This works best if your dog swallows food quickly, without chewing. This works best with food in which the pill can be well enveloped such as wet dog food, so that the pill does not fall out. Using Pill Pockets or Flavor Doh available at your veterinarian sometimes works better than food. [1] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source Before you administer the medication, ensure it can be taken with food to avoid detrimental side effects.
Ground beef, turkey or chicken can be molded around the medication. Pills can be pushed inside a portion of hot dog. Softer cheeses can be easily re-shaped to encapsulate the medicine. If you’re using peanut butter, grasp the pill with tweezers and dip it into the peanut butter. Get just enough on to make the pill enticing, without overdoing it.
You may want to try to wait until the dog is hungry, and then give two or three undoctored treats so that the dog gets a taste for them and looks for more. Then slip in the doctored treat, closely followed by another normal treat to get the taste out of his mouth. If you have more than one dog, try this when they are both present. Give food without medicine to the other dog first. Then attempt to give the medicine. The competition from the second dog can increase the chances of successfully getting your dog to take the bait.
Liquid medicine inside capsules can be removed by lancing the capsule and squeezing the medicine out. Don’t crush pills that have a coating. Check the container or ask your vet to see if you can crush the pill.
Open your dog’s mouth. It doesn’t have to be very wide, just enough to insert the syringe. Insert the syringe near the back of the dog’s mouth, so that you can squirt the medicine into the back of the dog’s throat. Push the plunger on the syringe, and squirt the medicine out. By giving your dog medicine this way, you make it nearly impossible for your dog to spit it out. Give your pup a treat.
Blow gently on his nose to help aid this process. Rub your hand over the dog’s throat after your dog swallows the pill to make sure that it goes down smoothly. This will stimulate his swallow reflex and your dog will have to swallow. Give your dog a drink of water after your dog swallows the pill to ensure that the pill doesn’t get stuck in its throat, which may cause an ulcer. Be patient, calm but firm.
