Giving your Pet a Pill

You've heard the expression "that's a tough pill to swallow", and it applies well to pets. Giving your pet a pill is important though, since a lot of medications are often administered in the form of a pill. But don't despair; if you know the right tricks, getting Bowser or Fluffy to swallow that pill really isn't that tough. 

The easiest way to get your pet to take a pill is to fool it into thinking that it's not taking a pill at all. Hiding or crushing a pill in food, or wrapping it in a treat like a piece of cheese are great ways to secretly administer pills. You can also get treat pockets in which to hide pills and other handy devices. In addition, you can ask your veterinary pharmacist to mix the medication into a tasty treat. 

For those pets who are on to your deceptive ways, nothing beats the old fashioned way of (gently!) forcing your pet to take the pill - the trick is controlling the position of your pet's head. To do this: 

1. Make sure the head is straight, and place one hand over the muzzle. 

2. Next, you need to tilt the head back and press your thumb and index finger between the upper and lower teeth. 

3. Begin to pry the mouth open. 

4. Drop the pill into the back of the throat over the base of the tongue, and give it a quick push. 

Finally, the trick to getting your pet to swallow is to blow really hard into your pet's nose. This will cause your pet to lick its nose: and when it licks, it'll swallow. Ta-da! It's that easy! 

Article by Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM