Helpful Tips and Tricks for Giving Your Pet Medication
Sometimes it seems like dogs want to eat everything except what they are supposed to eat. Whether you’re giving your dog his monthly flea and tick prevention or for an illness or disease, they seem to know it’s not a treat. If you’re having trouble getting your dog to take his medication, check out our tips below to see if any can help ease your frustration.
Become a Master of Disguise
Camouflage the smell and taste of the pill by surrounding it with peanut butter, bacon, cheese, or even bread. You can also mix it in with your dog’s food, especially with canned food. Some dogs will eat everything except the pill, so make sure he actually does consume the pill.
Who Wants a Sandwich?
Not really, this is more about tricking your dog. Give him little bits of some delicious food, sneak the pill in between bites, then quickly hand him some more of the delicious food. He will probably end up swallowing it even if he doesn’t want to.
New Delivery!
It’s possible your pet has sensitive teeth and makes chewing difficult. If you have concerns about your dogs ability to chew a tablet, consult your vet about variable forms such as powder or liquid. This can be more easily mixed in with peanut butter, cream cheese, or yogurt.
Distractions
Turn it into a game. Throw a few smaller treats up in the air for you pup to catch. Most dogs will immediately swallow them. After a few tosses, switch a treat for a pill and toss it to him just like you have been. Chances are, your dog will swallow it immediately. Voila! You have a medicated puppy.
If these tricks don’t work for you, try using some of these handy tools:
Pill Pockets
If you don’t feel like digging through the fridge and pantry trying to find something your dog might eat, try a pill pocket. These mold around the pill and mask the smell and taste. They come in multiple flavors to help you find your furry friend’s favorite to make pill time easier!
Pill Cutters
There’s a chance the pill is just too big for your dog’s liking or for his size. A pill cutter easily cuts the pill down without making a mess. Your vet might even cut the pills for you when your prescription is filled.
Pill Guns
This is a device that you should probably have you vet demonstrate. It basically shoots the pill to the back of your dog’s mouth. Get your dog used to the gadget first by letting him sniff it, lick it, and gradually move it further into your dog’s mouth without the pill. Once your dog finds it fairly normal, add the pill and fire away.
With a little patience you should be able to find a way to give your pup his pill with little to no resistance. How do you give your dog his medication? We’d love to hear from you!