Any really good tips on how to give a dog pills? Tango's impossible..

Do any of you have any tips for giving a dog pills? Tango has to take some at the moment for an infection and it's an extremely difficult task. I could cover it in any sort of food and she knows it's there. She either will lick all of the food off, or just leave it be. The putting it down the back of her throat is also difficult as she tightens her jaw as much as possible and I can barely get my hand in. Sometimes she'll clamp down on my hand by accident, just because she hates it so much. She releases right away, but her jaw is still tight which like I said, makes giving her pills very difficult. The other problem with putting it down her throat is that she won't swallow at all. Then she coughs it back up. So, does anyone have some tips? Anything would be very much appreciated...but I have a feeling there aren't any other ways than what I've already tried..lol.

Have you tried cheese? My Golden has allergies and has been on antibiotics frequently for staph infections. Prior to his restricted diet, I would wrap his antibiotic pills in cheese--he was quite particular though, and would stick up his nose at "cheap" cream cheese or american cheese, he preferred the stinky imported cheeses! Now that he's on a restricted diet, I just wrap them in his wet food (Wyson Rabbit) and he chows. The other thing that worked pretty well in his pickier days was liverwurst. You might just need to up the ante in terms of the treat.

Good luck.

Jake's mom

Crush it and mix it in with a favorite food :)

I've done both of those things and she takes one sniff of it, snarls (at the food item - not at me), and walks away from it. It doesn't matter what the food is. I've tried so many different things. Thanks though. :)

The other thing I've heard of but have never used, is a gizmo (from the vet) that sort of puts the pill on the end of a stick and you can more easily get it in the back of their throat.

You might try asking your vet for ideas, they must run into this one. Depending on the medication, it may come in a liquid form--or you could have it compounded. Most medications are or can be made in liquid form for infants/children (call your local pharmacist). I know that DrFosterSmith pharmacy will compound things in liquid form it it is one that is not currently available (it is pricey though).

Okay - this is a two-person job, but works. Person one sits with Tango trapped between their knees. Then uses both hand to open her mouth as wide as possible. Second person then throws the pill as far back into her throat as possible, then shuts her muzzle, Person one immediately helps camp he muzzle shut and points Tango's nose toward the ceiling. Person two then strokes her throat, down, down, down for a minute or so so she swallows repeatedly. And tells her what a good girl she is, good baby. When you are sure she has swallowed, then she can be released and praised for being a good girl, and even offered a treat, as extra swallowing incentive.

Trust me, if it can work with 185-pounds of expert pill-hiding jowly St. Bernard, and with a slick-as-grease Great Dane of "just" 145 pounds, it will work with Tango.

Sorry girl, but you do need your medicine.

I know she can't eat raw, but what about raw tripe? Buffalo tripe in particular is VERY smelly, and the dogs love it! I don't imagine she would know if a pill was crushed up in there.

Another thing you can do is crush it up and mix it with oil -- any kind of oil. I've always had success with dogs, cats, rats, etc. The oil hides the scent.

At the shop we have these things that push pills into a dog's throat or something. I forget what they are called.

The only suggestion I have you are not going to like (I don't like it). Ginger will take anything wrapped in cream cheese, so she is easy. But my RB dog would not take a pill for anything. She would stop eating completely if you tried to hide it in food, and the putting it down her throat didn't help either. What the doctor had to do was put the pill down her throat followed quickly by a syringe full of water to force it down before she could dislodge it.
It is not a good solution, and as strange as it sounds I felt better when I had to give her injections, rather than forcing her to take a pill.

Ugh, Star can also be VERY difficult. What I found that works is to use either: hide it in Cheese-Whiz on a cracker (in just enough so she can eat it all in one bite) and 2) pry her mouth open, shove it in the back, clamp her muzzle shut, and blow on her face - I heard it if you do that dogs have an automatic response to swallow & blink - don't know if that's true, but it works.
I figure cheese-Whiz is probably not really good for her, but it gets the pill down.

ohhhhhhhhhhhh yea- we call it magic cheese. We wrap the pill in cheese but all the others get a piece too.. Femka takes thyroid medication but the others dont - but it becomes a main stay in the house, and of course after magic cheese is cookie chasers as welll..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Karen

Okay - this is a two-person job, but works. Person one sits with Tango trapped between their knees. Then uses both hand to open her mouth as wide as possible. Second person then throws the pill as far back into her throat as possible, then shuts her muzzle, Person one immediately helps camp he muzzle shut and points Tango's nose toward the ceiling. Person two then strokes her throat, down, down, down for a minute or so so she swallows repeatedly. And tells her what a good girl she is, good baby. When you are sure she has swallowed, then she can be released and praised for being a good girl, and even offered a treat, as extra swallowing incentive.

Trust me, if it can work with 185-pounds of expert pill-hiding jowly St. Bernard, and with a slick-as-grease Great Dane of "just" 145 pounds, it will work with Tango.

Sorry girl, but you do need your medicine.

