Dogs may need to be given pills on a regular basis to combat a chronic illness, or they may need to be given pills only over a short span of time. Feeding pills to dogs can take some time and effort, but it is far from impossible. There are many methods for feeding pills to dogs, and it is important to find a method that will not unduly cause stress to the dog.
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Meatballs
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Push the pill into a small ball of raw meat or a lump of liver sausage and feed it to your dog. Before you try this method, give the dog a small meatball with no pill in it and watch to see whether the dog swallows or chews. If the dog chews the meatball, it might break open the pill and then spit it out due to the pill's bitter taste.
Butter
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The pill can be covered with butter, which can encourage the dog to lick it up. A small amount of butter can be acceptable in cases where the pills need to be offered to the dog on an empty stomach.
Cheese
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Solid cheese and cream cheese can be used to convince dogs to take pills, especially if the dog already has a taste for these treats. Spray cheese, which comes out of a nozzle, can also be used and has the benefit of not needing to be refrigerated.
Peanut Butter
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Peanut butter can be pressed into a ball with a pill at the center. This is a good treat that can be kept at room temperature.
Forcing the Pill
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If the pill cannot be hidden in the dog's food, you may need to pry the dog's mouth open and place the pill as far back in the dog's throat as you can. After this, close the dog's mouth and stroke the dog's throat to encourage it to swallow. This procedure should be performed quickly, and the dog should be praised afterward in hopes that it will make the procedure easier in the future.
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