Administering Medication
When you have a sick dog, sometimes giving medication can become a tedious and heart breaking experience. They don’t want to take it, and you don’t want to give it. You are already feeling terrible because your best buddy is under the weather, and now you have to make the situation worse by forcing a pill or liquid applicator into their mouth. Just thinking about it makes me feel guilty. We’ve outlined a few strategies that should come in handy for you when your dog is not feeling so great. Be brave and remember you are the only one that can protect your dog’s health.
Oral Liquids
This is the easiest form of medication to give your dog. Some oral liquid medications are odorless or tasteless. If this is the case simply add the medication to your dog’s food or water and stir it in liberally. Make sure to stir up the liquid just before they begin eating or drinking, this will ensure the medication has not settled at the bottom of the food or water dish. If the liquid does have a flavor, add the medication to gravy and pour over their food. The flavor of the gravy should overpower the taste of the medicine. If you have a little diva, your dog might still sense the slightest imperfection in their meal. In this case you have to grit your teeth, take an eye dropper, insert it past their last molar, and inject the liquid directly down their throat. This will not hurt your dog, but you may find the experience unpleasant.
Capsule and Powders
This form of medication is slightly more difficult then oral liquids because it will almost always have a flavor. We recommend that you mix in powder or capsule medication with your dog’s favorite wet dog food. The moisture and strong flavor of a canned dog food should overpower the medicinal taste. Capsules can be broken open and the medication can be used just like powder. Fine powder, like oral liquids, can be introduced into your dog’s water bowl as another method for “sneaking in” their medication, but mixing it in with canned dog food is best.
Pills
The most dreaded of all medication, giving your dog a pill, can be really difficult. Conventional techniques include shoving the pill into a wiener or sausage and hoping that your dog doesn’t discover it. Many dogs, however, will eat around the pill by sensing its presence within their dog treat. There is a handy device that can be helpful with pills. A pill popper can be used to insert a pill behind your dog’s last tooth and insert it down their throat. This part may be difficult, but calm your dog by massaging the pill down their throat and maintaining an even tone of voice.
No one likes to give their dog medicine. We all know, however, that our dogs are counting on us to look out for their health. Hopefully you will find these strategies useful the next time your dog is feeling under the weather.