Pets require medications for a variety of reasons. It is important that pet owners give their pet medication as directed by their veterinarian to manage the condition at hand, yet many pet owners initially struggle to administer pills to their pets. Different strategies work for different pets, so learning a variety of tips, tricks and techniques can provide options for finding the best method for giving a cat or dog a pill.
Disguising Your Pet's Medicine
Most dogs find the thought of a treat delightful, so disguising a pill in food can work wonders. These methods are successful for many cats as well, although some cats may have more discerning tastes. Lunchmeat, bits of cheese, grilled chicken, hot dogs, canned spray cheese, a smear of cream cheese or a bit of peanut butter are classic standbys for giving a cat or dog medication (just be sure that any peanut butter being used does not contain [xylitol](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-products-that-contain-xylitol/, as this artificial sweetener is highly toxic to dogs). For dogs or cats that enjoy canned foods, "meatballs" can be made by wrapping a small amount of food around the pill. Commercially available malleable treats, such as Pill Pockets, are convenient and useful in hiding the pill.
With any of these methods, try to keep one hand as the "medication hand" and one hand as the "clean" food-handling hand. Avoid touching the outer surfaces of the food with the "mediation hand." Many pills are bitter or have distinctive smells, and these traces can be transferred simply by touching the medication before touching food.
If a medication is scheduled to be given at mealtimes, give the medication wrapped in food before offering the meal. It is often easier to convince a pet to gobble up a delicious treat (even those containing pills) when they are hungry.
How to Give Your Pet a Pill
Some pets quickly pick up on the art of disguise and eat the tasty treat, leaving the pill behind. Other pills are simply bitter or have a strong smell, making them much more difficult to disguise. In these cases, pet owners should consider popping the pill down the hatch. Believe it or not, this is often easier than it sounds! Remember to stay confident and calm because dogs and cats can detect any anxiety or nerves.
- For large dogs, place their hind end against a wall or piece of furniture so that they cannot back away. Some people find they have better control if they place their cat or small dog on a table or countertop, but care should be taken that the pet does not jump or fall off of this surface.
- Hold the pill between the thumb and index finger of the dominant hand.
- Using the non-dominant hand, gently grasp the pet’s muzzle from above. Hold their upper lips just behind the canine teeth using a thumb on one side and index finger on the other.
- Gently squeeze behind the upper canine teeth and slowly begin to tilt the pet’s head upwards so that the nose points towards the ceiling. This causes the lower jaw to automatically open slightly.
- Use the other fingers of your dominant hand (the hand holding the pill) to open the lower jaw further by placing gentle pressure on the incisors (small teeth in the center). of the lower jaw.
- Quickly place the pill as far back in the mouth as possible, taking care to hold the mouth open to prevent being bitten and to assure that the pill is placed over the ‘hump’ of the tongue.
- Hold the pet’s mouth closed and lower the nose a bit to facilitate easier swallowing. Begin gently blowing in the pet’s nose and rubbing their throat to encourage swallowing.
- Watch for the pet to visibly gulp and swallow, or lick their lips before completely letting go to be certain that they actually swallowed the pill.
What if I Don't Want to Put My Hands in My Dog's Mouth?
Have no fear, there is an answer to this common concern. Rightfully so, many pet owners are nervous about putting their fingers in their pet’s mouth. Fortunately, there are pill poppers for dogs and cats available in most pet stores that can minimize the risk to a pet owner’s fingers. Cat and dog pill poppers (also known as pill guns or pill shooters) generally have a rubber tip that holds the pill until the plunger is pressed, dispensing the pill into the pet’s mouth. While these handy devices can make it easier to insert the pill, pet owners must still restrain their pet as described above.
What About Compounding Medications?
With patience and practice, most dogs and cats can be given pills at home without a huge ordeal. However, there are some pets that resist even the most valiant of efforts. In these cases, pet owners may require some hands on instruction from their veterinary staff regarding how to give a dog or cat a pill. If even these attempts are unsuccessful, it may be time to ask a veterinarian if compounding is available for the medication being prescribed. Specialty compounding pharmacies can turn medications into flavored chews, flavored liquids or transdermal gels that can be absorbed through the skin. While this may sound like the easy way out, it is important to remember that not every cat or dog medication can be compounded because they can be ineffective in different forms or may not be absorbed properly.
It may take some trial and error to find the best technique for an individual pet. Ultimately, giving a cat a pill or giving a dog a pill is nearly always manageable at home with patience, practice and dedication.