Giving Dog Medication

How to give your dog tablets with food

It is important that you try and remember the advice given to you by the vet and that you carefully read the label on the medication packaging. Please make sure you know whether the prescribed tablets can be given with food or if they need to be administered on an empty stomach and if you are at all unsure call us and ask..

If they can be given with food then often the best way to get your dog to swallow tablets is to hide them a small amount in their food. By giving them only a small amount of their normal breakfast or dinner they are more likely to eat it (with the tablet!), and you can then give them the rest of their normal amount of food.

If this doesn’t work coat the tablet in a soft, malleable food such as a small chewy treat. The size of the treat is important though – it needs to be small enough that your dog can swallow without chewing. Dogs are very clever, if there is some taste or texture they don’t like, then they may eat around the tablet and simply eat the treat.

Try giving a couple of small treats, and then one with the tablet concealed inside it.

How to give your dog tablets without food

If the medicine needs to be taken on an empty stomach simply get your dog to sit upright, tilt their head back and open their mouth. Place the tablet as far back on their tongue as possible and close their mouth – keeping your hands over the top and bottom of their jaw, gently massaging their throat to encourage them to swallow.

Always be calm and offer words of encouragement, followed by a treat to reward them for their good behaviour.

You may find this video helpful. Remember if you have any problems or are at all unsure please give us a call.

How to give your dog liquid medicine

If you have to give your dog liquid medicine, you should use a dropper or syringe – preferably the one which came with the medicine. Hold your dog’s head, but do not tilt it back or they may inhale and splutter on the medicine. Put the tip of the dropper into a corner of their mouth, between the cheek and the teeth, making sure that it’s pointing towards the back of their throat.

Empty the dropper into their mouth and then hold your dog’s mouth closed. Stroke their throat or gently blow onto their nose to coax them to swallow. Again always be calm and offer words of encouragement, followed by a treat to reward them for their good behaviour.