How to Give Your Dog a Pill
Many times, if your dog is ill, your vet will give you pills to administer to your dog, an exercise that sounds simple enough but isn’t in some cases. Your dog could be like some children and simply refuse to take it, no matter how much you beg and plead and promise him that the pill will make him better.
The thing is, though, your vet has assured you that the medication will sort out the problem, so you have to get your dog to take their pills. Read on and find out how to give a pill to your dog the easy way.
How to Give a Dog a Pill: Method 1
With your knees behind your dog's shoulders, grip him tightly so that he can’t run away. Holding the pill and being careful that he does not bite you, hold his snout with your one hand, and open his lower jaw with your other hand, then quickly drop the tablet as far back as possible in his mouth.
Hold his jaws closed with your one hand, and holding his chin up, massage his throat with your other hand, which will prompt him to swallow the pill. When he starts licking his lips, praise him for taking his medicine like a good boy.
Another useful trick is to do this procedure armed with a water syringe. Once you've placed the pill at the top of his throat, give him a squirt of water, which will trigger him to swallow the water and take the pill with it!
This method usually works best when the medication is administered by someone the dog loves, respects, and trusts. So if they have a favorite person, this is probably a job for them!
How to Give a Dog a Pill: Method 2
Another easy way to give your reluctant dog a pill is to hide it in a piece of his favorite food, such as cheese, some bread, or even a chunk of meat.
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Getting some dogs to take a pill can be very difficult. One of the best ways to get this done is to place the pill in something that your dog finds irresistible. Most of the time, we reach for something like peanut butter, hotdogs, or cheese, but human food is also not good for dogs. Not to mention that you're more likely to run out of those things unexpectedly! Pill Wrap by Under the Weather is a great solution. It's formulated by vets specifically for dogs, so you don't have to worry that they'll react to it, and it comes in great flavors that dogs love! |
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Some dogs will take a tasty snack right away without any hesitation, but if your dog is not very food-driven, this might not work.
How to Give a Dog a Pill: Method 3
If your dog is one of the many that likes to catch things when you throw them, and they're used to getting snacks this way, you might simply be able to toss the pill the way you would a snack and get the job done that way.
This usually works best with pills that don't taste bad, though. Even the best snack catchers are likely to spit out a pill that tastes bitter!
How NOT to Give a Dog a Pill
Whether you use one of the methods listed here or something else, the only thing that matters is that you get your dog to take their medication.
There is one method that you should not use though, and that's hiding their pill in their dinner.
Not only can you not be sure they've taken it, but if you have other pets, one of them might take the pill instead of your dog, which adds another layer of complication to the issue. Medication should only be given as prescribed, to the animal it's prescribed for, so don't ever try to give your dog a pill this way!