How to Medicate Your Dog With a Pill

Attempting to medicate your dog with a pill or capsule can be frustrating. Disguising the medication in food may work, but in general, dispensing the medicine requires active participation on your part.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog Dishes
• Dog Medication
• Dog Treats
• Veterinarian

1. Check the label to be certain this is the correct medication prescribed for your dog to treat this specific medical condition.

2. Place your dog in a sitting position.

3. Hold the pill or capsule in your right hand, between your thumb and index finger.

4. Stand or kneel to the right side of your dog.

5. Grasp her muzzle gently with your left hand on the top of her nose, lifting the lips with your thumb and index finger to expose her canine teeth.

6. Place your left thumb in the space behind the right canine tooth and your left index finger behind the left canine tooth.

7. Point her nose up at a 45-degree angle.

8. Place the middle finger of your right hand on the incisor teeth of her lower jaw and apply downward pressure to open her mouth.

9. Deposit or drop the medication in the back of her mouth, behind her tongue.

10. Close her mouth quickly and point her nose down toward the floor. This will automatically cause her to swallow.

Tips & Warnings

• Remain calm and praise the dog when the task is completed.
• Holding a small dog in your lap while medicating may make the process easier.
• Ask your veterinarian for chewable or flavored medications; these may cost a little more, but can more easily be hid in food.
• Avoid crushing medication and mixing it in the food or water. If the dog refuses to eat or drink, she will not receive the medication and will be dehydrated as well.
• Avoid pinching your dog's lips to force her to open her mouth. This is painful and may cause her to bite; use caution if she has a history of biting.
• Check with your veterinarian to make certain it is safe for you to handle the medication if you are pregnant. Follow dosage and time schedules as directed.

Who Can Help Sponsored

[giovannis]

on 12/6/2008 I have a boxer, I have to now start giving her pills for a while, I have tried cheese, hot dog, peanut butter, chicken, rice, canned dog food, pill pockets and she always finds the pill and spits it out and eats whatever the pill was in, I have also tried crushing the pill and putting it in canned food she will sniff it and walk away I have tried giving her food with out the pill and the giving her more food with the pill Last I tried holding her mouth open and that doesn't work very well she manages to spit her pill out. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Suzsunshyne]

on 4/13/2008 I use the medication like it's a treat. I wrap it in peanut butter, sliced deli meat or cheese and make my dog sit or give a paw while I have in his view a piece of a biscuit also wrapped in peanut butter, sliced deli meat or cheese.

He gulps his medication down so he's ready to do the next trick and receive the next treat!

on 7/9/2006 I have an old dog who takes six pills twice a day. She is a champion at spitting out pills, and has rejected every known trick. That is, until my husband started putting her pill in a very small amount of liverwurst. Buy the cheap, gooey-type liverwurst. Now she sits and waits for her pills, even the large ones go down easily.

on 3/8/2006 You could also try cutting a hot dog or sausage in half and push the pill in there. My dog loves hot dogs, so it always worked for him. If it's a big dog, then all the better for this tip, because small dogs may notice the pill and pick it out, whereas big dogs just munch down the whole thing.

on 2/10/2006 If you have a stubborn dog who doesn't like peanut butter or cheese, try wet cat food. Stick the pill in a little cat food meatball and the dog will never know it's not a special treat.