Being a pet parent entails a lot of responsibilities to guarantee the health of the pet. One of the essential tasks a pet parent must learn is how to give the pet a pill. Giving the dog a pill is a task that must be done until the pet gets well. Dogs need vitamins and supplement too thus an owner not armed with easy pilling techniques has to wrestle with the dog everyday. So how do you give a dog a pill?
A dog that spews the pill or eludes the master makes pilling even more difficult. Giving the dog a pill often becomes a battle of wits as the wise master would disguise the taste of the pill with the taste of food but because of the dog’s ultra sensitive senses, the pill will be discovered. Naturally, dogs would not be aware of the benefits of the bitter pill thus a pet owner has to be persistent with the task of giving the dog its medications.
An owner would be fortunate to have a dog that would willingly take a pill. Dogs though are cunning animals and it would be a simple matter to spew the pill once the master’s back is turned. After giving the pill, an owner must not leave at once to make sure that the pill was swallowed by the pet.
Giving the dog a pill will be easier if the bitter taste of the pill is disguised by the taste of the dog’s favorite food. This can be done by mixing a little amount of food with the crushed pill or with the liquid medication. This method though can be used only if the dog is not under dietary restriction. Dogs usually gobble their favorite foods thus; ham, liverwurst or chicken breast can be used to hide the pill.
It is common for very sick dogs to refuse food. Masking the taste of the pill with the taste of food would not be an effective technique. The pill must be placed directly on the dog’s mouth. This technique would be easier if the dog is accustomed to being touched or to teeth brushing. Carefully open the mouth and insert the pill deep in the mouth. To protect your hand from being bitten by the dog, you have to make sure that the teeth are covered by the flews. Close the dog’s mouth and gently blow on the nose to encourage the pet to swallow.