After giving your dog pills. Do you give them water?

Jerrybo66 wrote:
DOTLDaddy.
Your system seems good but I think there may be a problem between number 1 and two directions. :) Being your dogs aren't lap dogs maybe they are well trained enough that all you need to tell them is "OPEN YOUR DAMN MOUTH". I've considered your suggestion but noticed that the lumps on the side of the jaws of the Pit and Rottie aren't bumps of fat..... So, lets consider I have a helper. I have one arm on a neck hold. One hand with the pill. Two hands prying the jaws apart. Who squirts the water?? :B I don't have access to abundant labor, I'm my own Grandpa, so I just break out the cheese and beef cubes and do it the coward's way...... I like your sig...

Neck hold? No.... It is a snoot hold, with one thumb pushing the lip/cheek into teeth to cause mouth to open.

However, non-force (treat-pills) is best as long as it works.

I coat pills lightly with fat or oil to prevent sticking.

DOTLDaddy.
Your system seems good but I think there may be a problem between number 1 and two directions. :) Being your dogs aren't lap dogs maybe they are well trained enough that all you need to tell them is "OPEN YOUR DAMN MOUTH". I've considered your suggestion but noticed that the lumps on the side of the jaws of the Pit and Rottie aren't bumps of fat..... So, lets consider I have a helper. I have one arm on a neck hold. One hand with the pill. Two hands prying the jaws apart. Who squirts the water?? :B I don't have access to abundant labor, I'm my own Grandpa, so I just break out the cheese and beef cubes and do it the coward's way...... I like your sig...

DOTLDaddy wrote:
Gretchen had always been a terrible pill taker, but since we have to give her a daily prednisone pill now, we have become somewhat "expert" with our routine. It is easier with two people, but I have done it by myself as well.

1. Tilt patients head back
2. Pop the pill towards the back of the mouth
3. Quickly, squirt a 3ml syringe of water towards back of the throat
4. By reflex, patient swallows water AND pill
5. Favorite treat given immediately to chase the pill down.

You can get that kind of needleless syringe at any pharmacy or vet office. Ours is 3ml, but something a little bigger would work just as well, like this one:.:C

Wow! This is a great tip. And with all my years in dogs, I don't know anyone ever mentioning this. :S I am definately going to try this with Sage. She's a problem with getting pills in her.

My Shih Tzu takes Medrol (corticosteroid) for his allergies. I dissolve the pill in about a tablespoon of water. Once it's dissolved, I add about 1/4 cup of milk and put the solution in a small dish. He finishes it off no problem. The milk hides the taste of the Medrol.

He also takes Atarax. The pill dissolves in water, but slowly. For this med, I have to add a little sour cream or sugar to the milk/med mixture, as he can taste the medicine.

FWIW Farm stores (brick & mortar and online) also sell syringes; we typically by a box at a time of 1mL, 3mL and 12mL syringes.

Did you know that some meds given to large animals are in pill form? Imagine trying to give 50 cows each one pill.

Gretchen had always been a terrible pill taker, but since we have to give her a daily prednisone pill now, we have become somewhat "expert" with our routine. It is easier with two people, but I have done it by myself as well.

1. Tilt patients head back
2. Pop the pill towards the back of the mouth
3. Quickly, squirt a 3ml syringe of water towards back of the throat
4. By reflex, patient swallows water AND pill
5. Favorite treat given immediately to chase the pill down.

You can get that kind of needleless syringe at any pharmacy or vet office. Ours is 3ml, but something a little bigger would work just as well, like this one:


BTW, good job on scoring the new Jeep, Calvin! I gave up on stick shifts many, many years ago.:C

I usually give our dogs their pills in homemade sausage chunks or pieces of American cheese. The other day our Pit Bull would have nothing to do with either. Time for force. I figured I'd get him in a choke hold, force his mouth open and drive the pill down his throat. Good plan. I got him in a choke hold........... So much for plan................ Later in the day when he was feeling better he ate the piece of sausage with the pill in it... FWIW...

My Dad gives me chewable pills in beef or chicken flavor (i got tired of peanut butter flavor).
My sister tho, gives me the hard, yucky tasting pills. She picks up my head and pushes the pill down the side of my mouth (i have learned how to bite her finger while doing this). Then she blows in my nose until i start licking. I then run out and get a drink from my bowl of water. Not sure why, could be the bad breath or dirty fingers, you know how dirty those humans are.

I like dad's pills better, sometimes mom will give me a piece of cheese afterwards.

Bliss

Peanut butter is perfect for pills