First of all, I tried to pry my dog’s mouth open to give her her pills and medicine. second of all, every pet owerhas come to know that going to the vet is only half the problem. The fun starts after the vet has finished prescribing medication for your dog. The challange is, standing at the ready, while holding the pills. The scene that plays out while looking at your dog . Furthermore, your dog is looking back at you. Finally, the both of you wondering who’s going to win? The correct answer, your are! Med-Q Pill Box with alalrms offers up our favorite five tips, tricks, and techniques for how to get your dog to take their pills and suppllements. 
To be sure, most dogs are food motivated. , This technique is the obvious best choice. One is able to simply hide the pill in one of these many ways:
- try a swirl of some creamy peanut butter. Note, make certain that xylitol is not on part of the ingredients. This chemical is been known to be a common sweetener in peanut butter. However, it’s highly toxic to dogs.
- plain yogurt without fruit
- a chunk of chicken breast
- liverwurst or other soft sausage
- a slice of a hot dog .
Above all , be careful and be sure to do no harm.
Try not to use different kind of cheesees, even cream . Stay away from ice cream as wll. To summarize, these may lead tof triggering pancreatitis (cuased by eating rich foods). Pancreatitis in dogs is a painful, serious inflammatory condition of the pancreas. This ihas been know to be caused which by the dog eating too much high-fat foods.
Med-Q Medication Reminder’s favorite “bribe” in which to hide pills is the simple marshmallows. No need to stress over pancreatitis. Furthermore, an inexpensive, low-calorie treat that dogs love.
2. How to get your dog to take a pill using “the bait and switch” method
For dogs who are tempted by “The Bribe”, but too smart for their own good, I employ “The Bait and Switch” method of getting dogs to take pills. This technique becomes second nature to most veterinarians who have learned the hard way—after scraping saliva-covered, mostly dissolved pills off the floor after a dog has spit them out—that it’s very important to have success on the first try. Trust me, round two is ten times harder than round one, because of the state of the pill and the heightened state of the dog’s radar.
So unless I know the dog will basically eat anything, I always administer pills in this fashion:
1. Hide the pill in treats/food.
2. Wash hands. (Yes, seriously. It’s amazing how you can ruin the whole process by having the smell of medication on your hands. Remember, a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times better than yours.
3. Get two more of the same treats used to hide the pill in. For example, if I’m using hot dog pieces, when I’m ready to give the pill, I approach the dog with three hot dog pieces–and an innocent look.
4. Give the first treat without a pill in it. THE BAIT!
5. Give the second treat with the pill in it. THE SWITCH!
6. Give the third treat without a pill in it. THE HAPPY ENDING!
3. How to get your dog to take a pill using the “trick and treat” method
Occasionally, we have to up the ante. The “Bait and Switch” may have run its course and your dog has become wise to your antics, or your dog never fell for it in the first place. To have success giving medicine to these dogs, we must employ mind games.
- Do not let a smart dog see you getting the medication ready prior to giving it to them. Again, put the pills in the treats while your dog is some where else and can not see you. Furthermore, try not to let it see the pill bottle as well as hearing it being handled.
- Wash your hands after working with the pills. This is very important to do.
- The Primary Goal is to make your dog feel that the treat is an earned reward so there is nothing to be suspicious about. Here are some good examples:
- Have your dog perform one of their typical tricks. A trick that she will usually get a treat. We’ve now have her ready to expect a pill or medication-laced treat. Finally, when giving the “Bait and Switch” pill as her reward.
- It’s key for the dog to swallow the treat rapidly, without taking time to chew. If your dog bites into the pill, certain medications like Tramadol and Metronidazole are so bitter that she will spit them out. One is able to avoid this, when tossing the treats to her so she can catch them. First, speak to her in your happy voice. Second, try an excited voice . Third, this will help to build anticipation for the treats you are about to toss. Finally, she will snap them up and be looking for more.
- Did you know, dogs are tempted by the forbidden just like people Try feeding your dog off of a fork or spoon, or off of your own plate (strategically placed on the floor immediately after eating dinner. The results can be truly uncanny .
- Let’s face it. Dogs read us like an open book. If you approach getting your dog to take a pill with a guilty look or even feeling guilty, your dog will be suspicious. Project confidence, joy, and fun in the “pilling” process and your dog will be more likely to be cooperative.
4. How to get your dog to take a pill using the “JAWS” method
Disclaimer—Do not attempt this technique if you cannot utter these words with confidence: “Under no circumstances would my dog attempt to bite me.”
This is probably the most dangerous method or technique . This is refered to as the “Jaws” method. Here’s how it works:
- First, grasp the top jaw just behind the first canine teeth. The canine is the the big fang teeth. Then, with one’s thumb and first two fingers on either side, while the rest of the hand rested on the top of her nose.
- Second, do the exact same for the bottom jaw .
- Once I had my fingers safely in place, I gently (but firmly) pulled the jaws open.
- As soon as the jaws were open two to three inches wide, take the pill between the pointer finger and thumb in one’s dominant hand . Thus, quickly push it down the tongue until deposited it at the back of the tongue. In fact, I pushed it over a decisive edge, down the hatch.
- As I pulled out my hand, I felt my dog swallow. He then licked his lips. At that point, I knew the mission had been successful.
A TOP Bonus Tip
First of all, at common mistake is putting the pill directly onto the dog’s tongue. Bad tasting pills will make the dog spit it out immeddiatly. Your chances of success are totally dependant on getting the pill as deep as possible in the throat as quickly as possible. Rememebr. certain medication will cause damage to the dog’s throat or esophagus when left to sit in the throat.
5. Your dog still won’t take pills? Enlist an accomplice—the pharmacist
If all else fails and your dog will not take pills, while you’re at the vet (check out my tips on utopian vet visits here), ask about getting your dog’s medication compounded and flavored. Specialty pharmacies (not the kind at grocery stores and big box stores) can pulverize your dog’s medication, mix it with a potent flavoring, and provide it to you in liquid form which you can give orally via syringe or add to your dog’s food. And you can have a say in that flavoring. Does your dog LOVE bacon? Mention it to your vet. There are several options, so you should stack the odds in your favor, by expressing your dog’s preference if you know it.
Do you have a tip on how to get your dog to take a pill?
Please comment below! May we always learn from each other!
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With over 20 years of experience helping my veterinary clients tackle everything from giving a dog a pill to keeping an aging dog’s mind fit, I’m passionate about helping you help your dog have the happiest life possible. Please check out these additional resources: