Your cat or dog may need medication at some point. This could be to treat an injury, prevent or treat parasites, or manage a disease. It can be difficult to give pet medications orally to your pet, but it is possible, if you are familiar with the basics.
These are seven clever and not-so-sneaky ways to give medication to your pet. Talk to your veterinarian before you give medication to your pet.
Keep your pet’s medication safe by storing it in a strong-smelling, wet food.
Hidden the tablet or capsule in a treat is a great way to give medicine that’s not flavored. You can find treats that are specifically made to conceal pet medicine at many pet shops and veterinary clinics. You can also conceal capsules and tablets in foods for pets and humans that your cat or dog likes. Peanut butter (noxylitol) Butter, cheese, butter, and bread (no raisins! All of these foods can be used to conceal medicine. Mixing liquids, tablets and capsules into pet food can conceal them.
Make sure your pet has not thrown out the medication after they have eaten. Dogs and cats can detect when food is contaminated. This is why we recommend that pets eat a strong-smelling, moist food. Your pet will still be naturally attracted to the food’s scent, even though it masks the smell of the medication.
You can use competition to your advantage, and all pets deserve a treat.
You’re probably familiar with the brouhaha that can ensue when you give treats to multiple dogs. This competition may work in your favor. You can use this competition to your advantage by hiding the medication in one treat and then hand the treats out to all dogs. Make sure to give the medication to the dog who needs it. Your dog may consume their medication faster than others in competition situations. Be sure to keep the capsule or tablet from falling on the ground or into the stomachs of other pets.
Turn medication time into a game
Some dogs can be distracted and concealed. You can give your dog a few treats. The tablet or capsule should be hidden in one of the treats. Play a game with your dog, tossing them treats. You may find them so focused on the treat they catch that they don’t notice you tossing it.
Place the medication in a capsule.
You should not give your pet medicines that are particularly bitter or unpleasant. To hide the tablets in capsules, you can buy empty gel capsules and give your pet a treat. Gel caps will protect your pet’s nose from the unpleasant medication. This tactic should be discussed with your veterinarian as oral medications can often only work in certain areas of the digestive tract.
It should be placed on the top of your pet’s front feet.
You can mix a small amount peanut butter or squeeze cheese with the liquid you have prescribed to your pet and spread it on their paws. Most pets don’t like peanut butter and cheese on their paws. However, cats and dogs love peanut butter and cheese. If your pet doesn’t flick his paw and sends the medication glob flying around the room, he or she will happily lick the medicated food from their paws.
Take your dog on a walk.
Dogs will sometimes take their medication if you stop halfway through a walk to give them a treat. Dogs often find the sights, sounds, smells and smells of their walks more fascinating than the treat.
