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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

How to get dog to take pills

54 replies

HandbagsnGladrags · 18/09/2022 11:59

Dog is point blank refusing to eat prescribed paracetamol. He's also on steroids and taking those no problem. We've tried hiding it in cheese, ham, hot dog sausages, and the little fucker eats the food and leaves the pill. Please help!

OP posts:
Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 18/09/2022 12:41

2 bits of meat. Make him sit. Give him meat #1 with pill in it but make sure he can see #2 piece in your hand. He should gulp down #1 because he's more interested in getting #2 before it's gone!

Or get a second dog. Then they'll eat anything to make sure the other doesn't 🙄

OchonAgusOchonOh · 18/09/2022 12:45

Or get a second dog. Then they'll eat anything to make sure the other doesn't

Doesn't work in our house. Theyll take it quickly and then spit it out when they realise what it is.

Cream cheese doesn't work with one of mine (she's quite a refined eater) but camembert or brie work very well. They're sticker and smell and taste stronger than cream cheese.

It's also essential to have the second high value treat for after the pill laden one.

Original poster
HandbagsnGladrags · 18/09/2022 12:45

Added complication is that he's a weirdo who won't take food out of our hands. Treats have to be put on the floor. I swear the little bigger can smell the pill. We must have a very clever puppy 😂

OP posts:
BradPittsLeftTit · 18/09/2022 12:52

We've just had this with our lab.

We put the pill in peanut butter and pull his muzzle up while holding sitting behind him. We then put it in his jowls against his teeth so he can taste the peanut butter and will start to lick his jowls. As he does that, we get that pill into the mouth and hold his mouth shut while stroking his throat

It's painkillers at the moment so an absolute must for him. We give him lots of love and treats afterwards. But it's a total pita!

OchonAgusOchonOh · 18/09/2022 13:00

HandbagsnGladrags · 18/09/2022 12:45

Added complication is that he's a weirdo who won't take food out of our hands. Treats have to be put on the floor. I swear the little bigger can smell the pill. We must have a very clever puppy 😂

Will he catch it if you throw it to him?

It's useful to get them taking it from your hand for pills so I'd start training him to take it out of your hand. Just start by putting your hand on the floor a bit away from the treat. Gradually go closer. Once you get to the stage of holding it, then start to gradually hold it higher above the ground.

mondaytosunday · 18/09/2022 13:18

Mine is on antibiotics and I successfully got him to take it by breaking it up to small pieces and mixing with tuna. Then he stopped but today mixed it with cat food. Crush the pill so they can't weed it out.

Ivedonethisthreetimesalready · 18/09/2022 13:19

Treat, treat, treat, treat with pill, treat, treat etc.

So randomise a treat session and in one of them add in the pill quick fire succession they will swallow whether it has the pill in it or not (usually!)

hedgehoglurker · 18/09/2022 13:23

Are they in a standard human dose ie 300mg or 500mg? If so, you could buy the coated caplets instead of the cheap round ones that melt on contact. He would be less likely to taste the pill then.

Dairylea triangles, thick peanut butter or old-fashioned beef paste in a little jar are usually successful carriers for us.

AnnaMagnani · 18/09/2022 13:25

My parents would hide any medication in a liver pate sandwich, which was their dog's all time favourite food.

Sandwich was gone before he had a chance to notice anything amiss.

IroningThrone · 18/09/2022 13:29

I use peanut butter. Roll the pill in it so it's totally enclosed. Just make sure it's xylatol free.

Or maybe soluble paracetamol and syringe it in?

justasking111 · 18/09/2022 13:31

Those awful cheese slices put pills in and squeeze. First slice pill free then throw second slice it's down his throat in a moment

VioletCharlotte · 18/09/2022 13:32

I have to crush tablets into a powder for my dog and mix them with something tasty - meaty wet food or peanut butter. You can get liquid paracetamol from the vet though if all else fails.

tabulahrasa · 18/09/2022 13:36

UrsulaPandress · 18/09/2022 12:07

Open mouth.
stuff pill down throat
hold mouth shut tipped upwards and stroke throat.

Years of worming horses.

That’s how I do it too, and treat after.

they usually work out the routine and open up quite happily.

