When our four-legged baby is under strict medication for a particular health condition or injury, it’s our job as pet owners to convince them to take their medicine. Whether a pill or liquid medication, dogs and cats are known to be disinclined to take medications, frequently leading to missed doses and stressed fur parents.
This isn’t good, primarily if your pet needs to recuperate soon, so let’s talk about some easy techniques to get them to take their medicine and relieve your worries.
How to Trick Dogs Into Taking Their Medicine
Do you notice your pet developing jaws of steel each time you give them a dose of medicine? And each time you pry apart your furry companion’s mouth, you know you can only have one chance to drop the pill or squirt the dropper of liquid medication in their mouth. When you miss this opportunity, the liquid medicine or the pill will only leak down your pet’s face and get wasted.
However, giving medicines to your furry companion does not have to be challenging if you try the following tricks we’ve collected.
1. Use pill pockets
Some dog food manufacturers produce delicious treats designed to hold pills or pills inside. Not only are they tasty for canines, but these canine pill pocket goods can also be molded to cover and surround the medicine to prevent the medication from touching your canine’s mouth.
Did you know that even if your pet is under medication, you can still leave them in pet boarding facilities when you unwind on vacation and can’t take them with you? Just inform the staff about your pet’s intake schedule, and they’ll handle them with care. You may browse this on the web to learn more about pet boarding centers.
2. Consider chewable medications
Although some liquid or pill medications are specifically created to treat particular health conditions, always ask your veterinarian if a chewable or flavored medicine is available. Most pets will consume it like a treat, and you’ll have no problems.
Do you have a sick horse or large animal that requires a professional’s attention? Taking them to professionals specializing in equine veterinary care could help identify their situation and recommend medications to address whatever conditions they’re going through.
3. Try pill pusher
Pill pushers are widely available from vets and work best for small dogs. You can utilize this small tool to push the pill to the back of your pet’s throat while keeping your fingers unscathed. This method is not infallible and requires practice, but it can be helpful when mastered.
4. Add a capsule to take away the flavor
Some medications have a bitter or bad flavor to them. However, putting them inside empty capsules can remove the smell and taste your pet will not want. You may hide the capsules in their food, and they won’t notice it inside.
If your pet encounters a minor or severe accident following a strenuous activity or exercise, immediately bring them to an urgent veterinary care center to address the situation.
5. Hide the medicine in strong-smelling or wet foods
Canines and felines have a more sharp and keen smell than people, which drives them away when you’re giving them their medicines. However, this issue can be solved by concealing medication in strong-smelling, wet foods. The smell of the food will naturally lure your pet and eventually overlook the scent of the medicine.
