Giving Dogs Pills

Tips for giving dogs their medication. Post your ideas.

Answers:

Peanut Butter

Trying to get a pill down a pet's throat is a real chore and like me, sometimes my fingers got a little "chewed" up trying. I learned a neat trick! Using a standard syringe I put Peanut Butter on the tip of the syringe, then I stick the pill in the peanut butter and stick it in my dog's mouth turning it to make sure the peanut butter (and the pill) sticks to her tongue or roof of her mouth. The peanut butter causes the dog to constantly lick and swallow therefore she can't spit the pill out! Works great!

By Debi (03/15/2005)

By ThriftyFun

Giving Dogs Pills

Make a meatball out of canned dogfood and stick the pill in the middle making sure that the entire pill is covered. OR Depending on the size of the pill and if your dog likes fig bars, shove the pill into the middle of a fig bar. (03/15/2005)

By D. Ann

Giving Dogs Pills

Pills are no problem to get "down" a dog especially Lady, our cocker spaniel. She is like a garbage disposal container. If I give it to her, it's down immediately. When she was expecting her first litter of puppies (she had 12 puppies) the vet recommended to give her a human calcium tablet each day. Calcium tastes awful and it comes in a huge pill. With a piece of bread squished around it, it was swallowed immediately by Lady. If I feed her, then whatever I am offering her she thinks must be good and no questions asked, it's eaten, immediately.

(03/15/2005)

By brenda newton

Giving Dogs Pills

Break up a wiener, and stick the pill inside a piece of the wiener. I usually give our dog a few pieces extra, both before the piece with the pill and after so she doesn't get suspicious! Cheese works well too, dogs love cheese.
(03/15/2005)

By carolb

Giving Dogs Pills

I place the pill on top of a cracker, then smear a dollop of peanut butter on top to cover and hide the pill. Works every time.
(03/15/2005)

By Darween

Giving Dogs Pills

There is a product I buy online called Pill Pockets made of chicken liver and other good stuff. They work very well and are relatively inexpensive. Also if using hot dogs, use a plastic straw to push through the middle of the hot dog. It will make a neat little tunnel in which to put the pill, then push the other part in after the pill. Voila! (03/16/2005)

By Marcie

Giving Dogs Pills

We've tried a lot of methods. Spreading peanut butter on a thin strip of ham, and rolling the ham around the pill seems to work the best for us. She likes the ham and the PB keeps the pill in place until swallowed. (03/28/2005)

By wbuck341

Giving Dogs Pills

My dog, 286, has a chronic disease that requires medication every 12 hours. We have both come to enjoy this particular delivery system. I place her pill in the palm of my hand and cover it with canned 'squirt cheese'. With the pill stuck to the cheese, she gladly laps it up being sure to clean clean my palm. If she has ever detected the pill, she has kept it to herself. (03/29/2005)

By Dorothy Harrell

Giving Dogs Pills

Just a dollop of peanut butter will do. I just recently had to give my little puppy a pill twice a day. She just loved the peanut butter and actually was looking forward to taking her medicine. (04/07/2005)

By msgolden_angel

Giving Pills to Dogs

If your dog hates taking pills, try hiding the pill in the middle of a chunk of cheese or slice of hot dog. Most dogs will wolf down the "treat" and never notice the pill inside!

By Becki in Indiana (04/14/2005)

By ThriftyFun

Giving Dogs Pills

I second (third?) the peanut butter! I just dip a clean finger in the "dog peanut butter" jar and put the pill in the center of the glob. Both dogs bite the whole glob of peanut butter off my finger and swallow it, never realizing it is anything but a treat. They are hilarious -- they keep licking their mouths for 5 minues or more trying to get all the peanut butter from their noses and roofs of their mouths! Entertainment and medicine all in one! (04/14/2005)

By guest

Giving Dogs Pills

These are all great tips that I never thought of before. I have to give my three Chihuahuas pills nightly. I have been using the pill popper that the Vet uses, but it is still a battle. But my Vet would have a cow if he saw these tips, cause he is a strong advocate that people's food is for people only, not made for dogs. That it is extremely harmful, and in some instances can be deadful. So I have been always afraid to give them any people food.

