If you have a stubborn pooch who has a very unpleasant taste about pills, then you are in trouble! But if your pooch willingly takes their pills, that’s a plus point for you. So, those dog owners who ponder,
“How to give a dog a pill?” For them, I have come up with some essential steps and some easy tricks.
Vets prescribe dog pills when they are most necessary because no one wants to see those innocent creatures struggling. Hence, for those who are struggling with this Dog Vs Pill battle,
Let’s see what ways we have to make our pooches swallow their mandatory pills.
How to Give Dogs Their Pills?
Well, here are the basic steps you should try first to make your dog swallow their pills. Those steps are-
Step 1: Hold Pooch Firmly
For sure, your angel dog will become a demon at the time of struggling with pills. So, if your dog is small, hold them tightly in a secure hold, so they can’t squirm away. Don’t suffocate them, though.
And if your pooch is big, then seek an assistant’s help to hold the pooch carefully yet confidently.
Step 2: Separate Their Jaw
Now, as you hold the pooch in place confidently, gently hold their upper jaw tilt their head in the sky direction. Once you notice that their jaw is a bit separated, time for a real battle.
Step 3: Use Fingers to Keep Their Jaw Open
Now, with your fingers holding the upper jaw and gripping behind the canines, you will make their jaw open with pressure and, with the other hand, very quickly drop the pill into their mouth.
Step 4: Try to Make Them Swallow
A dog’s tongue has a hump. So, if you want to make them swallow quickly, you have to push the pill with your fingers behind the hump. Once you have pushed the pill behind their hump, immediately close their jaw.
Step 5: Blow Their Nose
This step should be done very quickly after the previous step. As soon as you close their jaw, blow on the pooch’s nose to encourage them to swallow it. Otherwise, they will spit the pill out.
Step 6: Rub Their Throat
After your pooch swallows the pill, rub their throat soothingly. Praise them very much. Give them a belly scratch. Don’t forget to drink the water. It will be best to swallow the pill properly.
Tricks of Giving Pills to Pooches
Now, if you failed to do the previous steps or your canine buddy is too stubborn, then you need some tricks to give the pill. Here are some popular and effective tricks that are vet-recommended tricks:
Discover more: How to Keep Flies Away From Dog Food
1. Talk to your vet
Some pooches don’t want to take their pills because of the unpleasant bitter smell and taste. So, you should ask the vet to replace the pill with one with a more pleasant flavor for pooches so they don’t smell suspicious.
2. Wash Your Hands Before Giving Pills
We all know dogs have the most powerful sense of smell. If they ever can smell the bitter smell of their medicine from your hand, be sure they will hide in someplace where you won’t find them for 30 minutes! So, before giving them pills, wash your hands well.
3. Mix It With Dog’s Meal
Well, this one is the most common one that all dog owners try. If your pooch eats kibble, then mix it with the kibble so the pooch can’t spot it instantly.
The same goes for canned food; push the pill into any chunk. However, if you have multiple dogs, make sure that the right dog is getting pills from the right bowl.
But if you see your dog lick each corner of the bowl but leave the pill behind. Don’t get frustrated; I have some other tricks too.
4. Hide It In A Treat
Every dog will wiggle its tail for extra treats. You can hide the pill inside the treat. The tastier and better the smell of that treat is, the more the pooch will accept the treatment without any doubt.
Or, you can hide the pill in some other treats like peanut butter, Thick Yoghurt, Chicken Pieces, Marshmallows, or sausages.
5. Fool Your Dog
Whenever we, dog owners, eat something, our dogs look at us like we are eating the tastiest thing in the world by depriving them!
So, make a fake performance that you are eating the pill, and don’t forget to fake chew. When you get your dog’s attention, and they nudge you to give them a bite, throw them the pill and Viola!
Wrapping Up
Convincing your stubborn pooch to swallow their pills is a hassle. But, I hope the tricks and steps will help you to get your puppy’s attention and you’ll be able to make them swallow their pills.
That’s all for today. Hope your pooch gets better and is healthy.