---

that is exactly what we had to do with our 120# rotti!! he was a bear when it came to medication! but it worked like a charm!!

Well, it seems like hiding it in food is not an option for her. Maybe the oil trick would do it though? A little bit of canola oil, or maybe even bacon grease, break the pill into it and mix it on the food?

I would also suggest trying the "piller"-it's worked for me with difficult dogs before.

But failing all that-if possible, pay extra for the liquid antibiotics? Is she on cephalexin? Both cephalexin and clavamox have a liquid suspension form...you won't have to pill her, just get her mouth open enough to stick the syringe in. It does cost more-maybe $30 US a bottle? And you would probably need 2-3 bottles, but you could probably return your pills and pay the difference. Honestly I think that is the best option if it is WW3 trying to pill her.

VELTETTA or however its spelled.. Thick and hides anything... OR cream cheese..

Pill Tails from previous posts >>>

"Pilling" the Dawg is almost the same as Pillin da KAT -
except the TEETH are Bigger and the JAW *SNAPS* shut with more force!

Problem with most Kats & Dawgs is when you open their jaws,
that darn TONGUE tends to fall back and fill up the back of their mouth
and the top of their throat - so "Tossing" a pill in there puts the pill ON
top of the tougue rather than DOWN the throat. - Not good.

SmokeMutt is EEzee to "pill" ~
I call him over with "Hey Smoke - PILL TIME" and he trotts over and <SITs>
at my feet and sort of "hands" me his head.
Left hand rests on his forehead with thumb & finger <opening> his mouth;
Right hand has pill between first & middle fingers -
3rd & 4th fingers give a lil <push> down on his lower jaw;
then it's *IN* with the pill -
gently pushing DOWN on the tongue and sliding the pill back over
the tongue.
He says "*Gaaaaaak*" as I withdraw my fingers, I <close>
his jaws and, if he doesn't <swallow> right away, give him a lil throat "rub".
*GULP* and it's over with!

New-Comer BOWSER gets the same every-other-day Glucosamine pill ...
But he "resists" ...

Techinque WAS the same as with Smokey ... except HIDE the pill hand
from view to avoid the "catch me if you can" game.

Getting him to <open up> and then sliding the pill *IN* was not much
of a problem (he did "fight" with his tongue a bit more) -
but we got the pill into position without TOO much difficulty.

The big PROBLEM was getting my FINNERS <OUT> in one piece!
Seems when I'd let go of the pill and begin to withdraw my finners;
Bowzie took that as his signal to http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/eek.gif *SNAP* SHUT!

Then, with me tied up counting & nursing "pinched finners",
HE had the opportunity to "work" with his tongue and often managed
to >spit< a now very soggy Capsule back out! http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/mad.gif

The "solution" came one day when he wandered into the baffroom
just as I was "Pillin da KAT" with his daily urine acidifier pill.
*BOING* went the lil Bell in my head!!

WHY NOT??

I loaded a Glucosamine cap into Boots' Pill Shooter
"Hey Bowz ~ Step over here for a minute!"

A firm grip on his upper jaw;
a lil push down on the lower one ... nice target ...
Ready ... Aim ... *FIRE*!

**SNAP** ~ *GULP* and it was DOWN da Hatch!! http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/biggrin.gif

I felt the Pill Shooter <Take a HIT> from his front teeth;
but it didn't hurt (ME) a bit!!

Soooo ... Here's the Pill Shooter Story >>>

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Cinder & Smoke

How to *PILL da Kat* reference materials >>>
Substitute "DAWG" where you see "KAT" below. http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/tongue.gif

Firstly ~
NO Self-Respektin KAT will "knowingly" consume Medications -
when "hidden" in treats or food -
no matter HOW *tastey* the treat or food may be!

Here's Dad's Oft-Repeated How to PILL the Kat article >>>

And we'll repeat *our* method ~
Get youselves a Pill Shooter!

They are *cheap* - less than $5.00 US;
should be availabe in any Pet Store - US and elsewhere:
cause little *stress* to either Kitty OR the Human;
almost Guarantee a successful *pilling* on the first *shot* http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/tongue.gif

Here's a poor picture of ours - all soft plastic and made by
"Four Paws".

Pix - "Four Paws Pill Dispenser"

Dad *loves* it; Boots tolerates it;
and there hasn't been a lost or spit-out pill in years! http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/cool.gif

Y'all really Otta Get One!!

WHERE to get a Pill Shooter?
Almost ALL Pet Shops sell them...
Usually less than $5.00 gets you a reasonably good Plastic one.

Your VET may have a loaner; but you might as well buy your own.
And you do NOT need a fancy Chrome-Plated "Vet model" your Vet
may offer to SELL you!
The Pet Shop "cheepie" works just as well!

To get meds on-board over the weekend - if the
"Using your Fingers" method in the article above doesn't work ~

Get a STRAW - plain ole Drinking Straw - semi-large diameter -
(thick milk-shake size)...

