Best way to give pills

[jess2416]

As some of you know I have to give Chloe some pills (antihistamine and antibotic) for her irritation and itching...
This is what they look like....

If any of you have had experience in giving dogs pills what has been the way that has worked for you the best

 

[Southpaw]

Sticking them in a treat works wonderfully. Molly will not eat her pills if we just give it to her by itself, so we put the pill in a tiny piece of hotdog. Has worked well for 4 years.

 

[Zoom]

Peanut butter or cream cheese works well for me. Both are sticky/solid enough that the licking action usually is enough to get them to swallow. If she doesn't take them right away, smear the pill/peanut butter on the roof of her mouth; she'll lick it down without realizing it.

Also, don't make a huge deal out of it. Just hand it to her like a normal treat.

 

[Breann]

i use peanut butter has always worked

 

[lpollockandrsn]

Velveeta cheese is a crowd pleaser too!

 

[PoodleMommy]

I always smear cream cheese all over it.

give it to the dog like a regular treat, they will usually just swallow it in one gulp and never know the difference. Dumb Doggies. LOL

Really it does work well, give it a try. Good Luck.

Elissa

 

[sparky]

Hot dogs work great for us too!

 

[Tinaweena]

I just toss it in with Boone's food. He gobbles so fast he doesn't notice.

 

[Barb04]

I got a pill dispenser. It's a plastic syringe with a large opening. You put the pill/capsule in the end, place into dog's/cat's mouth and press other end of syringe so it drops in the mouth. This has really helped me. I bought one at Petsmart and also got another type I bought from my vet.

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

If it's a capsule, I will open the capsule and put the contents into a small amount of yogurt or cottage cheese...make sure only to use a small amount so they will scarf it all up.

If it's a pill, I take a slice of cheese and wrap it up in it. I just had to do this with Chloe recently when she was on meds. She just scarfed it in one gulp and that was it!!! It was a small pill though.

 

[thewhitewitchone]

Peanut butter has always worked for me too. I know some folks who make little peanut butter sandwiches with the pill folded in between. Some of those antibiotics taste horrible so you may not want to break open the capsule. Also, some of that stuff is time released so maybe it needs to be given in the capsule.

Pam

 

[Mordy]

If you wrap the pill in something, one little trick that I've found useful is to have at least two pieces and showing the dog right away that you don't have just one. Most are so greedy to get both of them that they won't pay much attention to something hidden in the first one.

 

[rowdy ridgeback]

My dogs always pick their heartworm pills out of food so I have to open their mouths and stick it down with my finger. I give them a treat after. Some fight this but doing it from the side works best.

 

[LabBreeder]

if my dogs won't take the pill in a treat (sometimes they get the idea that we are trying to trick them into something and will eat around it...lol) i simply do like the vet does. place the pill as far in the back of the throat as i can, close the mouth (hold it closed) and stroke their throat until they swallow it. you may not want to do this yourself for various reasons....but i worked at a vet's office and picked up on a few things you can do.

 

[jess2416]

thanks for the suggestions everyone

 

[Roxy's CD]

My dogs are clever, they've figured out the whole "hide in treat thing". I take the pills, open their mouths and and stick the pill down the back of their throat, than I hold their mouth shut and rub their throat. After I see them swallow a few times I give them a good treat like Pupperoni and make sure they've swallowed the pill. ALL DONE! lol

But it's probably best to try hiding it in a treat first it's less traumatic!

 

[Debi]

peanut butter was my all time fave til Hammie was taking Benedryl. he spit that peanut butter out so fast it made my head spin. he hates it. Mordy, I'm going to try the 2 treat idea next time. that sounds like a good plan! I did find that by tossing it into the air, he was more than eager to catch the treat as opposed to just handing it to him. I did end up doing the hot dog with the pill inside. it's really difficult when your dog doesn't care a lick about human food. putting down the throat and massaging........mine throw it right back up. eeewwwww.

 

[bubbatd]

Chip will take one with anything..... likes yogurt from a spoon ...I just dump in the pill. He's only had one prescription , thank heavens. I love the bit on "How to give a cat a Pill"....sooooooooo funny.