Tricks for giving your dog medicine

Giving your dog medicine can be a tricky task depending on the size of your dog, the method of giving the medicine, and the temperament of your dog. These tips cover various forms of medication and some ways to make giving your dog medicine as painless and easy as possible.

Pills, tablets, and capsules -

It can be hard to get a dog to successfully swallow any of these forms of medicine. But there are a few ways to give your dog pills, tablets, or capsules. If it is a pill or tablet, check with the vet to see if the pill can be crushed or chewed. If it can, you can simply crush up the tablet or pill in the dog's food. This works especially well with wet dog food products.

If it can't be crushed or it is a capsule, you may still be able to hide the medicine in the animal's food. Another trick is to get dog treats that have a soft inside, you can hollow out the inside and hide the medicine in there, then give the dog a treat. You can also wrap the medicine in a piece of food that the dog likes, such as meat.

Liquids (taken orally) -

Baby droppers work best when dosing and giving medicine to your dog. Your best method will be to slide the dropper into the side of the dog's mouth ,closest to the head. This will reduce the chance that the liquid seeps out of the mouth or the dog drools it out. Gently hold the dog's mouth open slightly to get it in. Give the dog a treat right after to get rid of any bad taste and as a motivator for the dog to be more willing next dose time.

Topical medicines -

Creams, lotions, and ointments are all topical medicines. This can be the easiest medicine to give to your dog because if it is done gently, the dog will enjoy the motions as you rub the topical medicine in. Make sure the area is dry and clean as well.
For eye ointments and other topical that require very delicate and specific placement, consider using a soft cotton swab. Again be very gentle and make sure the dog does not try to lick off any medicine.

Eye drops -

Use a small eye dropper to get the drops into the dog's eyes. Gently hold the dog's head up, with one hand under the dog's mouth. This way you can move the dog's head so that the dog is looking almost straight up. Quickly squeeze the drops out into the eye, try to aim for the inner area closest to the center of the head, this way is it runs or drips it will have a ways to go before it leaves the eye socket. Some people gently rub the dog's eyes when they are closed to ensure the drops stay in. Also using a small cloth or paper towel held directly under the eye can prevent medicine from dripping out of the eye and also prevent loose drops hitting the dog's face and causing them to jerk their head.

Injections -

These can be painful and uncomfortable medicines to give to your dog. Sometimes they require finding a certain area or vein to inject the medicine into. Many vets will do this for you, but depending on the medicine and frequency of the doses, you may be instructed on how to do the injection.

You'll want to get the dog in a comfortable position; if possible have another person with you that the dog is familiar with to hold the dog still and also to talk to the dog. This will keep the dog's focus on them and not on what you are doing.

Make sure the injection site is clean and be sure that when you push the needle in, that it is going where it needs to go. Some dogs have a lot of fur and you may only be hitting the surface with the needle. With injections, always check the injection site before and after each injection to watch out for excessive swelling, bleeding, or discharge coming from the injection site.

Some people will have greater success with these tips then others due to dog's having their own unique temperaments. If you use another person to help you hold the dog or position the dog, make sure it is someone the dog recognizes and is comfortable around.

It is important to give medicine as prescribed and you should talk to your vet if you have any questions or concerns about giving your dog medicine.