How to Give Dogs Medicine

There are several ways to give dogs medicine, including direct administration, induced administration, use of feeders, and syringe administration. First, if your dog is not resistant to taking medicine, you can opt for direct administration. Secondly, if the medicine tastes bitter, you can use induced administration by hiding the medicine in food that your dog usually enjoys. Additionally, if your dog is picky or hates taking medicine, you can use a feeder to help administer the medicine, but this may cause discomfort and it's generally recommended to have a pet doctor assist. Lastly, if the medicine is a liquid, you can use a syringe to feed it to your dog.

Direct Administration

If your dog is not resistant to taking medicine, you can administer it directly. First, encourage your dog to sit down, then gently open its jaw and place the medicine deep in its throat. Close the dog's mouth quickly and massage its throat to facilitate swallowing. If your dog licks its lips, it means the medicine has been swallowed and you can give it a treat as encouragement.

Induced Administration

If the medicine tastes bitter, you can use induced administration, which is the smartest method. Mix the medicine into your dog's regular food or place it in a palatable food like chicken breast for your dog to swallow.

Feeder Administration

If your dog is picky or hates taking medicine, you can use a feeder to help administer the medicine. Place the medicine in the feeder and insert it deep into your dog's mouth to dispense the medicine.

Before giving your dog medicine, it's recommended to have a healthcare professional demonstrate the process to see if your dog is resistant. If your dog resistes taking medicine, be sure to restrain it when administering to avoid bites or scratches. Also, don't insert the feeder too deep to avoid injuring your dog's throat.

Syringe Administration

If the medicine is a liquid, it's recommended to use a syringe for administration. Draw the medicine into the syringe and gently lift your dog's mouth slightly upward. Slowly push the liquid into its mouth along the corner of its lips. If your dog tries to vomit out the medicine, you can force its mouth shut and stroke its chin to help it swallow the medicine.

Note: When using a syringe to administer liquid medicine to your dog, be sure to pull out the needle and store it properly afterwards to avoid accidental ingestion or children playing with it.