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How To Give A Dog Medicine

October 31, 2016 by Mary Telesz

It’s every pet owner’s nightmare: not only is their dog sick, but he needs to take medicine! Some dogs happily scarf down their required medication, but others are far less cooperative. Follow these simple tips on how to give a dog medicine to ensure that your pet gets the medicine they need to feel better.

Learn About the Medication

Every time your veterinarian prescribes medication for your dog, she should provide instructions on how to administer it, ideally in written form. While these instructions won’t necessarily help you get the medicine into a dog that doesn’t want to take it, they will provide basic guidelines for when and how to give the medicine.

Read The Label

pet owner reading dog medicine labelReading and understanding the basic dosage instructions is the first step in learning how to give a dog medicine. Some people may find that making a medication schedule is helpful; it can make sure that you remember to give your dog his medicine at the right time and for the proper length of time. Keep in mind that unless your vet tells you otherwise, your dog should receive the full course of medication. Just because your dog appears to be feeling better does not mean that the medication has done what it needed to do.

Just like with human medication, a prescription for dogs often has to be taken in a certain way. Depending on the type of medication your dog needs, it may have to be taken orally or administered by a dropper into your dog’s ears or eyes. It could be given as needed, or on a specific schedule (such as every 12 hours) for a set period of time (for 10 days, or until the medicine is gone). Your dog may need to have water or food with the medicine, or even avoid food and water for a period of time after taking it.

Ask Questions

In addition to understanding when and how a medication should be taken, you should ask the veterinarian how your dog is likely to respond to it. Knowing possible side effects and how quickly the medicine should work can help you avoid unnecessary follow-up trips to the vet.

Finally, examine the label of your pet’s medicine carefully. Look for any additional instructions on how to store the medication. Some medicines have to be refrigerated, while others can be kept at room temperature. Follow all instructions for the best possible outcome, and be sure to contact your veterinarian promptly if your dog is experiencing side effects or does not appear to be improving.

Giving A Dog Liquid Medicine

dog owner giving her pet liquid medicineWhile it may seem more complicated and messy, administering liquid medication can often be easier because it does not require you to put your fingers inside of the dog’s mouth. A few simple tips can help you learn how to give a dog medicine in liquid form.

First, fill the dropper or syringe with the correct amount of medication and hold it in your dominant hand. Second, either stand or kneel beside your dog on whichever side you are holding the medication in, and place your free hand on the back of his head to keep it steady. If you’d like, you can gently pat your dog’s head to calm and soothe him. Third, insert the tip of the dropper or syringe into the side of your dog’s mouth, staying as close as possible to the back of the mouth. Empty the contents into your dog’s mouth, and release his head. Finally, rub your dog’s throat lightly to encourage him to swallow the medicine. That’s it!

Giving A Dog Pills

Unlike liquid medication, administering pills to your dog usually requires you to place your fingers into his mouth. Learning how to give a dog medicine in this way can require employing some tricks, such as hiding the pill inside of a favorite food or treat — but only if your vet says that it’s OK to do so. Using food to get a dog to take pills is a classic method, but it does have some downsides. If you mix it into a small amount of canned dog food and place it in his dish, he may balk at the taste and refuse to eat it all. If you place the pill inside of a small piece of food, such as a piece of soft cheese or meat, your dog may still taste the pill and refuse to eat it. Experiment with several methods to find a way that works for your dog so that he gets all of the medication that he needs.

dog owner giving his pet medicine in pill formIf the medicine cannot be taken with food, you will have to learn how to give a dog medicine without any tricks. This can be difficult, especially if your dog is not used to you placing your hands around his mouth. Start slowly, stroking his muzzle and chin to soothe him, before attempting to give him a pill. Then stand or kneel next to your dog, on whichever side you are holding the pill. Using your other hand, reach over his nose and squeeze your thumb and middle finger between his upper and lower teeth, placing your fingers on either side as close to the molars as possible. The sides of his upper lip should curl up in response. Then slowly tilt your dog’s head upwards to encourage him to open his mouth. Place the pill near the base of the tongue, then take away your hands so he can swallow. Rub his throat lightly and offer him some water to encourage him to swallow.

This technique can be tricky, and may irritate your dog. If you believe that your dog will bite you, do not attempt this method. Instead, ask your veterinarian for options that do not involve placing your fingers in his mouth. A liquid medicine or a medication that can be taken with food may be available.

Ask For Help

Remember that giving a dog medicine requires practice, and it doesn’t have to be done alone. Ask for help in restraining your dog if necessary, and call your vet if you cannot get your dog to take the medicine. Some clinics offer a service where they will administer a pill or liquid medication daily, which may be necessary for your dog to take the full course of medication.

We all want our dogs to be healthy, but most pet owners find that their dog will need to be treated for an illness at some point. Learning how to give a dog medicine is a necessary part of being a responsible pet owner. With these simple tips and perhaps some trickery, you can make sure that your dog stays happy and healthy. Contact Paw Pals for more information.

Filed Under: Pet Care

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
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Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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