When your pup is prescribed medication in pill form, successfully administering it can seem daunting. Dogs are infamously opposed to pills, adept at hiding, spitting out or shunning them entirely. However, with the right techniques and tools, giving your pooch their pills doesn’t have to be painful or stressful for either party.
Follow these proven tips for tricking even the pickiest pup into swallowing their meds without fuss. Say goodbye to pill battles and restore medication peace!
Choose the Most Effective Pilling Method
Consider which pilling approach works best for your dog’s personality:
- Hide in food – Effective for food-motivated dogs; avoid if pills can’t be taken with food.
- Place far back on tongue – Works best with two people, one to hold the snout elevated.
- Hide in a treat – Ideal for small pills; use squeeze paste or hollow treats you can insert pill into.
- Use a piller tool – Allows placing pill at back of throat; minimizes handling by you.
Having backup methods helps for occasions your dog refuses one approach.
Set Your Dog Up for Pilling Success
Optimizing the experience starts beforehand:
- Remain calm yourself – dogs sense anxiety.
- Have treats ready to reward cooperation.
- Time with meals for food disguising.
- Secure dog gently but firmly to minimize wiggling.
- Ensure you can safely reach their mouth.
The more comfortable your dog feels, the smoother pilling goes.
Make Swallowing Pills Easier
Additional tips to help pills go down:
- Blow on nose to trigger swallow response when placed on tongue.
- Briefly close snout once in mouth to contain pill.
- Gently massage throat to encourage swallowing.
- Immediately praise and reward.
Outsmarting your dog takes finesse – stay patient.
Troubleshoot Persistently Difficult Dogs
For chronic pill refusers, consider these tactics:
- Grind pills and mix with broth into a slurry.
- Compound drugs into flavored dissolvable tablets tailored to your dog.
- Explore transdermal gels applied to ears for absorption.
- Request injectable or liquid versions of medicines when possible.
Your veterinarian can advise the best approach if pills fail.
Make Medicating Your Dog as Painless as Possible
While initially challenging, pilling your pooch can become much easier with the right tools and techniques catered to their needs. With compassion and creativity, you can outsmart even the wiliest dog into cooperating with their medication routine for speedy healing.
