Giving Pills to Dogs Made Easy: A Guide to Sneaking Medication Into Furry Friends' Food
Some cats will even eat a pill hidden in peanut butter or cheese.
It can be even more difficult to give pills to dogs, especially when the tablets are large and unappetizing for your furry friend. Dogs are very smart creatures and often quickly catch on that something is off with their food when a pill is added. So how do you successfully give your dog medication? This article will provide how to give a dog a pill tips and tricks on giving pills to dogs made easy!
Giving medication to pets can be intimidating for pet owners; however, it doesn't have to be challenging if you know what strategies work best for giving pills to dogs. To make the process easier, here are some how to give a dog a pill tips that may help:
1) Make sure you have the right size pill- Pills come in different sizes and shapes, so it’s important that you find one that is small enough for your dog’s mouth. If necessary, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist if they can break up larger tablets into smaller pieces so they fit comfortably in the dog’s mouth or throat.
2) Choose a tastier treat- Some treats might not be appealing enough for your pup; try different options such as peanut butter or canned pumpkin (not sweetened). You could also use Pill Pockets™ which are designed specifically for administering medication; these treats come in various flavours like chicken and beef which may how to give a dog a pill make them more appetising than regular food items like cheese or tuna fish.
3) Place the pill inside of something else- It’s important to hide the pill so it won't put off an unpleasant smell or taste when eaten by Fido; using something like cheese slices, hot dogs slices (without any spices), banana chunks (without sugar), apple sauce cubes (unsweetened), plain yoghourt bites etc., how to give a dog a pill can help mask this unpleasant flavour when combined with wet food or other treats.
4) Use positive reinforcement - Give praise after medicine has been taken by rewarding with a treat immediately afterward – this reinforces good behaviour! A mild distraction technique such as playing fetch with them before feeding them may also help take their mind off of what's about to happen next – taking medicine!
5) Have someone else administer - Having someone else distract your pup while you give him/her their medicine helps minimise stress levels because there isn't just one person handling everything at once - how to give a dog a pill this makes things much less overwhelming on both parties involved too! Additionally, having someone else present allows us better control over our furry companion's movements during dosing time without having any distractions from other activities around us such as children playing nearby etc.
6) Choose an appropriate location- Selecting a quiet spot away from distractions where Fido feels safe and comfortable is essential when administering medication – whether inside his crate/kennel if he prefers being confined spaces while eating/taking meds OR outside under supervision if he prefers being outdoorsy type pups who loves fresh air & sunshine! That way we minimise unnecessary movement which could disrupt our how to give a dog a pill dosing process, significantly leading us back full circle again...and again...and again until finally getting those pesky pills down his throat properly the first time round every single time :)
7) Be patient- When administering medications don’t rush through it but instead take things slow & steady – patience & consistency is key here folks. Trying out different strategies until one works usually does wonders too!
8) Speak calmly - Speaking softly & reassuringly throughout how to give a dog a pill the entire dosing process will keep you calm & reassured during the whole ordeal which makes him much more likely to cooperate all throughout. Bonus points given if we add some extra cuddles at the end too.
By following these how to give a dog a pill simple steps above, we should have no problem giving our beloved canine companions their much needed medications without any hassle whatsoever! We hope these tips have helped ease some of the worries surrounding medicating our furry friends :)