How do I get my dog to swallow his anti worm tablet?

Question

What's the best way?

Answer 1

Try the other posters suggestions of cheese/peanut butter/hot dogs/etc first. If that isn't working, the sure fire way to get it down is gently open your dog's mouth and hold his tongue down with your thumb. Now quickly stick the pill to the very back of his throat and let go. If you get it far enough back there, he'll just automatically swallow it. I know it sounds mean but it really doesn't hurt and I did have a dog that this was the absolute only way to give pills. Be sure to follow with a treat and lots of praise.

Answer 2

I have just had to learn myself! You feel horrible at first but Intestinal worms are very distressing for an animal.

OK get the dog to sit between your legs, hold is jaw open (but only a little bit) and pop in in the very back at one side, using one finger helps.. you have to do it quickly.. takes a little practise.. make sure you have a treat on hand, the dog will quickly get the idea that having this done means i get a reward and will associate with something positive.

Allot of dogs will smell the tablet in food and leave it, the worming chews do not taste that good either, and small dogs tend to be fussy.

Answer 3

How old is your dog? If he/she is a puppy, then you could use a liquid. 1ml for 1kg. If your dog is older, then it really sounds like you need to do some obedience training. A well trained dog will let you administer medicines, clip claws, clean teeth etc.

Try asking your vet for help and also look at the worming medication you are using. There are many meat flavoured ones on the market now. Hold open his mouth and stick the tablet as far back on his tongue as you can. Hold his muzzle closed until you are sure he has swallowed it.

Answer 4

Open your dog's mouth, tilt its head and drop the tablet then hold its mouth close. Leave it for a minute and by now your dog should have swallowed the tablet. If not try putting the tablet between a piece of chicken meat make sure the tablet is burried properly in the meat and let your dog eat it.

Answer 5

option a) wrap it in some kind of treat e.g cheese. Get your dog to sit then givbe the reward.

option b) make it a 2 person mission. some one to hold the dog's mouth open someone to pop the tablet it. Then close the mouth and rub the neck so the dog swallows. Then love and treat your dog for being good.

option c) buy a pill dispenser gadget from your local pet shop or vet!

xxx

Answer 6

If you hide it in food, the dog is very likely to just spit the tablet back out. The foolproof way is to hold him firmly between your legs, so that your legs are grasping his body to keep him there (and, hopefully, still). Use one of your hands to gently open his mouth. Use your other hand to quickly push the pill as far back in his throat as possible. Now hold his mouth closed with one hand and massage his throat with the other hand. This will make him swallow - and that's what you want!

If your dog is really big or liable to bite you, etc., you may need to have a friend help you, but I was always able to do this successfully with my dobermans.

I used to raise dogs and this is the method the professional breeders use.

Answer 7

My dog has allergies and gets to take up to 7 pills a day. I get little cans of potted meat from 99 cent stores (3 for 99 cents) and mix all the pills in the can. She knows food on a fork is always better and a treat, gulps it down with no problem.

Answer 8

Sometimes wrapping it in food just does NOT work.
You may have to, although gross, pry your dogs mouth open and put the tablet as far down his thoat as possible, then quickly shut his mouth and hold untill he swallows. Your hand will be covered in slobber, but he will get his tablet, and eventually get used to this process and it will become easier. Good Luck.

Answer 9

I use dog food (the chopped kind) not gravy, and roll the pill in the meat and feed it by hand.

You can also put the pill far back in the throat and put you hand around the muzzle (make sure you don't cover his nose) til the dog swallows. Have water readily available.

Answer 10

i am lucky in that my current dog will just eat his tablets. we have not always been so lucky in the past however.

with one of our dogs, we would hide it in cheese and she would gobble it down.

another one of our dogs was too smart to fall for this though! we had to just hold his mouth open (which is hard to do when it is a staffy x bulldog and has VERY strong jaws), shove the pill to the back of his mouth and then hold his mouth closed for at least 60 seconds for him to swallow. sometimes we had to do this a number of times before he would force it down though. such a drama!