He said that once you start them on even just a little taste of something, then they expect it all the time, and usually you give in and give it; but it can do a number on their digestive system and some human foods are very toxic to animals. So if you don't know what you are giving them is toxic, you could kill them. I am curious on you'lls intake on this.
(04/14/2005)

By Edie

Giving Dogs Pills

Hi Edie, because peanut butter is a common ingredient in many dog biscuits, I think it would be safe. You could also use some dog food the same way. Human food tends to be too salty or sweet (especially chips, candy and sweets) so are not good for dogs. I don't think a little peanut butter would hurt but then I'm not a veterinarian.

Because your chihuahuas are tiny dogs and a little of something bad for them could make more difference than with a large dog, best listen to your vet.

(04/14/2005)

By Susan Sanders-Kinzel

Giving Dogs Pills

Thanks Susan. :)
(04/14/2005)

By Edie

Giving Dogs Pills

I use the meatball method using the canned dog food. I just say meatball to Nikki twice a day and she runs to the kitchen and waits. She gets 2-4 pills twice daily and I never have a problem. Once, without realizing it, I told my husband I was going to make meatballs and she ran to her spot and waited. It took me awhile to figure out why she was sitting there and waiting. I never realized how attentive she is when I talk. (04/15/2005)

By it's.only.me

Giving Dogs Pills

I use a mortar and pestle and grind up the two different batches of pills then I pour the powder on the canned dog food and mix it a bit both dogs wof it down They are on to the pill in the wiener no luck (04/16/2005)

By Susan from Hamilton

Giving Dogs Pills

I always use peanut butter when giving dogs pills. Much healthier than hotdogs. (04/19/2005)

By Renee

Giving Dogs Pills

I have 2 Yorkies and the only "people" food they get is cottage cheese or raw carrots for a treat. When giving Binky or Barkley a pill, I just mash it up in a tiny bit of cottage cheese. They never hesitate about eating it. This works great for us. (05/04/2005)

By Carmen

Giving Dogs Pills

Easy method to give pills in a pinch if you have no treats, or have a dog that detects pills in treats like mine. I place the pill as far back as I can and hold the muzzle shut and blow in their nose. Be sure to allow enough room for the dog to lick it's nose. If he licks his nose, he's likely swallowed it. If he hasn't you can use a clean spritz bottle with plain water and squirt water in the corner of his mouth so it runs down the back of his throat. Do it slowly, so the dogs don't aspirate the water and it should encourage them to swallow the pill. Be sure to praise afterward.

My dog hates pills, and refuses at all costs to swallow. But we are persistent and now, he swallows without the water or having to blow in his nose, simply place the pill in the back of the throat and wave a satin ball under his nose and it's gone and he's off with his cookie.
(01/12/2006)

By Cinthia

Giving Dogs Pills

I've been trying to give my Shih Tzu a pain pill for post-op pain. All my usual tricks failed and the pill would come out on the floor. Just tried your syringe trick and it worked. Thank you. She'll be more comfortable, now. (07/28/2007)

By Ellie

Giving Dogs Pills

Just say "Cheese Ball", I do believe my MinPin would eat a rock if I hid it in Velveeta Cheese. Heart worm pill, or his allergy pill, good old Velveeta, works every time. IMA3 (10/18/2007)

By Ima James

Giving Dogs Pills

Hola! Just wanted to share with you all that prunes are also bad for our doggie friends, just as grapes and raisins are. As pet owners we only want the best for our four legged companions. Let's not undo the benefits of their medications by putting their pills in foods that are bad for them. Be well everybody! (06/18/2008)

By Odarpi

Giving Dogs Pills

My dog has allergies and we have to give him 2 benadryl pills. I take a piece of cheese (Kraft singles) and break it in half. I put the pills in there and fold the cheese over it and smash it all together so the pills are secure. Works every time. (09/22/2008)

By aj

Giving Dogs Pills

We have tried multiple ways to give our dogs pills. I've tried making a very small meatball out of canned dog food and hiding the pill in the middle, but our one dog doesn't tolerate fat well so the canned food gave him diarrhea. I've also tried the peanut butter trick, but that gave him diarrhea also. I usually take a small round Baby Bell cheese cut it in quarters and hide the pill in one of the quarters, which does work well.

