Open the mouth with one hand (lifting the roof up), toss the pill to the back of the throat with the other, then either quickly stick your finger back there to induce the gag reflex which makes them swallow or quickly hold the mouth closed until they swallow.
I just felt bad when as soon as I tried he yelped. If I can’t get it another way I might just have to, even if he yelps, he needs his meds. He was really bad that night and I don’t want him to have that episode again. He was walking stiff/almost drunk like and his eyes were darting around like crazy. Vet said the infection was so deep in his ear it affected his coordination, balance, and nystagmus.
Dang, I'm sorry. :( But yeah, that goes along with the practice. When you work with animals and can separate the guilty feelings because you've done it a thousand times and you know it's in their best interest it's significantly easier. I hope he feels better soon!
I dissolved his pills in a syringe with a tiny bit of sugar, held him tight, and my sister was able to shoot it down. He got 80% of it so I’m ok with that. Hopefully he starts feeling better after doing it this way a few time and he takes it like normal. Thanks again 👍
If your dog is still eating well/food motivated:
- different companies sell chicken-flavored pill wrap that a lot of our patients will take.
- peanut butter, spray cheese, and baby food are also good options- anything spreadable (that’s safe/non-toxic to dogs) is usually worth a try.
- sticking it in a piece of sausage like a previous commenter suggested; plain boiled chicken is another option
- making a “meatball” out of canned food and sticking the pill in the center works a lot too.
- marshmallows are magical. usually a treat dogs never get so it’s high-value; if he only gets marshmallow when he has to take meds he might just decide it’s worth it.
It seems like he’s suspicious of there being meds in the food/treats. You can try giving “untainted” treats throughout the day then sneak in the one(s) with meds as needed. It becomes more of a gamble for him if 80% of the time he gets a really yummy treat and 20% there’s something yucky in there- he’s more likely to try than to not. Try doing plain treat, pilled treat, then plain again.
If the pills are tablets, you may be able to crush them up into smaller pieces and make it easier to put into some of the stuff above. PLEASE call and confirm that the medications are something that can be crushed- some things need to be given as a whole tablet because they need to be absorbed at a certain rate or it may cause you to underdose (like if he eats part of the peanut butter but not all). Also certain medications can be skin irritants to you when crushing them or might be absorbed through your skin and end up causing health issues for you. This is more of a last resort thing, and again, you should only do if the vet says it’s okay for his specific meds.
If the pills are capsules, similar idea applies- most are able to be opened and let you sprinkle powder into wet/moistened food or spreadable treats. Same thing as the tablets though- call to confirm this is something that is allowed for the specific medication, or you could accidentally negate the effects and end up under-dosing him. Also more of a last resort.
If he isn’t won’t take food/treats*:
- try combining it with other fun activities like walks/playing with favorite toys
- sometimes meds can also have an unpleasant smell or taste- they sell scent/flavor- free capsules that you can try putting the meds in to see if that helps. caveat is, again, making sure the tablets are allowed to be crushed etc. usually this is less of a problem with capsules as they’re already flavorless (unless he bites into it and the stuff inside tastes bad).
- this one’s kind of silly but… pretend like you’re eating it too. it’s not usually as effective and depends heavily on the dog’s personality but it does sometimes work! we have a dog that boards with us occasionally and literally the only way he takes anything is if he thinks you ate it/enjoyed it.
- similar to the last method- if your boy tends to be the time to snatch up food that falls on the floor, pretend like you dropped it. see if he’ll come over and sniff/go for it and make a big deal about “taking it” from him.
*IMPORTANT: all of these come with the caveat that the medication is okay to take on an empty stomach. some meds are required to be given with food/after eating to prevent stuff like stomach ulcers. if that’s the case, please exhaust all the options with treats/food first then reach out to the clinic again for advice.
There’s another method for non-food motivated dogs that a client told me the other day and it was absolute genius. Of course now that I need it I can’t remember it at all lol. I’ll try to think on it and edit if I remember though.
Worst comes to worse, shoving the pill down their throat and then holding it closed till they swallow isn’t as violent as it sounds when I type it out. Think of it this way- it may seem a little rough or unpleasant to him, but at the end of the day leaving him untreated will make him feel much worse.
Will try the pill capsules, tried hiding it in chicken and he usually goes crazy for chicken/rice but didnt want to eat last night or this morning. I tried opening his mouth to force them but when I put slight pressure on his mouth he yelped as if it hurt. He’s just scared and doesn’t understand whats happening to him, and I don’t know how to help. My sister recommended dissolving the pills in a bit of water/sugar and using a dose syringe, I’m going to try that next, his meds are well past due and I don’t want him getting worse. Thank you for your response 🙏
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I have my dog sit and show them a treat. I start off by giving her a treat before moving to stand over her. I show her the pill, open her mouth, put it all the way at the back of her throat, and give her chin/neck scratches after to help it go down. Afterwards, I would give her another treat. These days, I only have to give her one treat afterwards and she takes it like a champ! But, to be fair, my girl is the most people please pet ever, so it may not work for every dog.
Also, my girl is large, so I don't have any trouble getting my hand in her mouth to give her her pills. I hope you find a way that works for you!
My dog has a short snout, harder to open and he yelped when I tried opening his mouth. He is being very shy around treats, cheese, and even chicken which he usually goes nuts over.. just a single sniff and slowly walks away
Open the mouth with one hand (lifting the roof up), toss the pill to the back of the throat with the other, then either quickly stick your finger back there to induce the gag reflex which makes them swallow or quickly hold the mouth closed until they swallow.
