DS: How do you get your dog(s) to take their pills?

Question

-The ones that are none chewable-

Just curious. My dog will be taking two different types of pills daily( hydraplenish hyaluronic acid and Fish body oil, this is what they look like: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95772870@N03/9510242363/ ) and usually she'll take whatever is given to her by hand, but not for these. Was curious on what others do to get ideas on what I can try with her.

I was thinking of using the pill pockets but...she's on a raw diet and that kind of doesn't fit in her diet.

I also thought of either just shoving it down her throat(forcing her to take them) or maybe mixing them in with her meals(not breaking them, but just 'hiding' them in her food)? Or putting them in 'meat' snacks(get raw hamburger meat or something and make little balls and stick them into those and give them to her). Not sure.

Answer 1

Stick the pills in the middle of a desert spoon of wet dog food which in the mind of my b*tch who is on twice daily medication is a treat which she loves and presents herself in the kitchen as quickly as she can manage it, anticipating something good happening when she hears me say “time for medicine”.



Cannot see the point in pushing the issue of her taking them without food, when this way it is something she enjoys, with the amount of wet dog food deduced from the daily amount she is given.



You could use raw minced beef, chicken or turkey and make small ball shape that cover the pill or blob of smooth peanut butter that will stick to it, she may take it down that way without a problem.

Answer 2

I use a small spoonful of low fat cottage cheese. I scoop a spoonful of it, stick the pill in the cottage cheese, and while everything is still on the spoon, offer it to them. My dogs eagerly gulp the whole spoonful down without even thinking about it. I tried all kinds of methods before this, and most of them worked with one of my dogs, but the other always found the pill. She never finds it when I do it this way. I think it works so well because they make no attempt to chew it, they just swallow it down in one big gulp, so they never even notice the pill.



I used to just open their mouths, put the pill in, and force them to swallow. This worked fine, and I would have probably continued to do this if I was just giving them medicine for a short time. But when I started to give them pills every single day, I wanted to find a way that was more pleasant for me and for them.

Answer 3

Open the mouth, place the pill at the back of the throat, close the mouth (and hold it close) and then rub the throat until the dog swallows.



Usually it's not a big deal.



Afterward I offer a tasty treat and some water.

Answer 4

Just about a teaspoon of raw hamburger, hide the pills inside, she will eat it and not even know the pills are there. Peanut butter works.

Answer 5

Remember Curiosity killed the cat, LOL



I take the pill, place it on my thumb, open my dogs mouth, and then put it to the back of their throats, they take it just fine, and they never spit it out.



Remember, do not push it down the throat, just place at the back of their teeth, in the middle of the throat. they lick and smack, and down it goes.



I have always done it this way.



I do not put in cheese or food, and especially do not put in bread, it does dissolve in food that well, it will dilute the pill effects, yes it does, per my Vet.



Good luck.



Oh, and do not forget to remove thumb from dogs mouth, when finished, he may not let it go, LOL

Answer 6

The fish oil goes right on the food so no problem. My pugs take lots of pills and some days its really hard. Normally a meatball of food works.

Answer 7

I just shove the pills down my dog's throat and hold his head up and rub his throat holding his mouth shut saying good boy, good boy. This way I know for sure he has taken it. I have also heard of people putting it in peanut butter, most dogs love peanut butter. But I like my way better because than I know for sure he got it. Than I give him a treat after we are all done.

Answer 8

First don't force the dog oil pills they eat them usually if they dog put a hole in them and squirt the oil in the food and the non chewables just go down the throat and blow in the nose or rub the throat.

Answer 9

Easiest is to put the pill inside a lump of liverwurst, goes right down gladly and I hardly think a bit of liverwurst would ruin her raw diet.

Answer 10

Pill pockets are a good way, and that small amount wont disturb her diet, I use government cheese, he knows the pills is in there, but eats it anyway!

Answer 11

I would puncture the fish oil one and add it on her food. The capsule I would just place as far back on her tongue as possible then hold her mouth shut and point her nose up. Stroke her neck while doing that to help her swallow. You can also smear the capsule in butter or soft cheese to make it easier to swallow. You can also try opening the capsule and sprinkling the contents on her food.

Answer 12

Make a ball of bread and put the pill inside, works everytime

Answer 13

Jam/jelly, peanut butter, but yeah the mince (burger meat) small balls

Answer 14

With our dog, we open her mouth, drop the pill in, close her mouth, rub her throat, and then she swallows it.

Answer 15

Peanut butter and bread.

Answer 16

What I usually do with my dogs is hide it in their food, if they don't eat it or spit it out...then I just have to get them to swallow it