Prescribing medications to a pet is not a pleasant situation. Not only are you worried about your pet's health, but there's also a problem.: how to persuade a cat or dog to eat this bitter (or just suspicious) pill? Animals often show wonders of ingenuity by spitting out or ignoring medicine.
It seems that this is a real battle of characters, from which the host does not always emerge victorious. But there are proven ways and small tricks that can make this task much easier and make the process less stressful for everyone involved.
Disguise: hiding in food
The most popular and often easiest way is to hide the pill in something delicious. For dogs, it can be a piece of meat, cheese, sausage, or a special treat with a pill pocket. Wet food, pate, a piece of boiled chicken or fish are suitable for cats.
It is important that the "disguise" is really desirable for the pet and has a strong enough smell to overcome the smell of the medicine. Let's take a small piece of the treat without the pill first, then with the pill, and immediately after that, another piece without the pill. This will help to deceive the vigilance of the animal. Make sure that the pet swallowed the piece of medicine, and did not spit it out somewhere in the corner.
Direct Introduction: When the Trick doesn't work
If disguising does not help (some particularly fastidious or intelligent pets manage to eat a treat and leave the pill), you will have to resort to a direct method. It requires some skill and confidence.
Carefully fix the animal. Open his mouth with one hand, slightly lifting his upper jaw. With the other hand, quickly place the tablet on the root of the tongue. Immediately close the mouth and keep it closed, lightly stroking the pet's throat from top to bottom to stimulate the swallowing reflex. You can lightly blow into your nose – this also causes swallowing. As soon as the pet has swallowed, praise him and give him a treat. It is important to act quickly and confidently, but without rudeness, so as not to scare the animal.
Alternative forms and veterinary care
Sometimes the tablet can be ground into powder (if this is acceptable for this medicine, check with your veterinarian!) and mix it with a small amount of wet food or water, and then give it to the pet with a spoon or through a syringe without a needle. Some medicines exist in the form of suspensions, drops, or even special tasty pills that animals eat more readily. Ask your doctor about possible alternatives.
If nothing helps, or you are afraid of doing something wrong, do not hesitate to seek help from a veterinarian or a veterinary nurse. They can:
- Show the correct technique. Demonstrate how to safely give a pill.
- Suggest alternatives. Perhaps there is an injectable form of the medicine.
- Use special tools. There are pill dispensers (pillers) that facilitate the process.
Sometimes professional help is the best solution.
Patience and calmness are the key to success
Giving medicine to a pet is often a test of patience. The main thing is to remain calm. Your nervousness is transmitted to the animal, and it will resist even more. Act confidently, but gently.
Try different methods, look for the one that suits your pet. And don't forget to praise and reward him for his obedience, even if the process wasn't entirely smooth. With a little patience and cunning, the mission to deliver the pill will be completed! You can receive bonuses and gifts at 1xBet Casino by activating promotional codes. Enter the 1xbet promo code during registration to get a 150% welcome bonus up to ₹66,000. Bonus code for 1XBET in the registration form and claim exclusive bonuses for casino and sports betting. We break down the CS2 betting coverage at 1xBet and reveal how to use our exclusive 1xBet bonus code. 1xbet promo code unlocks a welcome bonus for news players. The promo section provides details on the minimum deposit amounts for the sportsbook and casino.