Many dogs lose their appetite when they are sick, in pain or elderly. This can make giving medication difficult because many owners simply hide pills or liquids in the dog's food. Owners can still give their dogs medication with a few steps if the dog will not eat. Once you practice these steps several times, administration of medication becomes easier and less stressful for both you and the dog. Always offer praise and reassurance to your dog as you administer the medication so that the procedure is less unpleasant for the dog.
Things You'll Need
- Medication
- Syringe
Instructions
Administering Pills
Place small dog on a table or in your lap to administer medication. Kneel beside large dogs on the floor. Have the medication ready to administer if it is a pill.
Grasp the top of the dog's muzzle with one hand. Grasp the bottom jaw with the palm of your hand. Wrap your fingers up around the lower jaw. With both hands, gently press the lips of the dog into the dogs teeth while pulling the dog's jaws open. Most dogs will easily open their jaws using this procedure. The dogs will not close their jaws back down for fear of biting their cheeks. Maintain a firm grip on both the upper and lower jaw.
Release the lower jaw while still holding the upper jaw. The dog's mouth will remain open so that the dog does not bite its upper lip. Grab the pills with your free hand. Place the pills into the dog's mouth as far back as your hand will reach. Try to gently push the pills over the back of the dog's tongue and down the dog's throat.
Press the dog's mouth closed using both hands. Hold the dogs mouth closed with one hand, and gently stroke the dog's throat until you feel the dog swallow. Praise the dog for taking the medication.
Administering Liquid
Hold the dog's head tilted back slightly. Hold both the upper and lower jaw closed. There is no reason to open the dog's mouth to administer liquid medication. Have a syringe filled with the liquid medication ready to administer.
Peel the dog's lips back on one side so that you can clearly see the dog's teeth. Insert the tip of the syringe right behind the large canine tooth. You will see a gap that has no teeth and easy access to the dog's mouth. Slowly compress the syringe to administer the medication into the dog's mouth. Allow the dog to swallow as the medication fills its mouth.
Stroke the dog's throat gently as the dog swallows. Offer ample praise to the dog for taking the medication.