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3 tips for giving medicine to your dog

Posted Sun, Feb 24, 2008, 7:56 pm PST
Any dog owner who has ever witnessed a high-energy dog darting around the living room while wheezing and sneezing on the window treatments can tell you how difficult it can be to administer medicine to a stubborn pet. If yours isn't one of the rare dogs who will take his medication without a fuss, here are some tips that should help make the whole process a little bit easier. 
  1. Pay attention to your approach - Are you frustrated? Tense and apprehensive? Are you feeling sorry for your beloved pet for having to go through this? These energies will almost certainly sabotage your attempts. Sit down someplace, calm and assertive, and let the dog feed on that energy while you block his exit, preventing him from running off. Remember: The dog only knows it's time to do something unpleasant if your energy tells him so.
  2. Play "nurse" - Once the dog has reached a calm submissive state of mind, soothe him further by rewarding him with a loving, gentle massage. During the massage, allow him to smell the medicine. As the nose processes the scent information, the mind associates it with relaxation.
  3. Play "patient" - Patience is a virtue when trying to correct any behavior or associate previously unpleasant tasks with positive experiences. Set aside enough time to really allow your dog to relax and enjoy himself, and if possible, go through the process more than once before you have to actually give him the medication.

These tips can be adjusted slightly to fit most medications - including pills, liquids, and injections. The most important thing, as always, is to maintain your calm assertive energy. If you want your pet to be brave and well-behaved when it's time to take his medicine, you must first set a good example yourself.

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27 Comments

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  • 1. Vanessa D - 7:29AM on 02/25/08

    Half a slice of American cheese, put the pill/s in one half and form a ball. Form a ball with the other half with nothing in it. Show your dog both cheese balls. Give the cheese ball with the meds in it first. Your dog will most likely wolf down the first ball to get to the second. Oh you got to love greed and food manipulation!

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  • 2. Mitzy - 8:20AM on 02/25/08

    I make a big fuss out of taking the medicines with my dogs. I go about the whole ordeal as if it's a treat. :) The other dog actually gets upset if I'm only giving one the medicine and not the other because it's such fun. Now there are times that the taste of the pill is just too much for them to accept it as a treat. If that's the case, I wrap the pill in a small portion of bread. Then I feed them a few pieces without the pill as a reward for doing a trick, then slip in the one with the pill, then continue without the pill. Since they are being rewarded for doing a trick, they don't stop to think about there being a pill or something in the bread. Works about 95% of the time. :) Please note, as Cesar has mentioned, this is all POSITIVE. There is no negativity to it. They enjoy it & I'm not stressing out over medicine administration. Have fun with it!

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  • 3. LORRIE T - 8:48AM on 02/25/08

    any suggestions for putting in ear medicine? My girls are big labs and my baby (80 lbs) fights getting her ears medicated.

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  • 4. kurlykate@rogers.com - 9:16AM on 02/25/08

    Have two cats and two dogs, never a problem to give them meds put the pill in peanut butter, as for needles turn their back on the vet and give them a massage, as for eyes or ears have one person holding them and massage them while the other person gives the drops Really works

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  • 5. Fyre Majick - 11:56AM on 02/25/08

    Im lucky. I have a beagle who loves food (as most beagles do) and all I have to do is wrap the pill into some turkey or other meat and she eats it with no problems. My other dog used to eat the meat and spit out the pill...lol.

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  • 6. azbarby2000 - 1:03PM on 02/25/08

    Peanut butter works for me.

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  • 7. CJ Anderson - 3:03PM on 02/25/08

    It is also important to practice putting the pill down the throught with calm energy as well. Do you know that current statistics are showing that 50% of dogs to day are projected to get some kind of cancer - but there are so many other chornic diesases!!! If your dog's appatite is off or he canted be tempted to taking pills disguised in food. Give the pill in calm assertive energy as a no big deal technique should be no different then grooming or bathing or brushing teeth, (Having trouble with the toothbrush? Try wrapping your finger in a piece of gauze put some doggie toothpaste on it and get him used to it one at a time if needed on the outside tteth next to the lips only! Three weeks - they will have a shiny smile and be much safety from illness that come through the gums!

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  • 8. John - 5:14PM on 02/25/08

    Lorrie T; Are you massaging your dogs ears? They love that. My Lab/Pit has allergies to dust and when I first got him before we knew about the allergies the vet sad to massage his ears because they love it. Try doing a massage routine for a while, then when you must put in some drop give your lab a good massage as a bonus.

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  • 9. swim.mom2 - 10:25PM on 02/25/08

    Lorrie T, In addition to Stlakid's advice, if possible, warm the medicine a little by holding the bottle in your hands for a while. Do not do this with large quantities or with medicine that needs to be kept cool or refirgerated. If you have a large bottle, see if you can get a smaller container to dispense from.

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  • 10. Peter M - 2:26AM on 02/26/08

    My dog will sense pills in anything you disguise them in. He will eat the meat/cheese/chocolate then spit the pill out. I have known him to hold the pill in his mouth (must be unpleasant) then spit it out when he thinks i cant see him ! So, for pills he gets it straight over the back of his tongue. Fluids on the other hand are a nightmare. Does anybody have a foolproof way of administering liquid medicine ?

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  • 11. drrlord@verizon.net - 5:24AM on 02/26/08

    I have an elderly beagle who is on 5 different medications! I recently bought a pill crusher (at the drugstore)and mix the crushed pills into his food. Having a typical beagle appetite, he gobbles everything up with no complaints!

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  • 12. Doggie Daddy - 11:26AM on 02/26/08

    Cheese Whiz! Guaranteed to get that tail wagging. A little dab on your finger tips pop the pill in, cover it up with some more, plunk in to that salivating mouth and you will thank the stars. For liquids and powders I use fat free bottled gravy. Mix a little together and you are on easy street. Food is such a great motivator. Now if they can just make medicine disguised as tennis balls.....

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  • 13. bluegirl418 - 2:57PM on 02/26/08

    A slice of cheese and peanut butter on a small piece of bread works for our golden retriever. He just thinks it's a special treat and I don't feel bad that he's spitting pills out. Works for all of us!

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  • 14. bluegirl418 - 2:57PM on 02/26/08

    A slice of cheese or peanut butter on a small piece of bread works for our golden retriever. He just thinks it's a special treat and I don't feel bad that he's spitting pills out. Works for all of us!

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  • 15. Mitzy - 5:41AM on 02/27/08

    Peter M, I had a vet tell me that when administering liquid meds, you should use a syringe (without a needle tip of course). You can get these from your phramacy specifically for this use. You just squirt it in the back corner of their mouth & the natural reaction to fluid there is to swallow it. Just lift a lip & squirt some in. It's worked for me with two different dogs. Hope it helps you. Just remember, like Cesar says, use a calm-assertive energy when doing it! :)

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  • 16. Selva K - 9:08AM on 02/27/08

    I usally put the pills in a piece of Cheese. But somes they are smart they eat the cheese and drop the pill. www.localpethosts.com

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  • 17. glorioo - 10:18AM on 02/27/08

    A HUNK OF PEANUT BUTTER ON A SMALL CRACKER............PILL GONE

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  • 18. mohrer - 1:35PM on 02/27/08

    If you have liquid medication that must be added to kibble and the dog smells it and refuses to eat the kibble, try spraying on some liquid butter substitute. My dogs (and former cats) love it.

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  • 19. Yvette/s Place - 9:31AM on 03/05/08

    Peanut butter has worked great for six dogs now. Of course, I also give a taste to the other dogs so they won't think they are being cheated. Oral liqud medications are more easily given by using a syringe to squirt it in. I can't say I'm really successful with the ear medications though.

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  • 20. JC - 1:43PM on 03/05/08

    The medication (Presdnisone) I give my dog must really smell terrible. I tried to mix it with his can food at dinner time. He ate everything but that tablet. So we balled it up in a piece of cheese, he literally spit the tablet out that time. Well, I was going to show him who is smarter... I crushed the medication into his breakfast, ha ha. Nope, he only ate about 40% of what was in his bowl! It's then that I realized that this stuff must be aweful for him and I certainly wouldn't want someone "spiking" my food. Since he is mostly calm submissive (we are working on it) he willingly sits and lets me open his mouth to put the pill down his throat. The whole while he tries to block the tablet with his tongue, but never tries to get away. We have only have 2 of 15 instances end with a pill spit. And of course, he sits still for me to try all over again. Good boy!

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  • 21. gimpy - 9:39AM on 03/09/08

    I am going through this right now with my 8 month old dacshund/corgi mix. The first few days were frustrating for both of us (he chomped down on my finger), but not taking the medicine was not an option! I knew I had to be calm to keep him calm. Putting it in food was not an option because he is a dainty eater and doesn't swallow anything whole, and the pill would end up on the floor. Also, he is on 2 medications and the one has to be taken on a completely empty stomach, with no treats for at least an hour. We are doing much better, but I will definitely try the message and sniffing the pill now. My puppy has a malfunctioning liver that is not diagnosed yet, but there is a very real possibility that he will be on medication and/or supplements his entire life so it is VERY important to set the tone for taking medicine now. Thanks Mr. Millan

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  • 22. maggie616269 - 10:15AM on 03/09/08

    how do u get your dog to walk on a tread mill ? I can't walk her outside because I have allergies.

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  • 23. Mydee - 8:56AM on 03/11/08

    REMINDER: Peter M. - CHOCOLATE is poison for dogs. Stick with the cheese.

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  • 24. Val - 9:15AM on 03/12/08

    Grind up the pill, mix it in with a little baby food, and it will be down the hatch like a flash with wonderful woof looking around for more.

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  • 25. isabella - 10:15AM on 03/17/08

    well what i do is put the pill in a piece of hot dog and my dog eats it put right away

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  • 26. bryantspetlovers - 7:07PM on 03/18/08

    How about giving an eye ointment. It is a fight 3 times a day. The olde english bulldogge is only 4 months old, but it takes two to three of us to get this done daily!! Any suggestions??!!

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  • 27. Margarete - 12:04PM on 04/06/08

    Try putting eye ointment/drops in the inner corners of the eye(s). As the dog (or cat) blinks, the medicine is distributed over the eye. Meanwhile, the animal hasn't been traumatized by having fat blobs or drops falling right into its eyes! I do it this way for myself and my people family, as well. Works wonderfully! Don't overdo. For ear ointment, remember to massage GENTLY, if at all, with hand-warmed drops/ointment. Again, don't over-medicate. If your pet has an ear infection, it's ears will probably be super-sensitive, so be extra gentle. Let your pet be your guide. S/he may prefer to forego the ear massage for a day or two until the tenderness decreases. For pill meds, try a small bit of med-free peanut butter (my pup eats hers right off the spoon), then a second bit with the med in the center of the peanut butter. If you use spoons, use 2 or wash! :) What a treat! Good luck!

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