Friend's dog with CCF

[abstibus]

I am looking after my friend's dogs while she is on holiday. The little rescue Chihuahua, who is quite elderly, I think, has congestive heart failure and is on daily medication.
She refuses to take this for me (I think she may be pining). I don't want to stress her any more then necessary.
Can anyone suggest a way I might encourage her to take this little half tablet? I can't just leave it in her basket as one of the other four would gobble it.
Her owner gives it to her in a very tiny bit of chocolate. I am not happy giving a dog chocolate but it seems the only way.
Any advice would be helpful.
Many thanks.

[ojread2]

A piece of chicken? Liver? Any meat really

[abstibus]

oj
I'll try that again. I bought her chicken yesterday but she turned her nose up at it. I'm a veggie with (big) omnivorous dogs that hoover up anything, so this is a new experience for me.
This is only the second day, so maybe she'll come to trust me.

[Ratty2E]

Have you tried squishing a small piece of cheese round it? I don't think I'd want to give a dog chocolate either.

[abstibus]

I sat and cuddled her for a while and then offered her a tiny piece of chicken with the tablet inside. After a bit of head turning, she took it.
The downside to all this dog care is that I daren't get dressed after my shower, as the 'foster' doggies see this as a walkies signal, and then the excitement starts ...
Mine are used to my routine and don't bother until I'm ready.
The fact that I have a big garden is immaterial to my doggie friends, so we have to go to the beach in case there are any fresh smells or new seaweed.
Madhouse.

[lankeela]

I use margerine, and if they won't take it hidden inside I smear it on their mouths and they lick it off. It sometimes take a couple of goes but they usually get it in the end.

[ladybirder]

Good for you for persisting, I wouldn't give a dog chocolate either. Perhaps you can persuade her owner to give the medicine in chicken in future as you have managed to do.

[islasmum]

I'm very lucky in that I can throw Isla a pill and she will catch it and swallow it straight down! But if one of mine didn't like taking pills I found that a bit of philedelphia cheese disguised it well.

[abstibus]

I have been watching her carefully today, and am amused at the body language. She's trotting around with the others with ears and tail up, quite happy.
When she sees me watching her, she goes into 'poor me' mode and is a pathetic sight, with tail tucked in and the body language of a beaten dog.
Little madam.

[chaptazbru]

She sounds like a little cutie. I've been lucky with Bruno, he'll take his pills in anything, cheese, bits of meat, pushed in a dog treat or even mixed in with his dinner !

[ladybirder]

They're brilliant with the "poor me" thing aren't they. One of mine, many years ago, used to start with the shakes as soon as he thought I was going to leave him. I'd look at him, he'd look at me, I'd point the finger, he'd stop the shaking. So funny. He was such a lovely boy.

[CatGirl4]

Have you tried putting it in liver sausage? also make sure you're calm before you give it to her,sounds silly i know but they do pick up stress.Good luck.

[abstibus]

A little update - the tiniest piece of Dairylea cheese with the half tablet inside. I just set it in her basket and hey presto!