With a little practice and a few tricks of the trade (courtesy of the staff at Seven Hills Veterinary Hospital), giving your pet medication should be no problem. Read on to learn how you can get your adorable patient to take his or her medicine without issue.

It’s All in the Preparation….

A little forethought goes a long way when administering medication to animals. Knowing your pet well can be very helpful. Is he or she food motivated? Does he or she resist restraint? Is your pet normally suspicious in nature? Have you had trouble giving pills before?

If you are being prescribed a medication to give your pet, please don’t hesitate to ask us some questions in advance. Is the medication a pill or liquid? Is it flavored? Can it be crushed? Is it particularly bitter? All these things can help you to decide what your best tactic may be. You won’t want to crush a bitter tablet as your pet likely won’t eat it, and you may not need to do much at all if you have a chowhound and are giving a beef-flavored chew. Knowing your hurdles is key to success.

It is important to be sure that your pet is getting the medication in an effective manner as well. While it might be tempting to crush and mix in food, this can make some medicines ineffective. Likewise, microwaving or heating is likely not recommended. Be careful when offering in food also, to be sure your pet ingests his or her full dose.

Get Your Technique Down

Knowing how to go about giving your pet medication if needed is important. Most pets do best when the owner can be nonchalant about the administration. If you act nervous or strange, Fifi or Fluffy is more likely to smell a rat and refuse. Most pets also do best if you can get them to take the medication voluntarily, especially if it is something that they will need to take for a long time. Of course, this is easier said than done.

If you do find that you need to give a pill or liquid by force, be sure to review how you will go about doing so. Consider wrapping cats or smaller dogs in a bath towel.

Hints About Giving Your Pet Medication

Some pets are harder than others when it comes to administering medications. Use the following tricks to help you achieve your goal:

  • Choose a stinky, pungent food to disguise a pill (think liverwurst or tuna fish)
  • Keep your treats containing pills small so your pet swallows instead of chewing
  • Feed your pet multiple treats quickly so he or she doesn’t have time to think about what is in his or her mouth before swallowing
  • If you have a difficult pet, ask us if the medication comes in a more palatable form for your pet
  • Some medications can be compounded into flavored liquids, chews, or even transdermal formulations if needed
  • Use a plain gel cap (you can purchase at the pharmacy) to hold a pill and act as a barrier for a bad taste
  • Try giving the medication when it is least expected, such as during a game of fetch or while on a walk

It is important that you let us know if you are having trouble giving your pet his or her medication. Sometimes there are other options in our pharmacy that we can offer to you, such as a once a day drug, a liquid instead of a pill, or even an injection. Your pet isn’t getting the help he or she needs if you are unable to give the medication consistently and as prescribed.

Giving a pill to your pet can be a pain in the rear, but you are now better equipped to handle the task should the need arise. Don’t forget, we are always here should you need our help.