If you have ever had to provide medication to your dog, then you know all too well how hard it can be to actually get the dog medications to actually get eaten. You have tried mixing it with food only to watch it get eaten around. Tried stuffing it in a hot dog only to see it spit back out.

After All, dogs are pretty smart. They can tell that something is wrong with that treat. How does the dog know? Well truly the nose knows. A dogs nose is much more sensitive then our own. This actually allows the dog to smell the dog medication long before you actually give it to them. Try smelling the bottle next time you open it, even you will notice it in there.

The question becomes: How to get the dog to take the medication in the easiest manner?

As all dogs are different, here are several methods to try. You may need to try them until you find the one that works best for your dog. Of course, if the dog’s medicine is to be taken in any other way than orally, you will have to administer it in the doctor prescribed way.

Back of Dog’s Throat Method

Place dog medication into the back of the dogs mouth, then hold your dogs mouth closed with your hand over their snout. Gently raise their head and stroke the neck. This is designed to induce your dog to swallow. This works best if your dog does not struggle with you holding their snout. Also, you may find the dog does not swallow right away. Be patient and make sure to check for the pill afterwards. If your dog walks away when your done, make sure they do not spit out the medications.

Be especially careful when applying medicine this way. If the drug gets into your dog’s lungs, it can cause respiratory distress and even pneumonia. This is most likely to occur if the drug is in liquid form.

Hidden is Food Method

Another common method is to place the medication within food. This works best depending upon the type and size of the dog meditcation. Trying to place a pill the size of an almond into a small piece of treat does not work well. Any pill that has the possibility of being chewed also runs the risk of tipping off your dog with a bad taste. You also need to have a food that your dog will not hesitate in the slightest to eat.

One food that I find works the best for our dog is the use of a small spoonful of ice cream. Simple vanilla will do, as it can be used to coat the entire pill and the dog simply swallows the ice cream. There is no temptation to chew the pill. The ice cream is also smooth so it goes down easily in the dog throat.

Hope They Will Not Notice Method

This is a time tested method, but it works to a certain degree. This is not realy the most consistent of method and may only work for a dog taking limited doses of medication.

First, delay the feeding time so your dog is very hungry when you deliver the medicine. He will be too ravenous to worry about what might not smell quite right as he eats the food. If it is liquid, deny him water so that he is thirsty and will readily drink the water and medicine mixture.

The Excitement Method

Another trick is to get him excited. Select a food that is highly flavoured and extremely desirable. Pieces of meat like corned or roast beef are a good choice. Any food that has a strong enough odor to hide the medicine and strong enough to hold the pill.

As you proceed to feed him the drug, get him happy and anxious for the treat. Then give him one or two pieces to get him started before slipping the medication inside. His mouth will be watering for more and he will gulp down any subsequent pieces you give him, drug included. This works well if you give the treats/drug one right after the other with little delay.

If you cannot get your dog to take the food with the medicine, you’ll have to resort to forcing him to take it, likely using the “back of throat method”.

For puppies, apply the liquid medicine to their lips and they will lick it off easily. You can also use a syringe to place the medicine in the lip pocket. Stroke his throat as described to make him swallow.

After a few doses, you will soon figure out which application method works best for you and your dog.

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