How do I give my Dog medication?

Some dogs are easy to convince when it comes to medication. If you have a natural born chowhound, a piece of lunchmeat or cheese wrapped around a pill can go down without a second thought. Liquid medicine can be mixed right into his food – if he picks up on that trick, try mixing it with peanut butter and spreading it on bread. Nobody can resist a peanut butter sandwich!

In the most drastic (or stubborn) situations, you may have to get your dog to swallow the pill itself. This is never fun. Have your dog sit with its back against the wall or another person’s legs. Use your fingers to pry the jaw open, then place the pill as far back in the mouth as possible. Close his mouth and tilt his head up at a slight angle. Using one hand to hold his mouth closed, use your other hand to stroke his throat. If he hasn’t yet swallowed, try blowing directly on his nose and watch for signs that he has swallowed.

For liquid medication, ask your vet for a needleless syringe. You can place the right amount of medicine directly into the syringe, then place the syringe into the mouth and between the teeth. Don’t worry about getting it to the back of the throat as with pills. Squirt the medicine in, hold his mouth closed, and make sure he swallows. You’re done!

The unlucky dogs who need injections have equally unlucky owners. Nobody likes needles, and even fewer people want to use a needle on their precious pooch. Your veterinarian should be able to give you a quick demonstration of how to handle injections, but here’s a quick rundown:

• Use the syringe to pick up the required amount of medicine.
• Hold the syringe needle up and tap on the side to help any air bubbles travel to the surface.
• Depress the syringe plunger until the air bubbles are no longer present in the barrel and a small amount of medicine comes out of the needle.
• Use your non-dominant hand to gather a fold of skin covering the shoulder blades.
• Insert the syringe, making sure you don’t run into much resistance. This should mean the needle is positioned between the skin and the muscle.
• Pull the plunger back slightly and check for blood in the barrel of the syringe. If you see blood, this means you’ve hit a vessel and need to reposition the needle. Pull the needle out and reinsert it.
• Once you’re certain there’s no blood present in the syringe, press the plunger and administer the meds.

See? That wasn’t so bad. Remember, pups who go through daily injections deserve some recognition. Talk to your dog the entire time and let him know what a good boy he is even if he’s squirming, then give him a treat when he’s finished.

My dog just went through surgery. What can I expect while he’s getting better?

Lots and lots of sleep. Your pup won’t feel like doing much besides laying around during his post-operative recovery period, so do your best to be patient and tolerant of any accidents that might occur during this phase. Try to make a special effort to pet him regularly and talk to him as this can get his spirits up and help him recover more quickly.

While a little licking is certain to occur, let your vet know if it gets out of hand. Too much licking can loosen or remove stitches and cause infection, so your veterinarian may want to use a surgical collar (the plastic doohickey that looks like a satellite dish) to keep it under control.

The other important element is nutrition and hydration. Your vet can give you a more exact amount of food and water your dog will need during his recovery and it’s your job to make sure he gets it. Ice cubes can make a great substitute for dogs who balk at water. If you can’t convince him to eat, ask your vet for some suggestions. Pups’ bodies need the right nutrients to stay strong, and this is especially important after surgery.