Conscientious pet owners would always ensure the health of the pet.
Taking care of the pet does not start and end in giving the furry friend enough food and water.
A pet is considered to be a family member and ensuring its safety as well as furthering its life span is the utmost concern of a pet owner.
It is the responsibility of the owner to make sure that health care is given if and when it is needed by the dog.
Daily dose of vitamins is necessary but a more important concern is making sure that the dog is taking the prescribed medicine for an existing ailment.
Giving a dog a pill however, is not a simple task.
Giving your dog a pill is quite easy if the pet is not on a dietary restriction.
You may opt to give the medication with the food.
Mix the medication with a small amount of food.
It is not a good idea to mix the medication with an entire meal given that if the dog did not consume the whole meal it will not get the right dosage.
Another method is to hide the pill in a piece of food.
A liverwurst, a piece of ham or cheese, peanut butter or any tasty morsel will do.
The treats you usually give your pet can also be used to hide the pill.
Give your dog the treat without the pill.
Most dogs would gobble the food without chewing.
You can now give another piece with the pill inside.
If the dog chewed the food they will taste the pill.
Our furry friends are intelligent creatures and giving the next dosage can be hard as they may refuse to accept even the tastiest morsel.
Most dog owners are using the "pill pocket" in pilling their pets.
These are treats with a hole where the pill can be inserted.
If the dog is an expert in separating the pill from the treat; continuously spits the pill and eats the treat or if the vet has explicitly instructed not to give the medication with food, you will have to place the pill directly to the dog's mouth.
This task would be easier if the dog is used to being affectionately cuddled.
Hold and raise the snout with one hand.
This will cause the dog to open his mouth.
Insert the pill at the base of the tongue.
Close the dog's mouth and gently blow on the nose or stroke the dog's throat.
This will encourage your pet to swallow.
Watch the dog fort a while to make sure that it has swallowed the pill.
Give your pet a treat.