This entry was posted on 2023-05-24 by Pet Heaven Store.

You may be a fortunate owner whose dog or cat acquiesces to taking medicine as prescribed. But there is some truth to the funny stories, images, and cartoons floating around the internet that show bloodied owners, triumphant pets, and spit-out pills. Learn from our vet; it doesn't have to be that way!

GIVING PILLS AND TABLETS TO PETS

1. Hide Capsules & Pills in Food or Treats

The easiest way to get oral medication into your pet is to hide the medication in a highly desirable food treat. The key is to make your pet so excited about the treat that he eats it—along with the pill—quickly. That way he doesn't bite into the medication and taste something bitter.

You may already have some of the best food options for hiding pills in your kitchen. Here are some tips for using our favourites:

a. Peanut butter: Hide a pill inside a sticky, fragrant dab of peanut butter (on a spoon) and let your pet lick it off. Or roll peanut butter into a small ball, insert the pill, and offer it to your pet as a treat. Make sure the peanut butter isn't made with xylitol, an artificial sweetener, which is toxic to dogs.

b. Sausage or polony: Insert the pill in the centre. You may be tempted to use your pet's canned food as a substitute, but resist. Biting into it as well as a bitter pill may create a taste aversion for your pet's regular food.

c. Cheese: Most capsules and pills slide easily into a small chunk of this cheese. If not, warm the cheese in your hand and mould it around the medication.

Since you don't want your pet to get suspicious, always pair a medicated treat with one that's not medicated. Give your pet one or two plain treats, then a medicated one, then one or two more plain treats. If you do this rapidly, he will swallow the treats quickly without examining them.

2. Administer the medication directly into the pet’s mouth

If your dog persists in spitting out the pills or if dietary restrictions prevent you from hiding the pills in an appealing treat, you can administer the pill directly into your dog's mouth.

1. Place your pet in a safe and comfortable area where he can be easily handled. Have the pill ready and easily accessible.

2. Hold the pill between your thumb and index finger. Use your dominant hand - for example, if you are right-handed, use your right hand.

3. Gently grasp your pet's muzzle from above with your other hand, by placing your thumb behind the canine teeth on one side of the upper jaw and your fingers on the other.

4. Once you have a firm but gentle grip, tilt your pet's head toward the ceiling. The lower jaw will usually drop open. With your pilling hand, use the little finger and ring finger to open your pet's mouth further by gently putting downward pressure on the lower lip and front teeth.

5. Quickly place the pill as far back over the tongue as possible. Your pet is more likely to swallow the pill if you place it beyond the hump of the tongue at the back of the mouth. Try not to place your hand or fingers too far back in the mouth, as this may stimulate a gag reflex.

6. Close your pet's mouth and hold it closed while you return his head to a normal position.

7. Gently rub your pet's throat or blow lightly on his nose. This should stimulate swallowing. A pet will usually lick his nose after swallowing a pill.

8. Give plenty of praise throughout the process and offer a treat or playtime right after giving the medication. This will make the experience more positive, making it easier to give the medication the next time.

3. Use a pill popper

A pill popper (also called a Pill Gun) makes administering oral medication (tablets and capsules) to your pet cat or dog a breeze. The ability to deliver the medication to the back of your pet’s mouth helps to prevent tablets and capsules from being chewed or spat out, while preventing your fingers from getting bitten!

This device is particularly useful for cats and small dogs and makes dosing much faster, easier and safer for you and your pet.

a. Simply load the medication in the tip of the pill popper.

b. Open your pet’s mouth using your free hand.

c. Direct the pill popper to the back of your pet’s mouth.

d. Then depress the plunger to deliver the medication at the back of your pet’s throat.

e. Hold your pet’s mouth closed and tickle under their chin to make sure they have swallowed the pill.

GIVING LIQUID MEDICATION TO PETS

1. Hide the liquid in food or treats

The easiest way to give your pet a liquid medication is to mix it with some canned food. To ensure your pet swallows the medication, it is best to hand feed the medicated food or treat, rather than mixing it into a large portion that the pet may not completely consume.

2. Administer the liquid directly into your pet’s mouth

Some pets may be unwilling to eat medicated food or may have dietary restrictions that prevent you from using this technique. If this is the case, you will need to administer the medication directly into your dog's mouth.

Gently shake or mix the liquid medication prior to drawing it into the dosing syringe. If the medication was refrigerated, you may want to warm it up by holding the syringe tightly in your hand for a minute or two. DO NOT MICROWAVE THE MEDICATION.

Place your pet in a safe and comfortable area where it can be easily handled. It is easiest to give liquid medication if you have a second person available to help you.

Place the tip of the syringe in the mouth, just behind one of the canine teeth ("fangs"), and advance the tip so that it is in the slight gap between the canine tooth and the pre-molars behind the canine tooth. Be sure to angle the syringe slightly to the side so that the tip of the syringe deposits the medication onto the tongue.

Slowly squeeze the syringe to dispense the liquid medication. Make sure you do this slowly so the dog has time to swallow the liquid and breathe normally.

Many pets will spit out some of the medication. Do NOT re-medicate unless you are certain that NONE of the medication was swallowed. Your veterinarian will have accounted for a small amount of loss when calculating the required dose of medication for your pet.

Make sure you give your pet plenty of praise throughout the procedure and offer a treat or extra playtime after giving the medication. This will make the experience more positive and make it easier to give the medication the next time. After each use, rinse the dropper or syringe thoroughly with water and refrigerate the remaining medication if necessary.

WHAT IF NOTHING WORKS?

If your pet is anxious or fearful of being pilled, contact your veterinarian for advice. Giving pills to your pet can become frustrating (for both of you) and it may be possible to have the medication compounded into a flavoured liquid or treat. Veterinary pharmacies can prepare many medications into liquid or treat formulas with appealing flavours such as chicken or beef.