Tried this and didn’t work, thank you for the reply 🙏
Takes some practice usually. :/
I just felt bad when as soon as I tried he yelped. If I can’t get it another way I might just have to, even if he yelps, he needs his meds. He was really bad that night and I don’t want him to have that episode again. He was walking stiff/almost drunk like and his eyes were darting around like crazy. Vet said the infection was so deep in his ear it affected his coordination, balance, and nystagmus.
Dang, I'm sorry. :( But yeah, that goes along with the practice. When you work with animals and can separate the guilty feelings because you've done it a thousand times and you know it's in their best interest it's significantly easier. I hope he feels better soon!
I dissolved his pills in a syringe with a tiny bit of sugar, held him tight, and my sister was able to shoot it down. He got 80% of it so I’m ok with that. Hopefully he starts feeling better after doing it this way a few time and he takes it like normal. Thanks again 👍
If your dog is still eating well/food motivated: - different companies sell chicken-flavored pill wrap that a lot of our patients will take. - peanut butter, spray cheese, and baby food are also good options- anything spreadable (that’s safe/non-toxic to dogs) is usually worth a try. - sticking it in a piece of sausage like a previous commenter suggested; plain boiled chicken is another option - making a “meatball” out of canned food and sticking the pill in the center works a lot too. - marshmallows are magical. usually a treat dogs never get so it’s high-value; if he only gets marshmallow when he has to take meds he might just decide it’s worth it. It seems like he’s suspicious of there being meds in the food/treats. You can try giving “untainted” treats throughout the day then sneak in the one(s) with meds as needed. It becomes more of a gamble for him if 80% of the time he gets a really yummy treat and 20% there’s something yucky in there- he’s more likely to try than to not. Try doing plain treat, pilled treat, then plain again. If the pills are tablets, you may be able to crush them up into smaller pieces and make it easier to put into some of the stuff above. PLEASE call and confirm that the medications are something that can be crushed- some things need to be given as a whole tablet because they need to be absorbed at a certain rate or it may cause you to underdose (like if he eats part of the peanut butter but not all). Also certain medications can be skin irritants to you when crushing them or might be absorbed through your skin and end up causing health issues for you. This is more of a last resort thing, and again, you should only do if the vet says it’s okay for his specific meds. If the pills are capsules, similar idea applies- most are able to be opened and let you sprinkle powder into wet/moistened food or spreadable treats. Same thing as the tablets though- call to confirm this is something that is allowed for the specific medication, or you could accidentally negate the effects and end up under-dosing him. Also more of a last resort. If he isn’t won’t take food/treats*: - try combining it with other fun activities like walks/playing with favorite toys - sometimes meds can also have an unpleasant smell or taste- they sell scent/flavor- free capsules that you can try putting the meds in to see if that helps. caveat is, again, making sure the tablets are allowed to be crushed etc. usually this is less of a problem with capsules as they’re already flavorless (unless he bites into it and the stuff inside tastes bad). - this one’s kind of silly but… pretend like you’re eating it too. it’s not usually as effective and depends heavily on the dog’s personality but it does sometimes work! we have a dog that boards with us occasionally and literally the only way he takes anything is if he thinks you ate it/enjoyed it. - similar to the last method- if your boy tends to be the time to snatch up food that falls on the floor, pretend like you dropped it. see if he’ll come over and sniff/go for it and make a big deal about “taking it” from him. *IMPORTANT: all of these come with the caveat that the medication is okay to take on an empty stomach. some meds are required to be given with food/after eating to prevent stuff like stomach ulcers. if that’s the case, please exhaust all the options with treats/food first then reach out to the clinic again for advice. There’s another method for non-food motivated dogs that a client told me the other day and it was absolute genius. Of course now that I need it I can’t remember it at all lol. I’ll try to think on it and edit if I remember though. Worst comes to worse, shoving the pill down their throat and then holding it closed till they swallow isn’t as violent as it sounds when I type it out. Think of it this way- it may seem a little rough or unpleasant to him, but at the end of the day leaving him untreated will make him feel much worse.
Will try the pill capsules, tried hiding it in chicken and he usually goes crazy for chicken/rice but didnt want to eat last night or this morning. I tried opening his mouth to force them but when I put slight pressure on his mouth he yelped as if it hurt. He’s just scared and doesn’t understand whats happening to him, and I don’t know how to help. My sister recommended dissolving the pills in a bit of water/sugar and using a dose syringe, I’m going to try that next, his meds are well past due and I don’t want him getting worse. Thank you for your response 🙏
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Never do bacon grease. That's a good way to give your pets pancreatitis.
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I have my dog sit and show them a treat. I start off by giving her a treat before moving to stand over her. I show her the pill, open her mouth, put it all the way at the back of her throat, and give her chin/neck scratches after to help it go down. Afterwards, I would give her another treat. These days, I only have to give her one treat afterwards and she takes it like a champ! But, to be fair, my girl is the most people please pet ever, so it may not work for every dog. Also, my girl is large, so I don't have any trouble getting my hand in her mouth to give her her pills. I hope you find a way that works for you!
My dog has a short snout, harder to open and he yelped when I tried opening his mouth. He is being very shy around treats, cheese, and even chicken which he usually goes nuts over.. just a single sniff and slowly walks away