How do you get a small dog to take a pill?
The easiest way to give your dog a pill is to hide the pill in food. This usually works best if you hide it in a special treat such as a small amount of canned dog food, peanut butter, or cheese. Soft treats are also available that can be used to hide the pill by molding the treat around it (e.g., Pill Pockets™).
How can I get my dog to take his pills?
The pill-giver should place the tablet as far back on the tongue as possible, confidently and gently. Avoid dropping the pill into the mouth as this can cause gagging. Close their mouth, and gently hold their muzzle so they don’t spit out the pill, and stroke the pet’s throat in a gentle downward motion.
What do you do if your dog won’t take his pill?
These are a few options to try if your dog won’t take pills:
- Ask for a nice-tasting tablet.
- Hide the pill in a dog pill pocket treat.
- Hide the pill in food.
- Use a pill pusher.
- Use the vet technique.
How do you give a small dog a large pill?
Drop or quickly place the pill as far back in your dog’s throat as you can. Don’t push the pill down. Hold your dog’s mouth closed and stroke her throat or blow on her nose to encourage swallowing. Give your dog a reward, like a veterinarian-approved treat, for being a good patient.
How can I hide the bitter taste in my dog’s medicine?
Peanut butter (no xylitol!), butter, deli meats, cheese and bread (no raisins!) all work well to hide medicine. You can also hide some tablets, capsules and liquids by mixing them into canned pet food. Be sure to check that your pet has eaten the medication and didn’t spit it out after eating the surrounding food.
How do I get my puppy to swallow a pill?
Gently press the pup’s lips against his teeth to encourage it to open its mouth. Or, slip one finger inside its mouth and gently press the roof of its mouth and the dog will open wide. Then use your other hand to push the pill to the back of his tongue, quickly close its mouth, and stroke its throat until it swallows.
How do vets give dogs pills?
Drop the pill or capsule as far back over the tongue as possible, then immediately close the mouth and blow on the dog’s nose which will encourage her to swallow. If you are unable to get the pill far enough over the base of the tongue, the dog will spit it out.
What can I mix my dogs pills with?
However, you can also hide tablets and capsules in pet and human foods that your dog or cat finds appealing. Peanut butter (no xylitol!), butter, deli meats, cheese and bread (no raisins!) all work well to hide medicine. You can also hide some tablets, capsules and liquids by mixing them into canned pet food.
How do you hide the bitter taste in medicine?
For example, the best way to mask a bitter-tasting drug might be to blend in a complementary, more acceptable but still bitter flavor, such as chocolate, coffee, or maple. Acidic drugs blend well with the flavors of acidic fruits, such as orange or lemon.
