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

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.