How do you give a dog a capsule?

[Norbert]

I need to give my beagle size dog an anti-biotic capsule the size of one of those oval Tylenol pills.

I had a good thing going by giving it to her wrapped in a small piece of Velveeta. But this morning she must have bit down on the capsule and now she turns her nose up at Velveeta.

Any suggestions?

[sir_captain]

1. Try peanut butter

That's what I used with my dog until I realized that he thought the pill was a treat and would just eat it like it was a milk bone or something.

[Bertha Venation]

2. ball it up in a different flavor of cheese -- try shredded cheddar

Or cover it with peanut butter.

Good luck!

[gyopsy]

3. Try hiding it in some meat

If your dog is anything like mine, they suck up their food so fast (without chewing) that the dog doesn't even notice what he's swallowed.

[H2O Man]

4. Be careful.

Someone might call the humane society about the velveeta. Try burger or any other meat. Dogs by their nature love meat, as opposed to processed pseudo-semi-para- cheese products.

[benburch]

5. Never give it as food.

Open the dog's mouth and pull it's head back. Drop the pill into the back of the dog's mouth. Hold the dog's mouth shut until it swallows. Rubbing the throat of the dog in a downward direction with some firmness can promote swallowing. Watch the dog for a few minutes to make sure that the pill is not coughed back up.

I've done this thousands of times.

-Ben

[kstewart33]

6. Ben's advice is right on

I've given quite a few pills myself. But if your dog struggles mightily, wrap it in food. I give my golden retriever one pill a day for allergies, and she loves whole wheat bread. So I wrap the pill in part of a slice.

[BentleyJD]

8. just make sure

your dog doesn't pull a fast one and spit it out.
some dogs are easier to medicate than others.
take care
tony and dietrich

[Norbert]

13. This is what my dad used to do.

He was a master of giving dogs pills. The apple fell far from the tree in my case. Before supper I tried this and held her mouth shut for a minute and a half. To no avail she spit it right out. I'll try this again if for no other reason but to win in the battle of wills with my dog for once.

[kodi]

15. wisdom

and if the pill is dry, moisten it with a drop of water, or spit.

the dog has to know that regardless of how he acts, that pill is going down. once that happens, the dog wants to get it over with asap and quiets down.

[Malva Zebrina]

7. put it into a piece of hot dog

you know, stick it into the middle of a one inch piece of hot dog.

[arewethereyet]

9. its easy

NO FOOD you understand why now cheese is terrible for dogs as is anything with a high sodium content

have the animal sit
tilt his head back to where his nose is pointed straight up
grasp his upper jaw with the non pill hand, firm but not painfully (watch pinching the gums)
open his mouth wide enough to get a coiuple fingers into
push the pill as far down as you can without being sadistic
shut his trap, head still up and gently rub down his neck on the throat side till you feel him swallow

the animal wont mind so its really just a matter of you getting over the "gross" aspect of it.

cats are the same only harderas their skeletan system gives them more squirm room in a sitting position.

[NewHampster]

11. Whats wrong with Cheese?

Are you saying if I feed my dog Cheese he may only live 14 or 15 years?

[RhodaGrits]

12. This is good advice for most pets -

but if you are worried about your own fingers and want to give it in food - give it in something sticky like peanut butter, butter, moist bread, mushy canned food or soft cheese using just enough to coat the tablet. Give 3 treats - the first w/ no capsule, the second w/ the medication, and the 3rd as a reward and "chaser" with no med. This will *usually* work :-)

Cats should never get a pill or capsule without a 1+ tsp (about 6ml) chaser of water - they are prone to esophageal strictures when the pill gets 'stuck' at the thoracic inlet and it can cause serious problems.

(I'm a small animal vet.)

[NewHampster]

10. Cheese Cheese Wrap it in Cheese

Good old American is what Charlie loves. I wrap it in cheese give him a smell, tease him once then throw it in the air. Never fails.

Charlie is a pain in the butt Brittany that I love anyway.

[WillParkinson]

16. Our vet suggested cheese, too...

He said it was NOT to be given to dogs too often (or just as a snack) but that it was acceptable to use it for the pills.

[camero]

14. Easy

Put the pill in its mouth and rub its throat. Works every time for me. The dog instinctively swallows when you rub its throat. Make sure there's water in its dish because it will go there next.

[OneBlueSky]

17. tried and true method . . .

get some hot dogs or, better yet, some of those little Vienna sausages . . . split one of them down the middle and carve a little v-shaped channel in one side . . . open the capsule and pour the contents into the sausage, put the other side back on, and give it to the pooch . . .

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. I roll it up in a slice of cheese. Works every time. I even have to do

it with her heartworm meds which are supposed to taste like dog treats. Obviously they can't fool a persnickety sheltie. :hi:

[DemoTex]

19. I've got it easy!

I say "pill-for-the-pup" and they open their jaws wide. I stick the pills in and reward them with a freeze-dried liver treat. They know they are getting a liver treat.

[Norbert]

20. Thanks everyone for the suggestions

Good to know there are a lot of avenues to try. I will print this out and file it away for reference.

[RebelOne]

21. Hamburger works for me.