[CorkyMax]

How do you give pills? Please share your ideas with everyone (some have a problem with getting the 'pill' in the dog). Some ways I do it: #1.Cover with light layer of cream cheese #2. I feed raw diet so sometimes when feeding hamburger (raw) I pinch off pieces and insert pill in it. (works same for raw ground turkey) #3. for home-cooked meals-use small pcs. of cooked chicken, turkey, hamburger,etc--press warm meat around pill (Of course with all these ways, I give it by hand). #4. I have used peanut butter--kind of messy. #5. Piece of soft bread--press around pill #6. If you feed raw meat---when I am cutting the meat--like raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts--I slice off (on diagonal) thin slices--the right size--enough to wrap around the vitamin (pill)---can do same with beef roasts (raw). When I am cutting up a lot of raw meat for placing in individual pkgs to put in the freezer (esp. the chicken breasts), I thin slice (as described above) what I will need to cover the amount of vitamins, etc. for that individual meal and place them in bottom of the pkge--or top--so easy to find. Anyone got any other good ways to get this done?

[ntrep]

Hi there.
Since Patch has renal failure, he has to take several meds and supplements throughout the day. I guess that I'm not a very nice mommy, but I usually just open his mouth, put the pill way in the back of his throat and push it down. I aways follow them up with a 10cc syringe or two of water to make sure that he has swallowed them. Then we finish up with a treat. Patch is just too smart to hide pills in his treats. Somehow, he manages to get the treat down and I always find the pill on the floor

[Kingsbridge Cav]

I have know several dogs that will not take meds in a treat, but mine always get theirs in a chunk of cheese. I bury the pill in the cheese and squeeze the cheese around it so the dog doesn't realize it's in there. Often I wrap a slice of cheese around the pill and squeeze it around the pill. Once a dog gets used to this, they look forward to their "treat" of cheese.
The dogs that won't take meds in a treat I have had to put the pill into their mouth directly. I open the mouth by inserting a finger behind the canine teeth and levering the jaw open. Place the pill way back into the throat and close the mouth, holding it closed until you observe the dog swallowing. Hopefully it goes down the first time and you don't need to repeat. This is not a trick I would want to try on an aggressive dog!

[lil mutt]

I saw a product on the net that looks like a syringe... apparently it's a pill injector or something that makes it easier to give pills to your dogs and other pets.

My dog loves pills! But my in-laws dog doesn't. We just push the pill right at the back of his throat too and close his mouth to make sure he swallows, or he gets it in cheese. It doesn't work every time but these are the 2 most effective ways for us.

[UnderDog]

With dogs we either "teach" them to the pills (we hold a treat in front of them, put the pill in their mouth and they know when they swallow they get the treat) or we get some tinned pilchards, slice them up, then put the pill inside and feed. The only pills our dogs get are wormer's, though. For the more stubborn rescue/rehab dogs, it gets put into a piece of beef heart or a turkey heart.

Originally Posted by lil mutt

I saw a product on the net that looks like a syringe... apparently it's a pill injector or something that makes it easier to give pills to your dogs and other pets.

You have to draw water or milk into the syringe, put the pill in the "popper" then push the plunger down, it shoots the pill into the mouth and the water/milk closely follows afterwards.

[DoggieVogue]

cheese had never, ever failed me!

[chevy & karen]

I use several way's depending on the size of the pill. If it's small I can usually hide it in regular food. Bigger one's and capsule's I crush or empty the capsule onto the food and them top it with a little soup or gravy...

[Yogi]

with me, either a pill gun or peanut butter. The latter generally works best as without fail as soon as I give it the other dogs want it and once the dog who is getting it realizes the others want it, they are prone to quickly inhaling it. The rest just start trying to lick its mouth.

I have used the cheese in the can that comes out like a whipped cream can, Kraft makes this, I saw my vet use this once when she did shots.

A piece of hot dog will work also, just push the pill down in the hot dog.

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by k9lady

I have used the cheese in the can that comes out like a whipped cream can, Kraft makes this, I saw my vet use this once when she did shots.

A piece of hot dog will work also, just push the pill down in the hot dog.

Ohhhhhhhh the canned cheese is a good idea.....

