I was just researching this for a friend who is about to lose her fingers trying to pill a German Shepherd. The dog has to take the pills without food, so they can't hide it in meat or cheese.

I think this pilling device (half way down the page) looks promising. Your fingers are out of harms way and the plunger shoots the pill to the back of the throat so it's harder for them to spit it out.

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cat_meds.aspx