My dog has thyroid issues, but refuses to take medicines. We are unable to find a way to give her the meds. Please help.
– Sonia Gupta
Dogs can be as trying as little kids when it comes to having their medicines. The key to success, however, is to handle them patiently. Over time, with the right rewards and encouragement, it can actually become a pleasant experience for both you and your dog. Force feeding a dog her medications could result in a traumatic experience for your pooch and negatively affect her behaviour towards you. Sometimes, it could also result in choking. Your vet can teach you how to feed your dog the medicines. Start by gently closing her mouth and lifting it up while softly stroking her throat to make her swallow.
Now this would make her swallow the pill, but it doesn’t necessarily make it something she looks forward to. The idea is to mask the bitterness of the medicine with a strong flavour of her favourite treat. This will make her voluntarily have the pills. Sticky and creamy treats, with a strong smell — like creamy peanut butter or cheese — are the best suited treats for this. Take a small amount of your dog’s favourite treat and pack the tablets in it. Allow your dog to watch you make her treat and let her wait for you to give it to her. It is even better if she is made to wait next to you with a ‘sit’ or ‘wait’ command, so that she works for the reward and reserves this particular treat only to her medications.
Put the treat at the back of her tongue and gently feed her the treat by closing her mouth and rubbing her throat. When she swallows, encourage her with praise and affection. Over regular dosages, your dog should not need this kind of coaxing to swallow the medicine. Consult your vet for flavoured tablets that your dog can chew on instead. Consult a professional trainer if needed.