their throat in a downward motion to encourage them to swallow the pill.
Get Help
Restraining a dog while also trying to give them medication is difficult. If possible, ask a friend or family member to hold your dog for you, so that you can concentrate fully on the task at hand.
Reward Your Dog
The last thing you want is to make this process stressful. Reward your dog with a small treat after every pill, and do your best to keep both of you calm, no matter how frustrated you get.
Ask Your Veterinarian for a Demonstration
Successful administration of pills is an art form. When in doubt, request a聽demonstration on proper technique聽from your veterinarian.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.