However our vet doesn't want us to do that with some antibiotics are cheese is a dairy product and you can't give some antibiotics with dairy. We tried bread and that didn't work too well either. We do use white rice made in chicken broth, but sometimes if the rice isn't sticky enough you can't make a ball out of it and then you can't hide the pill. I'm afraid to use the "pill pockets" as my vet isn't a fan of anything made by Greenies as they tend to not dissolve well and stay in the stomach. Does anyone have any other ideas? (02/18/2009)

By J.D.

Giving Dogs Pills

My dog needs a pill every day. I just wrap it in a piece of lunch meat like ham, bologna, turkey, whatever I have in the house. I just use 1/2 a slice or even 1/3 if it's a large slice. Works every time. (02/18/2009)

By OliveOyl

Giving Dogs Pills

I have a dog who has taken twice daily medication for years. She currently has to have six pills a day, and she's a very crafty dog in getting pills out. She'll eat the cheese around the pills and spit the pills out. Peanut butter doesn't work either as she'll lick out with her tongue to get the pill out and then eat the peanut butter. You also can't shove the pills down her throat as she'll gag them up every time.

Have a similar problem? The trick is, you have to give them the treat 1-3 times before sticking the pill in. That way you build up trust, as they will be suspicious and probe around. For example, if I put it in canned food, I let her lick it off my fingers twice, and then I hide the pill in it the third time and she'll lick it right down.

The best thing to do, though, is boil some chicken. Cube it and then feed them a piece or two, and then hide the pill in it. I've found that even if she tastes the pill, she will still eat it because she loves the chicken.

Hope that helps someone. (02/21/2009)

By Jonathan

Giving Dogs Pills

Whenever you need to give a dog pills, I found that string cheese" works best. I tend to buy the white because that's what I like. Slice off a little bit of it (depending on pill size). Either stick it in the cheese OR wrap the cheese around it. I haven't had any trouble Giving Pills since. (04/03/2009)

By Kathaleen Ray

Giving Dogs Pills

I have never had any problem giving my dogs pills.

I simply open the dog's mouth wide, put the pill on the dog's tongue and then push it well back to almost the throat. Gross? Maybe, but I don't have to deal with all the treats and wrapping meats and cheeses and such. It doesn't hurt the dog, it doesn't make them choke, they don't wince in pain, they simply swallow the pill - providing you have shoved it back far enough, and that's it.

Okay - the aftermath is slimy dog saliva all over your hand. Whatever, just wash your hands well. I JUST got done doing that with a guest dog - I do a dog sitting service and an owner brought a dog that is on antibiotics. It is so easy, though, with guaranteed results versus everything I have read here.
(07/25/2009)

By BenB1

Giving Dogs Pills

I never had any trouble with my beagle and pills until just recently. He hurt his neck in deep snow and will not take a pill. If I try to open his mouth and put it in, he resists and yelps from the pain. He will not take them wrapped in cheese or other food. I finally crushed the pills and added a tiny (very tiny, a few drops) bit of water to make a thin paste. I can get this on my finger and wipe it in his lips and gums and he gets his pills this way. It works, thank God. (02/21/2010)

By Stephen Roedel

Giving Dogs Pills

Liverwurst is fabulous for this. MediCrunch is a product that my vet offers - that you can buy online. The outside of the treat is hard, the middle is soft so you tuck a pill into the middle. The dog can't lick off the coating you've added, so you might surprise him with this new treat! I wish the same thing existed for liquid medicine! (03/13/2010)

By Pet Lover