Help - Getting Tablets Into Dogs

[rockyracoon]

My dog is currently on a cocktail of 8 tablets twice a day. They are a friggin nightmare to get into him. The usual hiding in fish, cheese, pepperoni is failing miserably at the moment, and he is checking every bit of his food before eating. 5 of the tablets are small and yellow and are not too bad, then he has 2 huge pink antibiotics that are the size of a Minstrel, but the killer is the Tramadol, they must taste foul as he seems to smell it a mile off. I'm having to unclamp his mouth and get the tablets down the back of his throat, he's obviously not very cooperative and my hand is in bits.

Any ideas?

[rockyracoon]

Thanks Danny, I was rather hoping to get the advice of the dog lovers on AB.

[dannyk13]

Sorry the link didn't work

[wolf63]

I used to use mini Mars bars - if he is okay with chocolate. Does the tablet have to be taken whole or can you crush it or chop it into smaller bits?

I was told by a Vet nurse that keeping tablets in the fridge can cut down on their smell.

Giving two tablets to my boy cat seems such a simple thing to do - but it isn't and I share your frustration.

I hope your boy is still a happy chappy.

[dannyk13]

Wolf,Ordinary chocolate should not be fed to dogs.
https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/is-chocolate-bad-for-dogs

[rockyracoon]

I tried to chop them up when he was on them before, he just fished them out, then I have about 50 bits to try and get in him. I didn't know about the fridge thing, I'll give that a go.

It's so very frustrating as he has a nasty infection (the second in 5 months) and I want to get these tablets in him as regularly as possible. He's got the right hump and keeps glaring at me.

[wolf63]

Danny - it's not a clear-cut situation. My first dog, when I was a kid, got a Yorkie bar each week (to himself) from my mum and he was healthy and lives to a reasonable age. I wouldn't encourage anyone to give chocolate to dogs, but a small mini Mars bar for the dog the size of the patient is not likely to be problematic.

[Georgiesmum]

Ordinary chocolate is really bad for dogs. I managed to get tablets down my spaniel when i wrapped them in a cube of corned beef.

[dannyk13]

Rocky, have you tried crushing them before putting in his food.

[Tilly2]

Buy some really cheap ham, those square, plasticy, watery hams are best.
Cut the slices into two/four and carefully wrap the Tramadol in a biggish bit of ham. When you give it to the dog, make sure the tablet is at the top of the wrap and let the dog sort of suck it from your fingers. That works with mine.

[rockyracoon]

He's not fond of chocolate, fortunately. But, 30 years ago we used to have a Doberman that had a bar of Dairy Milk every morning when my dad went to buy the paper. He lived till he was 12. I think it's the higher the percentage of cocoa the more dangerous it is, that being said, I'd still err on the side of caution.
I also have his weight to watch, he's a bit overweight, I think from the previous infection where we were rolling the tablets into cheese balls to make him eat them. Though, the medication has to be the first consideration at the moment.

[Tilly2]

Those pink antibiotics are palatable. My dog will just eat those.

[rockyracoon]

I've tried the meats, I've made little parcels out of it, but he just smells the tablets. It worked for the first couple of days, but from yesterday he is actively looking for the tablets, I have previously crushed them, when he was on his last course, but he wasn't fooled and I wasted a dose of the antibiotic. I'v tried mixing with water and syringing them in, but I needed about 250ml for the big tablets alone and that's too much, that and there was lots of undissolved tablet that just sat at the bottom of the bowl.

Nightmare. I'll need a hand transplant soon. He's getting an extra week of the blooming things on Wednesday!

[rockyracoon]

That's what the veterinary nurse said, but they're really not. Well, not for Yogi. He's not a gannet like dogs usually are, my mum's dog will bolt most food, but he is very different.

[dannyk13]

In your situation I think I would try a pill gun.

https://www.therange.co.uk/pets/dogs/dog-healthcare/dog-supplements/mikki-pill-gun-for-dogs-and-cats

[Tilly2]

What does he like to eat?
I think the problem is that like most dogs he is reading your body language and he knows it's tablet time. Perhaps try giving them with something he does like but throughout the day rather than at the same time each day.

[Islay]

Crunchy butter toast take a half out the tablets in and fold because the toast is crunchy he won’t realise till too late

[choux]

I share your pain rr. Over many years I have had to outwit many of my pets with pills. I once tried popping the pill in the dog's mouth, holding its jaws together (so I thought) and gently blew into its mouth to make it swallow. It bit me on the lip. Decided not to try that method again.

The greatest success I found with the dogs was to cook some tasty sausage and buy some cheap pate. Once the susage were cold I would cut one or two into chunky mouthfuls. I would part hollow the middle from one into which I popped the pill. Carefully smothered the hole either end with pate. I would do the same with the pate on undoctored chunks of sausage and feed them as treats. Then when the appetite was well whetted I would slip the dog the bit with pill in and have the next bit of sausage ready. All my dogs have always loved sausages so this method has never failed me.

I know that pets can sense our frustration whilst we are trying to give them medication so it is important to be relaxed when doing so. It may help if you don't give them the pills at the same time of day i.e. before or after feeding. I wish you well with it and hope your dog soon improves.

[choux]

Just a thought but might your dog take the pills from someone else other than yourself rr?

I have done this for other friends' dogs and always got them down their throats. Drives the owners mad ;)

[rockyracoon]

Trouble is Tilly, I work, so it has to be morning and evening. I'll maybe try an hour after he's feed and see if that works.

The toast might work, we usually share some in the morning.

Choux, we've exhausted the sausage thing unfortunately.