Insert pill in one end of Straw ... partially *crush* the end if the pill falls out ...
Take deep breath and secure Kat ...
Insert Opposite (NON-pill) end in your mouth ...

Open Kat's mouth with methods from above articles...
Insert KAT End of straw over Kat tongue at back of throat...

*BLOW* through YOUR end of straw -
NOTE! Important! **BLOW** ~ (Do NOT *http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/eek.gif *suck*!!)

"Verify" Pill came OUT (in KAT) -
before re-inserting straw in your milk-shake!

---

Hope this Helps!
---------------------------
A little more info >>> (substitute "Dog" in place of KAT / Kitty) >>>

Some tips:

* Head holding / mouth opening hand - need to have a FIRM grip on the head AND
the finger & thumb wedging the mouth open HAVE to maintain the mouth WIDE open.

* Pill Shooter TIP must be pushed WAY Back in the throat -
you use the Tip to depress the tongue and prevent the tongue from sealing off
the back of the throat.
If Kitty can "work it back up" - it wasn't "DOWN" far enough.
You need to be "popping" the pill from the gun WAY back beyond the teeth -
Tip should be part way down Kitty's throat.

You need to *practice* -
Use Kitty's favorite Kibble or tiny treats ... it'll sharpen your Shooting skills
AND possibly convince Kitty the Pill Shooter isn't always bad news.

"Everytime I put the pill in, it pops out instantly and automatically"

Two things come to mind ...

1) IF you have a Super-Deluxe Vet model -
SOME of them have a spring-loaded plunger that actually "shoots"
the pill AFTER you pull the trigger ...

IF this is what you have - "practice" with a piece of kibble till you
figure out HOW the silly thing works ...
You don't really even need da Kat - if you're getting an ""early release" -
you can practice at the kitchen table withOUT da Kat!

2) Or is the PILL itself super-small -
SO Small that it just "falls out the end" before
you can get it in Kitty's mouth?

IF THAT's what's happening - try this fix ...

a) Insert PILL into Shooter with plunger pulled way back...
b) Use a piece of Scotch Tape to wrap around the slotted END
. . of the pill shooter to close up the slotted end ...
c) It will require some additional "Force" on the plunger to
. . "break" the tape seal ...
. . bit a SINGLE Layer wrap of Scotch tape should break fairly easily.

Now if what you meant by "Everytime I put the pill in,
it pops out instantly"
Was that it "pops out" or is "SPIT Out" of da KAT's MOUTH ...

That's an easy fix ... you're just not "inserting" the pill popper FAR Enough
into Kitty's mouth!

When you open their jaws with your Thumb & Index Finger in opposite
corners of the back of their mouth ...
The Jaw pops open without much fuss...
But the darn TONGUE falls back and "plugs up" the throat ...
not to mention the front end of the tongue starts Flappin Up & Down
to further block things up ...

You need to use the Pill Shooter just like the Doc uses a "wooden tongue
depresser" on a lil kid ...
GENTLY push down on that flappin tongue and SLIDE the
pill shooter back and over the tongue ...
Done properly, you'll think the end of the pill shooter will be
appearing under the TAIL of da Kat http://petoftheday.com/i/our_smilies/eek.gif ...
Not quite THAT far ... but you probably won't be able to "see" the
end of the pill shooter once you get it in FAR enough that Kitty
won't be able to block the pill with her tongue!

Lastly -
don't "practice" with the "Real Pill" ...
use small pieces of Kibble/Krunchies or treets ...
If you miss or Kitty *spits* one out - no problemo -
somebody will find it and eat it later!

Happie Pill "Poppin"!!

/s/ Phred

My RB dog Sandy was a nightmare, he smelled it in food and wouldn't touch it, I tried cheese and he'd lick the cheese off and leave the pill, (you get the idea)..... I would usually pry his jaw open, put it all the way to the back of his throat (if it didn't go all the way back he'd spit it out), clamped his jaw shut then blew in his face and rubbed his throat muscles with my other hand, which stimulated his need to swallow. I'm lucky he was only 10 pounds, so didn't have the jaw strength Tango probably has, but if you can get the pill to the back of the throat it's fairly easy to get them to swallow. The key is getting it far enough back that they can't spit it out. I have to pill Bear daily and if I don't get the pill far enough back he'll spit it out every time. I don't know if that's possible for you or you might even already have tried it, but thought I'd add my 2 cents.. :)

Peanut Butter has been our success. cochise had an infection when we first got him and had to take these HUGE pills. I coated them in a glob of peanut butter, and he just gulped it down. The PB was so sticky, he didn't have a choice :)

There is a product out called "Pill Pocket" where you insert the pill into the hollowed out treat, seal it and then feed it to your pet. You can get them in different sizes depending upon the size of the medication. "Pill Pocket" can be purchased online and in pet stores. I used to cut up hot dogs and cut a slit in it to hide the pill and that worked fine but my dogs have never been picky about food.
Good Luck!
Labmomma X 2