Tips on Giving a Dog a Pill
Yes, most dogs may hate swallowing their pills. However, your sick furry pal needs medication; and it’s your responsibility to give your dog some remedy. The following are some methods to make this battle as easy as you would want it to be.
Hide Pills and Capsules in Dog Foods
Hiding medication in a food treat can be the easiest way to give your dog’s oral medication. Make your pet excited so he wolfs down the treat. Doing so will prevent him from biting into the hidden pill and tasting its bitterness. Some of the most viable food for drug hideout are plain meat, peanut butter, meatball, cheese, plain yogurt, bananas, hotdogs, and liverwurst.
Make sure the peanut butter you feed your dog doesn’t have xylitol, though, as this substance is harmful for dogs.
Consult your canine’s veterinarian first on the interaction of some medications with certain foods, though. Your pooch may not get the most of his dose if the hidden pill has a negative interaction with the foods given to him.
Some treats, other than food, come with a hole where you can use some cunning in hiding pills in them. Search and check the label before buying and hide the pill as they may be specifically manufactured for cats or dogs only. Search and choose treats with lower calories if you notice your pet is getting plump. The drug will still work anyway regardless of the food you hide it in. Here are the best calming treats for dogs we can recommend for you.
Pair a medicated treat with one that does not have the drug, so he won’t suspect the pill you hid in the special treat. Be mindful as he may search for it. Give him two plain treats first, followed by a medicated one, then another two plain treats. Do this in rapid successions and he will swallow them without examination.
Tips and tricks for administering antibiotics to dogs
Lets explore some fun, easy ways to trick your dog into taking their meds. Check out our guides on administering pills and liquid medications to your dog for more practical advice.
Hide the pill in a piece of food
This is the oldest trick in the book! Wrap up the capsule or tablet in a piece of cheese, or hide it in a small amount of canned dog food. (Dont try this one if your dog has to take it on an empty stomach.) Be sure to feed only a small amount so your dog takes the whole antibiotic.
Sprinkle the powder over your dogs food or into a liquid
Some antibiotics, like tylosin, come in powder form. Some powders are water-soluble and can be added to a liquid. Others can be mixed with food. If your vet prescribes a powder, ask whether you can add it to your pets food or compound it into a liquid. Again, be sure to feed a small amount to ensure your dog consumes all the medicine. Dont crush up your dogs tablets or pills and add them to your dogs food without asking your vet first.
Get some pill-pocket treats and make it a fun game
This is a “grrreat” way to distract your dog. Buy some pill-pocket treats from your local big-box pet store and prepare to play! Hide the pill in one of the treats and head outside. Toss your dog a few treats, then toss them the one with the pill inside. Hopefully, theyll gobble it down without even noticing.
Be super vigilant during the game to make sure your dog takes the medication. If you cant find any pill-pocket treats at your local pet store, try molding a soft treat around the pill instead.
Sneak it into a toy
If you own a KONG, use it to your advantage! Add the capsule, tablet, or chewable to the KONG with peanut butter or soft food. Chances are, your pup will play for hours without even knowing theyve taken their meds. Make sure to check the KONG afterward to ensure they ate all the food and the medicine along with it.
Ask for a flavored option
Lets face it — most meds taste bitter or downright gross. If your pup has a history of refusing their meds, ask your vet if they can prescribe a flavored chewable tablet instead. Some antibiotics, like Clavamox, are available in yummy flavors like cheese, chicken, and pork liver.