Administering medication to pets can often be a challenging task for many pet owners. As you can imagine, dogs and cats with their keen senses and varied personalities, may resist taking their necessary medications for several reasons. This can make what should be a straightforward task feel like a struggle and requires patience between you and your furry friend.
So what are some of the ideal techniques to give your pet medicine that not only ensures their health but also minimises stress? Below you’ll hopefully find the answer with some top tips and effective strategies for a smooth, stress-free experience.
Why Do Pets Resist Medicine?
It’s common for many pet owners to encounter resistance when trying to give cats and dogs medicine. Just like with children, there can be many reasons, whether it’s unfamiliarity with the process or a negative past experience.
The taste and smell of many medications are unappealing to pets. Dogs and cats have sensitive palates and can detect even the slightest off-flavours, making some medications particularly distasteful. The texture or form of the medication, such as pills or pastes, might be unusual or uncomfortable for them to ingest too.
Negative past experiences with medications can lead pets to associate the sight or smell of medicine with unpleasant memories. This can result in anxious or evasive behaviour whenever medication appears.
The method of administration can also provoke resistance. Invasive methods, such as using a syringe for oral liquids, can be intimidating or cause discomfort, increasing stress and resistance.
So, with these some of the main reasons, how can you overcome them successfully? Well, you need a bit of empathy and strategy, focusing on making the experience as positive as possible for your pet.
Preparation is Key to Success
Proper preparation is crucial when it comes to this. Start by thoroughly reading the prescription instructions before attempting to give any medication. Knowing the correct dosage, the frequency of administration, and any specific storage instructions ensures that the medicine is as effective as possible and prevents mishaps.
According to Dr Corinne Wigfall in an article for pet insurance provider Petsure, you want to create a relaxed environment and routine for this by choosing a space your pet will recognise as their medicine taking area. It should be somewhere free from distractions that will help them remain calm.
Before approaching your pet, prepare the medicine completely. This readiness can prevent the need to fumble with packaging or dosage measurements in front of your pet, which can increase their stress. Maintaining a calm and confident demeanour is key here as pets are highly intuitive and can sense anxiety or hesitation, which may make them more nervous or resistant.
Being prepared and projecting confidence will help create a more reassuring environment for your pet, paving the way for a smoother process.
Techniques for Administering Medicine to Dogs
For dog owners, you’ll need some patience and a few tricks to ensure the process is as smooth as possible:
Mixing with Food – One of the simplest ways to administer pills is to hide them in food. Vet charity PDSA recommends using a small amount of strong-flavoured food such as cheese or butter, peanut butter, or cream cheese. Ensure the food is palatable enough to mask the smell and taste of the medication.
Manual Administration – If mixing medicine with food isn’t effective, you may need to manually administer the pill. Gently open your dog’s mouth and place the pill as far back on the tongue as possible, then hold the mouth closed and stroke the throat to encourage swallowing. Always follow this with a treat or lots of praise to associate the experience with a positive outcome.
Using a Pill Dispenser – A pill dispenser or a pill gun can be useful, especially if your dog is large or uncooperative. This tool helps place the pill directly into the throat and your vet can recommend a good one to use. Be sure to follow up with a treat or a meal to ensure the pill is swallowed.
Liquid Medications – For liquid medications, use a syringe or dropper to administer the medicine inside the cheek pouch, not directly down the throat to avoid choking. Again, praising your dog or offering a treat right after can help make future medicine times easier.
Remember, always use positive reinforcement to make the experience as pleasant as possible for your dog. This will also help each time become easier and create a routine for your dog.
Techniques for Administering Medicine to Cats
Administering medicine to cats can often be more challenging than with dogs due to their generally smaller size and agile nature. As any cat owner knows, they can be quite stubborn and independent, so here are several techniques to make the process smoother:
Mixing with Food – Some cats can be tricked into taking their medication by mixing it with their favourite wet food or a special treat. However, ensure the medicine does not have a strong odour or taste that could deter your cat. It’s also important to use just enough food that you can be sure your cat will eat all of it.
Pill Pockets – These are treats with a hole in the centre where a pill can be inserted. Many cats are keen on treats and might consume the medication without noticing the pill inside.
Towel Technique – For more resistant cats, wrapping them in a towel or blanket to restrict movement (just like a pancake) can help prevent scratches and allow you to administer the medicine safely. This method is particularly useful when using a syringe or administering eye or ear drops.
Direct Administration – If you need to administer pills directly, Dr Corinne Wigfall advises to gently but firmly hold their head and use your thumb and forefinger to open their jaw carefully. Tilt the head and place the pill at the back of the tongue, close the mouth, and stroke the throat to encourage swallowing.
Using a Pill Dispenser – Similar to dogs, a pill dispenser can be used for direct administration to avoid getting bitten.
Just like with a dog, always ensure to reward your cat with a treat or affection after administering medication to help build positive associations with the process.
What to Avoid When Giving Pets Medicine
Giving medicine to your pets is already difficult enough so be sure to avoid using force or showing frustration, as these can increase your pet’s stress and resistance – the opposite of what you want in this situation.
Also, avoid changing the medication’s form (like crushing pills) without consulting your vet first, as some medications are formulated to be released slowly or are coated to prevent stomach irritation.
Try These Tips & (Hopefully) Have More Success
Successfully administering medication to your pets can significantly enhance their health and well-being, so remember to approach the task with patience and empathy. Use the above techniques best suited to your pet’s preferences and behaviours. You want to keep the experience as positive as possible, using treats and affection to build better associations.
If you encounter persistent difficulties, don’t hesitate to consult your vet for more advice or alternative methods they approve. Remember, whilst pet insurance for your cat or dog will make the cost of medicines significantly easier to cover, some policies may also include other benefits such as being able to video call your vet. This can be very useful when having problems at home with administering medicine.
For further guidance, visit Gov.uk to learn about choosing a vet practice, treatments, and prescription medication.
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