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Giving medication
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Medication mistakes tend to happen when we're distracted
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Most mistakes I make (wrong dog, wrong dose, dropping a pill under the fridge etc.) happen when I'm distracted. Before giving medication, it's worth doing whatever you need to help you concentrate, with as few interruptions as possible. And always double-check the medication, dose and any special instructions.
Different dogs respond to different approaches. What works perfectly for one dog may not work for another. |
1. Types of medication
Pills
It's really worth reading this excellent vet-written guide to giving pills with a wide range of practical techniques, from how to hide tablets in food to direct administration and alternative medication forms.
Different people and dogs find different methods easier. For example, with the technique of putting a pill directly into the back of your dog’s mouth, survey respondents commented: “Not easy”, “Never ever works”, “Used to do this for our old dog when I was a kid. If I did that to my current dog he would bite me.” And also: ” … When you know how it’s REALLY easy and by far the least stressful thing for both you and your dog.”
Before you start
- Prepare medication out of sight if your dog is very observant.
- Wash your hands afterwards so they don't smell the medication.
Hiding pills in food
- Cheese (cheddar, smoked, soft cheese, goats, squeezy cheese...), pate, sausage, chicken, corned beef and peanut butter are popular options. My Tibetan Terrier, Buddy, used to love smoked salmon.
- The pill sandwich technique works well: treat → pill → treat. A survey respondent referred to this as "... 'quick fire treats' as I want to give them fast enough that he doesn't have time to find the pills."
- Meal toppers, tiny training treats, grated cheese or shredded chicken can help if medication is mixed into food
Making pills easier to manage
- Larger tablets can sometimes be split. Using a pill splitter rather than a knife is easier and safer, but some pills shouldn’t be split and others can be tricky, particularly when unusual doses are prescribed. One survey respondent said: "We had a medication where the dog had to get 2/3 of a pill - that was a pain!"
- Some tablets can be crushed (check with your vet first).
- Empty gelatin capsules can help combine medications, and because they’re a bit big, it can help to whoosh them down with a gentle squirt of water from a syringe.
Giving pills directly
- Some dogs cope best with pills placed at the back of the tongue.
- There’s an art to this, demonstrated in this video, where Helpful Vancouver Vet recommends, among other tips, dipping the pill in something tasty before putting it at the back of their tongue.
Creative approaches
Some dogs respond well to a bit of creativity and fun. What works for one dog may not work for another, but ideas people have found helpful include:
- Pretending to eat the food yourself so your dog becomes interested in it
- Some people find that 'accidentally' dropping a medicated treat or turning medication into a game like 'hunt the sausage' can make the experience feel more fun and encourage the dog to swallow the pill quickly. A survey respondent described: "I used to put his meds on the floor and pretended his favourite toy wanted them …he'd run over grab them and before he knew what he was doing he'd swallowed them in excitement"
- One thing to watch out for, I've found, is losing track of which treat contains the medication or finding uneaten treats which still contain the pill.
- Referring to medication as a 'special treat' and combining it with genuine treats, so the experience becomes positive rather than something to avoid
Alternatives to tablets
- Some medications are available in different forms, such as liquids, flavoured tablets or less bitter alternatives. Ask your vet if there are options.
Advanced option: The Blobs Method
- If you need to give your dog several tablets, or if they're reluctant to take medication, the Blobs Method may help. It's a more advanced version of the familiar "treat, tablet, treat" approach. With BooBoo, we eventually developed a simple but structured method that she accepted, and even found pleasurable. It involves fully covering pills in small amounts of sticky, tasty food and offering them as part of a rotating "menu" of similar treats, mixing ones with and without medication so the experience stays positive.
- Download the PDF
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The Blobs Method can be particularly helpful if we need to give multiple pills, especially if we've tried other techniques without success.
Liquid medication
Most of the ideas in this section come from an excellent video from Oakridge Animal Clinic, which also includes a helpful transcript. We've highlighted some of the key points below, and you can watch the full video here.
Liquid medication is usually given using a syringe or dropper. Before starting, check the instructions on the label and shake the bottle if required. If the medication has been in the fridge, you could warm slightly by rolling in in your hands to make it more comfortable for your dog.
Find a position that works for both of you. Some dogs do best sitting in a corner so they can't back away, while smaller dogs may be comfortable sitting on a lap or beside you. Having a second person to help can sometimes make things easier.
Some liquid medications are tasty enough that dogs will lick them directly from the syringe. If not, place the syringe gently into the side of the mouth and slowly dispense the medication, giving your dog time to swallow and breathe. Avoid squirting liquid directly into the back of the throat, as this can cause coughing or inhalation.
A few additional tips:
• Don't give another dose if some medication dribbles out, unless you're certain none was swallowed.
• Mixing medication into food may work for some dogs, but others will refuse food if they detect it.
• Some dogs will lick medication directly from a syringe, especially if the tip has been made more appealing with a small amount of something tasty.
• Some bottles have surprisingly complicated applicators which may need assembling, twisting or handling in a particular way. It's worth reading the instructions carefully and looking for manufacturer videos if available.
Eye drops
Most of the ideas in this section come from an excellent video from Oakridge Animal Clinic, which also includes a helpful transcript. We've highlighted some of the key points below, and you can watch the full video here.
