Making Medicine a Treat: Getting Your Pet To Take Its Medication

Pets get sick as humans do. But unlike us, it can be difficult to convince your pet that it needs its medicine. Most pet medications are designed to go down easily, but they can also be easily spit out. 

If you’re finding it a challenge to give your pet the medicine it needs, here are some things you can do if you want to know how to get dogs to take medicine. 

Pills and Tablets

Pills and tablets can be chewable or come in a protective coating. When they are not chewable, it’s best to keep the coating intact as it can help in the medicine’s quick absorption. Don’t crush or dissolve a tablet unless the instructions explicitly tell you to do so.

Often, it’s not the best way to give dog pills.

You have to properly follow the timing of the medication. And the timing of the doses is spaced out so the right amount will be in your pet’s body at the right time. Given these requirements, here are some ways to get dogs to take pills or tablets.

Use a pill pocket.

Pill pockets can help your pet take medication. Buy one in your pet’s favourite flavour and put the tablet or pill inside it. You can also add an additional wrapping of meat or cheese to disguise it. 

Give the medication during meal times.

If disguising medicine in a tasty treat does not work, you can always give it when your pet is hungry. They will be more eager to eat the disguised treat before their meals because they have a strong hunger drive at those times. 

Use your pet’s favourite treats.

Purchase special treats or your pet’s favorite treat and use them to disguise pills or tablets. If they have a favorite fruit such as watermelon or banana you could also use peanut butter or hypoallergenic marshmallows. 

You could also try a new treat for your pet because they are more likely to think the pill or tablet is part of the new treat. But before giving your pet a new food item, it’s best to check if it’s suitable for them. Asking your vet questions like, “Can dogs eat persimmons?” is vital before giving it to them. 

Get it compounded.

If your pet can still detect the medicine, you can ask the pet pharmacy or the vet to have it compounded so you can easily mix it in their meals. However, it’s not ideal for some medications to be compounded as they can lose their desired effect. 

You need to check with your vet if compounded medication is ideal for your pet’s condition. 

Use a pill device.

If all of this fails, another way how to give a dog a pill is to use a pill device or shooter. Using a pill device prevents accidental bites so you don’t need to force it down.

Note that you need to use the pill device and place the medication behind the dog’s tongue. Once inserted, you need to close the dog’s mouth and stroke the dog’s throat to encourage the pill to move down. 

Ask the pet pharmacy or the vet to have your pet’s medication compounded so you can easily mix it with their meals.

Liquid Medication

How to get dogs to take medicine that’s liquid? When it comes to how to get dogs to take medicine, using liquid medication is one of the best ways. There are several methods that allow you to administer liquid medication to your pets, but these are the best and most common. 

Use a syringe.

If you have a young puppy, you can administer liquid medication with a syringe. You need to wrap your pet in a heavy towel as it can help control their limbs.

Your pet’s head should be facing away from the syringe, and the medication should be administered through the side of the mouth. Do not remove the towel until your pet has swallowed the medicine. 

Mix it with their meals.

One of the best ways on how to get a dog to take medicine in liquids is to mix it with their meals.  Liquid medication is best administered by mixing it with your pet’s favorite meals. 

For most dogs, this is the best way for them to take their medicine. However, you need to make sure they eat ingest all of their meals and that they are well enough to eat. 

Always give medication when your pet is hungry. They will be more eager to eat the disguised treat before meals because they have a strong hunger drive at those times.

Topical Medications

Applying topical medication is easy, but your pet might be tempted to lick the area where it’s been applied. Here’s how you can help topical medications work better:

Apply the medication just before meals.

Applying the medication before a meal is a good way to distract your pet from licking the area. As they eat, the medication will go through their skin and do its job.

Use a cone or Elizabethan collar.

The cone is often the go-to collar for pets that need topical medication. They can still eat and drink, but they cannot reach the area where you applied the medication. 

Always Ask Your Veterinarian

A dog refusing to take medication is very common. But pets need medical care as much as people do so pet owners have to work with their vets to find the best solution. Always ask your vet for options, especially when it comes to medication.