5 Tips for Giving Your Pet Their Medication

​Pets are not just company; they’re a part of the family that brings joy, excitement, and peace to your life, especially when they have a friendly and unique personality. Similar to humans, pets sometimes need help from medicine to recover from illnesses or surgery or to enhance their lifestyle.

If you have tried giving your pet pills before, you know how challenging it can be, but giving your pets their prescribed medications as instructed is still necessary. These tips for giving your pet their medication will teach you how to manage this task successfully and peacefully without causing too much stress or anxiety to your pet.

Back of the Throat

This method is one of the most effective but also invasive ways to medicate your pet, but it’s a quick solution that allows you to avoid problems or stress. Gently grab your pet’s mouth with the pill ready in one hand and push it to the back of their throat. Try to avoid contact with their tongue to prevent choking. After you deposit the pill in the back, gently shut their mouth for a moment to encourage them to swallow.

Teamwork

Not every medication comes in pill form; sometimes, you must use a needle for a quicker response, which can be challenging because your pet will feel the sting. You might need someone’s help to best apply this medication; hold your pet and gently keep their head facing forward while your helper injects the medication. This quick solution should take less than 30 seconds. Just remember that the results will be positive, even if it hurts your pet now.

Flavored Tablets

This modern solution adds flavors to the medicine to make it attractive to your pet. You can typically find these useful tablets at a full-service vet clinic, which focuses on maintaining and enhancing your pet’s health and well-being. Giving your pet medication should not be challenging; vets know how to develop products effectively to help you, and flavored tablets might be the way to go.

Pill Pockets

A tried-and-true method for giving your pet a pill is hiding it in a treat pocket that will disguise the medication and its flavor. The best times for medication are mornings and evenings, as you can deliver their “treat” alongside a full meal to activate your pet’s digestive system and reaction. If you don’t have pill pockets, you can wrap the medication with a sliced turkey or chicken.

Canned Food

Mixing medicine with food is a comfortable and easy way to give your pets their medication simply, but you must ensure they eat the entire bowl. Canned food is a good solution because it masks the smell and taste, especially with liquid medicine. Ask your vet if it’s possible to crush a pill into the food or open a tablet over your pet’s meal. Keep in mind that there are some medications you will not be able to use this method for.