Liquid medication is usually given using a syringe or dropper. Before starting, check the instructions on the label and shake the bottle if required. If the medication has been in the fridge, you could warm slightly by rolling in in your hands to make it more comfortable for your dog.
Find a position that works for both of you. Some dogs do best sitting in a corner so they can't back away, while smaller dogs may be comfortable sitting on a lap or beside you. Having a second person to help can sometimes make things easier.
Some liquid medications are tasty enough that dogs will lick them directly from the syringe. If not, place the syringe gently into the side of the mouth and slowly dispense the medication, giving your dog time to swallow and breathe. Avoid squirting liquid directly into the back of the throat, as this can cause coughing or inhalation.
A few additional tips:
• Don't give another dose if some medication dribbles out, unless you're certain none was swallowed.
• Mixing medication into food may work for some dogs, but others will refuse food if they detect it.
• Some dogs will lick medication directly from a syringe, especially if the tip has been made more appealing with a small amount of something tasty.
• Some bottles have surprisingly complicated applicators which may need assembling, twisting or handling in a particular way. It's worth reading the instructions carefully and looking for manufacturer videos if available.
Eye drops
- If your dog needs more than one type of eye drop or ointment, your vet can advise on the correct order to put them in (for example, liquid drops before ointment).
- There is usually a gap of a few minutes between putting in different eye medications. Again, your vet can advise.
- Liquid drops are usually placed onto the surface of the eye, while ointment is typically applied along the lower eyelid. After each drop or application of ointment, gently open and close your dog's eye a couple of times to help spread the medication.
- This is a helpful video from PDSA
Videos are great resources when learning new medication techniques.
Ear medication
- Ear medication can sometimes be easier to give if your dog is lying down on their bed. If they are sitting or standing on a sofa or chair, they may be more likely to move away, and it can be harder to reach the ear canal comfortably.
- Things that some owners find helpful include:
- Letting your dog know what is about to happen and what comes next. I often say, "Ears, then treats."
- Having tasty treats ready so they can be rewarded immediately after the ear cleaner or drops have been given.
- Keeping the hair around the entrance to the ear canal trimmed, which can make it easier to see what you are doing.
- Checking the instructions carefully before you start. With some products, the nozzle is inserted gently into the ear canal, while with others the drops are squeezed into the entrance of the canal. This video from Red Bank Veterinary Hospital explains the difference.
- After applying the medication, you can gently massage the base of the ear.
Ointment, medicated cleansers and creams
Applying ointment, creams or medicated cleansers to paws or other parts of the body is often straightforward. The main challenge is preventing the medication from being licked or rubbed off before it has had a chance to work. This is important because:
- the medication may be removed before it is effective
- some products can be harmful if swallowed
- another pet may lick the treated area
Protective clothing or collars are sometimes needed as part of treatment. Options include:
- Elizabethan collars ("cones")
- softer fabric collars
- recovery suits or medical shirts
- adapted T-shirts
- socks or paw coverings (if recommended by your vet)
- baby grows for smaller dogs
When BooBoo had surgery, she managed to lick underneath the edge of her recovery suit, so I added a dog nappy to help secure the suit and protect the wound.
As always, your veterinary team can advise on the safest and most appropriate way to protect the treated area while it heals.
- Some medicated cleansers (for example, for paws) need to stay on for a few minutes before being washed off. If possible, choose a room where there isn't any soft furniture, bedding or rugs for your dog to jump on or rub against, so that the cleanser stays on the skin for the recommended time.
- I set a timer so that we both know when the time is up. This can be followed by treats.
- It can also help to distract your dog from licking the treated area. For example, you might time meals, walks, games or other favourite activities so that they happen immediately after the ointment or cleanser has been applied.
A quick note about medication and food
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Medication labels can be confusing. Vet receptionists can help clarify what wording like "Give with food" means in practice.
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Some medications need to be given with food, while others need to be given separately from meals. The label may say something (often in tiny, easy-to-miss print) like "give with food". It's easy to assume this means "put it in your dog's food", but that isn't always what it means.
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Usually, the instruction is about whether the medication works best on a full or empty stomach, or whether food helps prevent side effects such as nausea. For example:
If it's not clear, it's always worth checking with your vet, especially if your dog is reluctant to take medication or you're planning to hide it in food. I find it helpful to note this on my medication spreadsheet, and sometimes even write it on the label if timing around meals is important.
I have photos of my dogs on their bowls. On the rare occasions when medication needs to go into a meal, it helps me make sure the right medication goes to the right dog!
- Some medications can be given in or with food.
- Some are best given just before, during or after a meal.
- Others need to be given on an empty stomach.
If it's not clear, it's always worth checking with your vet, especially if your dog is reluctant to take medication or you're planning to hide it in food. I find it helpful to note this on my medication spreadsheet, and sometimes even write it on the label if timing around meals is important.
I have photos of my dogs on their bowls. On the rare occasions when medication needs to go into a meal, it helps me make sure the right medication goes to the right dog!
Some people find it helpful to see how medication routines work in real life. In this short video, I show how I organise, record and give medication for my dogs, including some of the tools and systems that help me keep track of everything.
The Blobs Method can sound a bit unusual when described in writing. This video shows me preparing the "blobbed" medication and BooBoo happily taking it, using the approach we eventually developed when other methods stopped working.