If your dog is not on dietary restrictions, and your veterinarian said the medication can be given with food, the easiest way to give a pill is to hide it in a piece of food. A small amount of butter, peanut butter, liverwurst, cream cheese, or canned pet food, is often used. Canned cheese with nozzle dispensing often works too, and does not have to be refrigerated. If you are going to put the pill in the dog's food, it is best to give a small amount of the food without the pill first. This lowers your dog's suspicion index. It is best not to mix the medication in an entire meal, since if the dog does not eat the whole meal, he will not get the appropriate dose of medication.

If your dog will not take the pill in food or cannot have food with the medication, then it is down the hatch.

1.

Get the pill out of the bottle and place it where it will be handy.
2.

Call your dog to you in a happy voice. If you do not sound worried or concerned, your dog will be less likely to feel that way as well.
3.

Take your dog to a convenient spot, and place your dog's hind end against something so he cannot back away from you. Some people have found they have better control if they place the dog on a surface up above the floor. If you do so, make sure you have assistance, so the dog will not jump or fall off the table and hurt himself. The person assisting you should hold the dog around the shoulders and chest.
4.

Hold the pill between your thumb and index finger. (If you are right-handed, use your right hand.)
5.

Grasping a dog's muzzle with the left handUsing your other hand, gently grasp your dog's muzzle from above with your thumb on one side and your fingers on the other.
6.

Squeeze behind the upper canine teeth and tilt your pet's head back over his shoulders so he is looking at the ceiling. His lower jaw will automatically drop a bit.
7.

Use one of the other fingers of your right hand to lower the bottom jaw further by placing the finger between the lower canine teeth (the long front teeth) and pushing down.
8.

Giving a dog a pillQuickly place the pill as far back in your dog's mouth as possible, getting it over the 'hump' of the tongue. Do not place your hand too far in, however, or your dog may gag.
9.

Close your dog’s mouth, hold it closed, and lower his head to a normal position, which will make swallowing easier. Gently rubbing or blowing on your dog's nose may help stimulate him to swallow.
10. Breaking a Tablet

If you have to break a scored tablet, here is a simple procedure that should work for any tablet that has a somewhat rounded surface:
1. Place the tablet on a flat hard surface.
2. Place one thumb on each side of the score.
3. Press down with both thumbs.

11.

Give your dog plenty of praise, and possibly a treat. This will make next time easier. And remember, the quicker you can give the medication, the easier it is on both of you.

Although pictures are worth a thousand words, seeing a live demonstration is even better. If your veterinarian prescribes pills for your dog, have one of the veterinary staff show you how to give them.

My dog has a real problem with pills in his food, so I need to use something that he can throw down without much chewing. Fluffy things work best, such as a generous piece of hot dog bun. A couple of placebos get him into the rhythm and he's none the wiser. The way I act is important though. If I place the one with the pill carefully on the ground, he'll naturally get suspicious. I need to really secure the bread to it so that I can toss it on the ground as if were a normal carefree treat. It really works like a charm, and I like that it's a painlessly ignorant thing for him.

Hi ... Sugar, my 16 year old black Lab that I lost last Tuesday, was on quite a few meds. I would cut a Hostess Twinkie into fifth's and put her meds in the cream. She thought she was getting the best treat.

Deb

cheese is the best way to go but i've also opened the bills and mixed them with raw meat that i feed my dog. he eats that right up!

I use a trick I learned from a friend. I get Roscoe to sit and then I'll open his mouth and drop the pill into the back of his throat. Once he shuts his mouth I start rubbing the front of his neck to encourage him to swallow. He hasn't spit out a single pill yet. He actually loves taking the pills since he gets attention in the process.

[Lara's mom]

My border collie X takes medication for elevated liver enzymes. It was a constant struggle until I found something called, Greenies Pill Pockets. Apparently, they're pretty tasty because I wrap the pill in the pill pocket and she scarfs it down without ever realising that there is a pill hidden inside. You should be able to get them at most pet food stores. I hope it works for you!

This can get expensive but good when you are in a hurry. I thought they were really dumb until I had to give my dog several pills a day and he began to refuse.
We have them here in Canada I assume in US as well. You just throw the pill in, seal the pocket and give your dog a "treat"
Good luck

Don't know if this would work for anyone else, but I bait my dogs with treats, saying "Cookie? Cookie?" Then when it's time to give a pill, I just hold it out, say "Cookie? Cookie?" and toss it to them. They catch and swallow it so fast they never realize what they got was not a cookie.

wrap a very small piece (just enough to surround the pill) with lunchmeat. roast beef or turkey. she gulps it right down. the drawback is that i never give her people food and will have to get out of this habit when she's finished with all her meds. small price to pay for success in pill giving.