How to give a dog a pill (with dietary restrictions)?

[Wcross]

I know the old trick about putting it in peanut butter but in this case I can't. I need to give my dog three pills in the morning and three in the evening. I can't give her protein as she has advanced kidney failure.
She just won't swallow the damn things. I have tried holding her mouth closed but she always manages to spit out the pill.
I am trying to help her live a while longer but if we go through a 30 minute routine twice a day just for her pills it seems like I am stressing her out.

Any suggestions?

[skygazer]

1. Have you tried blowing gently into her nose when you hold her mouth closed?

That generally makes them swallow. What can you feed her? You can grind up the pills and put them in a small amount of whatever she can eat.

Poor thing - don't you hate putting them through that even though it's for their own good? :(

[Wcross]

3. I haven't tried the "blow her nose" trick yet.

I will try that tommorow morning and report back.

[Maddy McCall]

2. Here's how I do it.

1) Open the mouth and place the pill on the back of the throat, as far back as you can.

2) Close the mouth, hold it shut, and gently rub the goozle area (throat area, under the jaw.)

3) Keep mouth shut for about 15-20 seconds.

4) Have a bowl of water right there for her to sip after she takes the pill.

I do this with my schnauzers and my weimaraners. Haven't had one spit a pill back at me yet.

Good luck.

[Wcross]

4. I tried that and she still spits it out.

I don't know why it doesn't work with her, she seems to be really opposed to taking pills.

[Raven]

5. There is a dohickie that my vet gave me that looks like

a big hypo needle...you literally shoot the pill down the dog's throat. You may find it a pet stores too.

[hippywife]

6. We usually embed them

in a hot dog or peanut butter but since you can't give her protein, think of things that are of similar consistancy that she enjoys that would be okay for her diet. Would a little pudding or some applesauce hurt her? That's how they give pills to the residents in the nursing home where I work - crush them up and stir it into something sweet and easy to swallow.

[flvegan]

7. Try hummus.

I've not met a dog that won't eat it by the bucket. It's low in protein (1 tbsp has around 1g of protein), and you don't need to slather it in a big spoonfull. Just dredge the pills through the hummus.

You can also try giving her whatever kibble/food she's getting wet, and adding the pills to it and mushing it all together.

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. A small piece of banana works for my dogs.

A piece of bread might work too. My dogs are little piggies, so they'll eat anything.

[tandot]

9. Open mouth, put it back as far as possible, quickly hold her mouth shut with your hand

and stroke her throat in a downward motion until you feel her swallowing (while keeping her mouth shut with your hands).

It takes practice and you must be really fast.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. Found this advice

http://www.cairnrescue.com/docs/AfterTreatmentCare.htm

Forget The Spoonful Of Sugar: Giving Medicine To Your Dog

You probably have already noticed that animals can be remarkably stubborn about taking medications. Apparently, no one's been able to convince them that eating something that tastes bad is good for you. But one of the primary rules in getting your dog better is making sure she gets her medicine on time. Another is following the full course of treatment prescribed by your vet-in other words, don't stop giving the medicine just because your dog seems better. If you think your dog is having an adverse reaction to the medication, however, call the vet right away and ask for instructions.

Medication for your dog may come in pills or in a liquid. If it's the latter, use a syringe or bottle as described earlier. For pills, it doesn't seem to matter how inventive you are about disguising the medicine with food or special treats: dogs always know, and more often than not spit it out. To be sure that the medicine is going down, try this:

* Hold your dog's muzzle with one hand and tilt her nose up at a 45° angle. Talk to her while you are doing this; reassure her verbally and pat or stroke her head. Press gently inward on her upper lips to get her mouth open.
* To prevent your dog from clamping her mouth shut on your fingers, keep her upper lips rolled inward between her teeth and your fingers. If you have a large dog, use your opposite hand to open her mouth and place the pill as far back over the base of the tongue as you can. If the pills are not in the center of the tongue or back far enough, your dog will spit them out.
* Quickly remove your hand so your dog can close her mouth. Keeping her head up will encourage her to swallow; if that fails, stroke her throat until she does. If your dog licks her nose, most likely the medication has gone down.
* If you have a small dog, the procedures vary slightly. Grasp the pill between your thumb and forefinger, use your third finger to hold the bottom jaw open and place the pill over the base of the tongue. If your dog is too small or your fingers too large, take aim and shoot: drop the pill over the back of her tongue rather than placing it.
* If your dog is more mule than canine and nothing you try succeeds, ask the vet to administer the pills or give your pet the medication by injection.

[mopinko]

11. if you can find a compounding pharmacy

they can make the meds with meat flavors. there are several online. your vet might know one, they would just rather sell you the pills themselves.
the best decoy food i know is cottage cheese. since it is already lumpy, it fools 'em. don't think it has THAT much protien.
good luck. i hate having old dogs. so sad. always got that question hangin on your mind.

[tandot]

12. I read your post again and your feeling that "it seems like I am stressing her out"

We watch Cesar Millan (the dog whisperer) quite a bit. Usually, dogs take their cues from us. They might not feel stressed out if they wouldn't sense that we feel that way.

http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/

The medication is something that will make her feel better. It is nothing to feel bad about. You have to be very steadfast and self-confident about giving her the meds. Don't show any emotions or let her feel that you feel bad or stressed out about it...don't say "I know sweetie it feels bad, but I have to do it..." (I did that for a long time).

She has to know that you are in charge and that you know what you are doing. First, don't warn her about what is about to happen. Catch her when she doesn't expect it. Open her mouth, shove the pill down as far as you can, quickly shut her mouth with your hand and do NOT let go until she swallowed. What we get from Cesar Millan is to make sure to show her that you are the Alpha "dog" and that you are in charge. You know what it is best for her and you have to convey that feeling.

My dog just hates getting his claws cut. Previously, before I got ready, I said "mommy has to cut your claws" ... and he learned to take cover, with his tail between his legs. I just have to say "cut your claws" and he was hiding. We give them clues instead of just doing what we are supposed to do. Now I just grab him when he doesn't expect it, don't show any emotions (it is VERY hard), cut his claws as fast as possible, and then don't act like I feel sorry that I had to do it.

[Kali]

13. sounds like you aren't putting it back far enough

you can really stick your hand down a dog's throat - put the pill as far back as possible and then shove it just a little farther with one or two fingers. Tell her she was a good girl and be done with it. Slipping meds in food never works for me.

[TrogL]

14. How to give a cat a pill

http://www.mamarocks.com/how_to_give_your_cat_a_pill.htm