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                    Medicating your Dog                    

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Medicating your Dog
Giving a Tablet

Medicating your Dog

www.petalert.com.au

There are two ways to go about medicating your dog. Some people choose to put the tablets in the food while others give the medicine straight into the mouth. Neither is better but choose the one that suits you. However do learn how to give tablets as sometimes they are too bitter to hide, sometimes your dog won't be eating well enough to get him to eat at all and sometimes the medicine shouldn't be with food.

TABLETS
When hiding tablets choose a food that can be moulded around the tablet, usually something tasty like cheese. Give your dog a piece without the tablet first so he gets a taste of this yummy food then give him the food and tablet combo. Reward him with a little more once the tablet has gone. It is best to give the tablet before you feed your pet the bulk of his daily needs so that he is hungry. I have heard of people using butter, cheese, meats or even dog chocolate. One technique for chocolate was to place 2 dog chocs in the microwave and zap them for 5 seconds (or until slightly soft) then place the tablet between the chocs and push them together. Result, one chocolate coated tablet.

Giving tablets is not difficult in most dogs. Generally the only dogs we don't try to medicate this way are those that bite.

Be gentle but firm with your dog. Reward him when he is well behaved however make sure you let him know he has to do what you want.

Small dogs are easier handled if they are placed on a bench or a table. They are uncertain up the unusual surface making them easier to handle. Make larger dogs sit. If you can't make them sit think about some training.

If you need an assistant have him/her wrap one hand around the dog's neck so it can't move its head around too much while the other arm either goes under the belly or behind its back legs. This will depend on how big your pet is and if it is trying to wriggle backwards out of the assistant's arms.

Grasp your dog's muzzle with the palm of your hand over the upper jaw.

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Press the lips over the upper teeth with your fingers on one side and the thumb on the other so that the dog's lips are between its teeth. Firm pressure may be required. The dog then can't close its mouth without biting itself and is less able to bite you.

In the opposite hand hold the pill between the thumb and index finger.

Place the tablet as far back on the tongue as possible them push it over the back of the tongue with your finger.
 

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Gently rub your dog's throat or blow on its nose to encourage swallowing. Keep the nose pointed upwards until you think the tablet has gone down.

LIQUIDS
Restrain your dog as above.

Hold the dog's head this time holding both top and bottom jaw. Tilt the dog's nose slightly upwards.

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Using an eye dropper or syringe slowly place the medication into your dog's mouth. The tip of the dropper can be inserted just behind the canine (fang or eye) tooth where the jaw does not completely close.
   
You can also place the liquid in the cheek pouch between the lips and the back teeth.
 

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Unless the dose is small give the medication slowly allowing your dog to swallow and to lick the medication from its mouth before giving more.

Rubbing the throat or blowing on your dog's nose may help to stimulate swallowing.

Never inject into the back of the mouth as this may cause your dog to gag or choke.

reprinted with kind permission from Fiona
http://www.petalert.com.au
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Giving A Tablet

www.petvetcare.co.uk.

To administer a tablet
Many tablets can be crushed and given with food. To do this, crush the tablet finely, this can be done with the back of a spoon or between 2 teaspoons. Then mix with a small amount of your pets favourite food. Cats often are difficult as they can often smell the medication in their food. Strong smelling foods can mask this. Dogs who tend to swallow their food in chunks can often be fooled into eating their medication pushed into a piece of meat or cheese and offered from the hand.
If is often necessary to give tablets directly to pets. Some pets can detect disguised tablets or tablets are too bitter to be masked. In thes instances knowledge of a few tricks of the trade are needed (keep a packet of plasters handy!)
 
 Administering tablets to dogs
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1. Gently place your thumb and fingers on either side of the muzzle. Squeeze firmly in and up just behind the canine teeth (the long 'fang teeth). The dog's mouth should open.
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2. Use your free hand to hold on to the tablet while lowering the dog's jaw.

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3. Whilst holding the mouth open wide, place the tablet as far back on the tongue as possible, pushing it even farther with your index finger (a "Pill Giver" is useful at this point as it delivers the tablet quickly and accurately). Gently close and hold the muzzle while your dog swallows.
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4. It's all over! Scally our 'guinea 
 

  reprinted with kind permission from Rachel Gowshall Dip AVN (Surgical) VN C-SQP
www.petvetcare.co.uk.
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Pill Popper
 Pill Splitter
pillpopper
pillsplitter
Mikki Pill Gun is an easy way to administer pills to both cats anddogs. The pill is put at one end of the syringe, which is filled with water. When ejected into the animals mouth the water pushes the pill to the back of the animals mouths. This provides an accurate division of small or large, round or oblong tablets.
Purchase here www.pet-supermarket.co.uk

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You can hide the pill in a piece of roast beef, or cheese or whatever works best, but you must have another slice ready in your free hand. When your dog grabs the treat with the hidden pill you immediately shove the other hand with more roast beef, cheese, whatever in front of his nose even before he eats the first one. This makes the dog quickly swallow the first treat with the hidden pill without even tasting it as he's so anxious to grab the other one (it's instictive) But the timing has to be perfect, make him grab the second piece of roast beef or cheese before he really tastes the first one and the pill will go down.

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Video
How to Give Medications

Video
How to Pop a Pill

Video
How to Give Eye Drops

Video
How to Give Ear Drops

Applying a Bandage

Administering Drugs by Injection


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