Giving medication to your dog without them spitting it out can be a common challenge for many pet owners. The easiest and often most effective method is to disguise the medication in a palatable treat.
1. Disguising Pills in Food
Hiding a pill in a special treat is often the simplest and least stressful way to ensure your dog takes their medication. This approach leverages your dog's love for food to bypass their natural aversion to bitter tastes or unfamiliar textures.
Here are some excellent options for camouflaging pills:
- Pill Pockets™: These are specially designed, soft, moldable treats with a small pouch to insert the pill. Their strong scent and taste effectively mask the medication.
- Canned Dog Food: A small amount of wet, odorous canned dog food can easily hide a pill. Mold the food around the pill to fully enclose it.
- Cooked Sweet Potato: Cooked and mashed sweet potato is another soft, flavorful option that can be molded around a pill.
- Other Soft Treats:
- Peanut Butter: (Ensure it's xylitol-free, as xylitol is toxic to dogs). A spoonful of peanut butter can hide a pill, though it might stick to the roof of their mouth.
- Cheese: A small piece of soft cheese, like cream cheese or a processed cheese slice, can be molded around a pill.
- Hot Dogs: A small slice of hot dog with a hole poked in it can snugly hold a pill.
Tips for Food Disguise Success:
- Offer a "Dummy" Treat First: Give your dog a plain treat first, then the one with the medication, followed by another plain treat. This makes them less suspicious.
- Vary the Treat: If you use the same treat every time, your dog might become wise to it. Rotate between different options.
- Ensure Full Concealment: Make sure no part of the pill is visible or sticking out, as your dog's keen sense of smell can detect it.
2. Manual Pilling Technique
If your dog consistently spits out pills hidden in food, you might need to administer the pill directly. This method requires a calm demeanor and a gentle but firm approach.
Steps for Manual Pilling:
- Prepare: Have the pill ready. For a smoother swallow, you can coat the pill in a tiny bit of butter or a specific pill-coating gel (check with your vet if this is suitable for the medication).
- Open the Mouth: With one hand, gently grasp your dog's upper jaw, placing your thumb and fingers behind the canine teeth on each side. Tilt their head back slightly. Their mouth should open naturally.
- Place the Pill: With your other hand, use your index finger to quickly place the pill as far back on their tongue as possible. The goal is to get it over the hump of the tongue.
- Encourage Swallowing: Gently close their mouth and hold it shut. Point their nose upward and gently rub their throat or blow lightly on their nose. This often stimulates the swallowing reflex.
- Check for Swallowing: Watch for your dog to lick their nose or yawn, which indicates they have swallowed.
- Praise and Reward: Immediately praise your dog and offer a favorite treat or a positive interaction to create a positive association.
Tools for Manual Pilling:
- Pill Poppers/Guns: These devices have a long barrel and a plunger to help you deposit the pill quickly and deeply into your dog's mouth, keeping your fingers safe.
3. Administering Liquid Medications
Some medications come in liquid form, which can be easier to administer than pills, especially for smaller dogs or those resistant to pilling.
Steps for Liquid Medication:
- Prepare the Dose: Measure the correct dose using the provided syringe or dropper.
- Position Your Dog: Hold your dog gently but securely.
- Insert Syringe: Locate the "pouch" between your dog's cheek and gums at the side of their mouth. Insert the tip of the syringe here.
- Administer Slowly: Slowly depress the plunger, allowing your dog to swallow at their own pace. Do not squirt the entire dose at once, as this can cause them to choke or aspirate the medication.
- Praise and Reward: Offer praise and a treat immediately after successful administration.
4. General Tips for Success
- Stay Calm and Confident: Your dog can pick up on your anxiety. A calm, confident demeanor can make the process smoother.
- Positive Reinforcement: Always associate medication time with positive experiences. Treats, praise, and gentle petting can make a big difference.
- Consult Your Veterinarian: If you're consistently having trouble, or if your dog is particularly resistant, talk to your veterinarian. They might:
- Suggest a different formulation (e.g., liquid, chewable, compounded medication with a flavor).
- Demonstrate proper administration techniques.
- Offer professional pilling services if absolutely necessary.
- Never Crush Pills Without Vet Approval: Some medications should not be crushed or broken, as it can affect their efficacy, absorption, or even make them harmful. Always check with your vet first.
- Understand the Medication: Know if the medication needs to be given with food, on an empty stomach, or at specific times.
By trying these different methods and working with your veterinarian, you can find the most effective and least stressful way to ensure your dog gets the medication they need for their health.