Never had a dog try to take my hand off either. Not my own, other people’s or fosters. They sometimes look a bit surprised, but then you give them the treat and they just accept it.

Quveas · 18/09/2022 13:37

I had one who would eat anything - except tablets. And even the "shove it down his throat and stroke the throat" wouldn't make him swallow. I had two go to methods. If the tablet can be crushed, crush and mix with water or yoghurt and inject into the mouth with a wide bore injector (you can get them for this purpose). And if all else fails, get it as far down his throat as possible, clamp the mouth shut with a hand, and blow gently into his nostrils. They have to swallow if you do that!

NashvilleQueen · 18/09/2022 13:45

Id be surprised if any of you have a spaniel. I throw mine a pill like it's a treat and he catches and eats it. On the occasion he misses he will go and find it and eat off the floor. One advantage of an impossibly greedy dog I guess.

Original poster
HandbagsnGladrags · 18/09/2022 13:58

hedgehoglurker · 18/09/2022 13:23

Are they in a standard human dose ie 300mg or 500mg? If so, you could buy the coated caplets instead of the cheap round ones that melt on contact. He would be less likely to taste the pill then.

Dairylea triangles, thick peanut butter or old-fashioned beef paste in a little jar are usually successful carriers for us.

No they're tiny little ones and we're having to give him half twice a day. Don't think the chopping in half is helping as it releases the scent & flavour.

OP posts:
serenghetti2011 · 18/09/2022 14:02

Crush them? - check that they can be crushed
I use pate or liver paste dog stuff and mix it in
or just fire it down their throats v fast it’s not fun Our old retriever would eat anything at all this one is a stubborn bugger so isn’t keen but liver paste is v high value for him

mountainsunsets · 18/09/2022 14:29

I would just do what I have to do with the cats - open mouth, pill goes in, hold the mouth closed and stroke the throat so they swallow, then a treat after.

Allthestarsabovemyhead · 18/09/2022 14:37

I saw a tiktok where the person “accidently” dropped it on the floor and the dog gobbled it up. I usually wrap it in ham or put it into a sausage. It doesn’t always work.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 18/09/2022 14:53

NashvilleQueen · 18/09/2022 13:45

Id be surprised if any of you have a spaniel. I throw mine a pill like it's a treat and he catches and eats it. On the occasion he misses he will go and find it and eat off the floor. One advantage of an impossibly greedy dog I guess.

One of mine is a spaniel. Way harder to get her to take it than the terrier.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 18/09/2022 14:56

Allthestarsabovemyhead · 18/09/2022 14:37

I saw a tiktok where the person “accidently” dropped it on the floor and the dog gobbled it up. I usually wrap it in ham or put it into a sausage. It doesn’t always work.

So long as you haven't actually trained your dogs...

Mine aren't allowed eat anything dropped on the floor without permission. Very useful for when you drop something that is bad for them. I was very grateful for it when dd was making brownies with 80% cocoa chocolate and dropped the chocolate pieces on the floor.

KosherDill · 18/09/2022 15:03

OytheBumbler · 18/09/2022 12:03

I give the pill stuffed in cheese or a cocktail sausage and then immediately give more cheese/sausage so she has to swallow the first bit.

This is what i do. Have the second bit right in front of their nose so they have to gulp the first.

SkiingIsHeaven · 18/09/2022 15:09

Drop tablet on back of throat. Tilt his head up and put butter on his lips.

He will automatically swallow. Works every time with mine. I have tried everything and this is the most successful method. I feel mean but they need to take the medication if it will help them.

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 18/09/2022 15:14

SkiingIsHeaven · 18/09/2022 15:09

Drop tablet on back of throat. Tilt his head up and put butter on his lips.

He will automatically swallow. Works every time with mine. I have tried everything and this is the most successful method. I feel mean but they need to take the medication if it will help them.

It makes me giggle that dogs have lips! I mean, I know they do but when anyone Sat's it, I can only picture human lips on our collies!

RunningFromInsanity · 18/09/2022 15:26

Melt Cheese in microwave, stick pill in the middle whilst it’s soft and let the cheese harden around the pill.