The easiest method for giving a dog a pill is to insert the pill into a "meatball" formed out of either canned dog food or ground meat, and then have your dog eat the meatball whole. However, this works only if your dog will gulp the meatball whole, without chewing. Sometimes giving a medicated meatball after an unmedicated meatball and followed immediately by another unmedicated meatball will trick the dog into gulping down the middle treat without chewing. If he does chew it, he will not get the full dose of medicine because, most likely, he will not enjoy the taste of the medicine and will spit the rest out. You can also make the pill more palatable by putting a little butter on it.
One way to ensure your dog swallows a pill is to place the pill in the back of his mouth. Although this may seem like a difficult procedure, if you follow these simple steps, as suggested on the Web site www.peteducation.com, you’ll be able to administer the pill without trouble:
Hold the pill in your dominant hand and with your other hand, grasp your dog’s muzzle from the top, making sure to have your thumb on one side and your fingers on the other. Then as you tilt the dog’s head back, squeeze your fingers and thumb behind the canine teeth. The jaw should drop a bit, enough for you to use your other hand to open the jaw more. Use a finger or the edge of your hand and place it on your dog’s bottom incisors to help lower the jaw. Then, try to quickly place the pill as far back in the throat as possible, at least behind the “hump” of the tongue. Then quickly close the muzzle, and let the dog's head rest in the normal position to help him swallow. You can also blow in or on the dog's nose to stimulate the swallowing reflex. Always try to deliver the pill quickly but calmly. And be sure to give your dog plenty of praise. Don't try this if your dog is likely to bite.
As an alternative to having your dog swallow a pill whole, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist if the medication can be compounded by putting it into a flavorful liquid or water that the dog will more readily drink. Be sure that the pharmacist realizes the medicine is for a dog so he or she will choose a flavor the dog will like. Always consult a veterinarian before dissolving or crushing medicine; time- or extended-released pills may not work properly in these cases.
