Every dog needs medications at some point in his life. Funny thing is… we are supposed to be the smart ones, right? Then why is it that our dogs completely have our number when it comes to taking medications? There are lots of reasons that your dog knows what you are up to and we have to consider each one to win this battle.
We know that the way to a dog’s heart is through his stomach, but we also have to respect that foul odors and bitter tastes are instinctive turnoffs for dogs (and they should be). In the natural world, things that smell a certain way or taste bitter are more likely to be something that your dog should avoid. Taking medication goes against what is natural to a dog.
Here are some tips to get around his natural instincts and do what is best for him.
1. Make sure he is very hungry before you offer the medication. Sometimes hunger itself makes him a little less cautious and more impulsive when it comes to just gulping something down.
2. Hide the medication completely. He should not be able to smell or get a hint of bitterness when he gulps the pill. Wrap it tightly in something that encloses it completely. There are commercially available pill pouches made for this job, but if you need something at home, single wrapped American cheese is a good option because you can wrap it completely around a pill and hold it in your hand for a few minutes to melt it slightly.
3. Fake her out. Give her an empty pill pouch or cheese wad first to reassure her that it is exactly what it appears to be. Follow up with an empty treat too, so she never knows for sure. *Dogs get wise to this order quickly and you might have give several empty ones in a completely random assortment. You might ask her to do a trick so she feels that she has earned the “reward”.
4. Everyone loves company. Try eating something with her. Dogs can get involved in eating as a pack or a group. If she sees that you are eating too, she might get swept along in the excitement and eat the pill quickly without much thought.
5. Beware of your own body language. If you are acting anxious or intense about him eating it, he will be afraid and know something is different. Strive to be as natural as you can be. Put the medication on a saucer away from the pill vial ahead of time so you can just add it in with the other ingredients as you prep the meal. Dogs are so extremely tuned into us and they can read us like a book. This one is definitely the hardest, even for me because my dog knows me so well, but worth the effort. You might even have to recruit some help to hide the pill and not even tell you which one it is so you don’t give it away!
If worse comes to worst, you can always grease the pill up with butter and shove it down her throat, but no one wants to do that! Save the American cheese or pill pouches for very special occasions so that your dog thinks it is a rare prize. Talk with your vet about things you can do to prevent problems and keep medicating to a minimum. Always complete medication protocols exactly the way your vet tells you and bear in mind that each dog is an individual and some things work for one and not the next. Good luck and keep those dogs healthy!
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