How to give a dog a pill

A sick animal, like a sick person, is very capricious and picky about food. How, then, should one treat a dog that is suspicious of anything placed in its mouth, even if the "treat" comes from its owner?

Content

1 Pills in food
2 Crushed tablets
3 Direct contact
4 Introducer

Pills in food

This is the most popular way to feed medication to a dog. Simply place the tablet in the food. To mask the unfamiliar smell, use a favorite treat. Some animals are smart enough to quickly find the tablet, discarding it without their owner's knowledge. Be more cunning: stuff the medication into a small piece of meat or cheese and feed it by hand. This method is especially suitable when giving a capsule that must be swallowed whole. You can even play with your pet: give a treat for each correct command. A couple of times, give a regular treat, and then give a treat with a surprise inside. This method usually works with both neutral-tasting vitamins and bitter medications.

Caution! This method is only suitable if the medication's package insert specifically states that it can be taken with food.

The main advantage is the absence of direct contact with the dog.

Crushed tablets

This method is suitable for dogs who are sick. The powder can be dissolved in water or added to their regular food. To give a full dose, limit the amount to small portions and ensure that everything is eaten.

Please note: If the tablets are capsules or coated, this method is not suitable for you.

The downside is the strong, "foreign" scent to a dog's senses. As a result, the animal may refuse to eat completely.

The main advantage is the increased likelihood that the dog will actually receive the medication, rather than leaving it at the bottom of the bowl. It's suitable for weakened animals and puppies. The resulting solution can also be administered intra-cheek with a syringe.

Direct contact

This method is suitable when your pet is sensitive to medication in food and when the pill must be taken separately from food. It involves opening the mouth and placing the medication in the cheek. However, animals often spit out unfamiliar food. Experienced dog owners know the proper way to administer a pill:

Stay calm. Animals are sensitive to their owner's mood, so your panic may be transmitted to them. Your movements should be clear and decisive.
Don't use violence. Harsh behavior will provoke reciprocal aggression and will forever create the stereotype that taking a pill is painful.
Prepare in advance. Calm your pet, take them to a quiet place, and ask your loved ones to remain quiet. The tablet should already be ready and lying nearby, without the blister pack.
Contact with the animal. If the dog is large, you will still need help to stabilize its shoulders. Raise its head. To open its mouth, place one hand on the bridge of its nose and, using your thumb and index finger to lift its upper lip, press on the sides near the teeth.

Placing the medication. With your other hand, take the medication and quickly place it in the dog's mouth, close to the base of the tongue. Remove your hand and gently clamp the mouth shut. The reflex will cause the dog to swallow the medication. The further back you place the medication, the more likely it is to succeed: the base of the tongue lacks receptors, eliminating the unpleasant aftertaste. This makes it easy to administer a bitter deworming pill to your dog on an empty stomach.

Important: To help your pet swallow the medication faster, lubricate the tablet with oil beforehand.

Reward. Be sure to praise your pet and pet them, especially on the throat, which will stimulate the swallowing reflex.
Additional fluid intake. It's especially important to provide water after taking deworming medications, which can cause intense thirst. Puppies also require additional fluid intake, along with absorbent solutions.
Using a special syringe. It's convenient if you're treating your dog without assistance, as well as when administering a pill to a large breed dog.

Introducer

To ease the discomfort of this procedure, you can use a special piston-type device called an introducer (pill dispenser or pill piller). Made of soft, non-toxic plastic, the pill piller resembles a syringe with rounded handles at the end for easy grip.

How to use:

Fill the tablet dispenser with water.
Place the capsule or tablet into the special holder - a slot with a rubber band at the end of the syringe.
Insert the introducer into the mouth so that the slit is in the area of the root of the tongue.
Press the plunger.

Important! You can give the medication without water. In this case, stroke the dog's throat to encourage swallowing.

Ask your veterinarian to help you with treatment the first time so that you can carry out preventative measures yourself in the future.