Marmaduke Pets

If you have ever tried to give your pet a pill or a liquid medication, you know how challenging it can be. Some pets are very good at spitting out the medication or detecting it in their food. Others may get stressed or even aggressive when you try to force the medication into their mouth. But don’t worry, we have some tips and products to help you give your pet medication without stress or mess. Plus, we have some recommendations for products that you can find on Marmaduke Pets online store that can make medication time easy and fun for both you and your pet.

How to Give Your Pet a Pill Without a Fuss

Hide the Pill in a Tasty Treat

One of the easiest ways to get your pet to take a pill is to hide it in a treat that they love. The trick is to choose a treat that is soft, sticky, and smelly enough to mask the pill and make your pet swallow it quickly.

Here are some of our favourites:

– Peanut butter:

Peanut butter is a great option for hiding pills because it is sticky, fragrant, and delicious. You can either put a dab of peanut butter on a spoon and let your pet lick it off, or roll it into a small ball, or a slice of peanut butter and insert the pill inside. Just make sure the peanut butter does not contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs.

– Viennas

Viennas is another soft meat product that works well for hiding pills. You can roll it into a ball and put the pill in the center, or slice it and make a pocket for the pill. A vienna has a strong smell and flavour that can mask the pill and entice your pet.

– Cheese:

Cheese is a classic choice for hiding pills, especially for dogs. You can use soft cheese like mozzarella or cream cheese, or hard cheese like cheddar or gouda. Just cut a small piece of cheese and insert the pill inside, or warm it up slightly and mould it around the pill.

How to Give Your Pet a Liquid Medication Without Stress

If your pet needs a liquid medication, you may be wondering how to give it to them without causing stress or mess. Some pets may happily lap up the medication from a spoon or a bowl, but others may refuse to take it or spit it out. In that case, you may need to give the medication directly into your pet’s mouth, which can be tricky if you don’t know how to do it properly. But don’t worry, we have some tips and products to help you give your pet a liquid medication without stress.

1. Hide the Liquid Medication in Food or Treats

One of the easiest ways to give your pet a liquid medication is to mix it with some canned food or a treat that they love. The trick is to choose a food or treat that is moist, tasty, and smelly enough to mask the medication and make your pet swallow it quickly.

Here are some of our favourites:

– Wet dog food:

You can use your pet’s regular food or a special raw food diet to hide the liquid medication. Just mix the medication with a small amount of food and hand feed it to your pet, or put it in a bowl and let them eat it. Make sure the food is thick and dense enough to hold the liquid, and that your pet eats all of it.

– Peanut butter:

Peanut butter is a great option for hiding liquid medication because it is sticky, fragrant, and delicious. You can either put a dab of peanut butter on a spoon and mix the medication with it, or fill a syringe with peanut butter and squirt it into your pet’s mouth. Just make sure the peanut butter does not contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets.

– Cheese:

Cheese is another classic choice for hiding liquid medication, especially for dogs. You can use soft cheese like cream cheese or hard cheese like cheddar. Just cut a small piece of cheese and make a pocket for the liquid medication, or warm it up slightly and mix it with the medication.

To make sure your pet does not get suspicious of the food or treat, always pair it with one that does not have any medication inside. Give your pet one or two plain treats first, then one with the medication, then one or two more plain treats. Do this quickly and enthusiastically, so your pet does not have time to examine or spit out the treat.

If you want to save time and hassle, you can also use ready-made treats that are designed for hiding liquid medication. These treats have a hollow center where you can put the liquid medication, and they come in different flavours and sizes to suit your pet’s preferences.

2. Give the Liquid Medication Directly into Your Pet’s Mouth

If your pet is too smart or picky to fall for the food or treat trick, you may have to give the liquid medication directly into their mouth. This may sound daunting, but with some practice and patience, you can do it safely and effectively.

Here are some steps to follow:

– Prepare the liquid medication and have it ready in a syringe or dropper.

For example, if you are right-handed, hold the syringe or dropper in your right hand.

– Shake or mix the liquid medication well before drawing it into the syringe or dropper. If the medication was refrigerated, you may want to warm it up by holding it in your hand for a minute or two. DO NOT MICROWAVE THE MEDICATION.

– Place your pet in a comfortable and secure area where you can easily handle them. You may want to wrap them in a towel or blanket to prevent them from squirming or scratching. It is easier to give liquid medication if you have a second person available to help you.

– Gently grasp your pet’s muzzle from above with your other hand, by placing your thumb behind the canine teeth on one side of the upper jaw and your fingers on the other.

– Tilt your pet’s head back slightly until their mouth opens slightly. With your syringe or dropper hand, place the tip of the syringe or dropper in the gap between the canine tooth and the pre-molars behind the canine tooth. Be sure to angle the syringe or dropper slightly to the side so that the tip of the syringe or dropper deposits the medication onto the tongue.

– Slowly squeeze the syringe or dropper to dispense the liquid medication. Make sure you do this slowly so your pet has time to swallow the liquid and breathe normally. Do not squirt too much liquid at once, as this may cause choking or aspiration.

– Close your pet’s mouth and hold it closed while you return their head to a normal position.

– Gently rub your pet’s throat or blow lightly on their nose to stimulate swallowing. You can also offer some water or a tasty treat to help the liquid medication go down.

– Praise your pet and reward them with a treat or playtime. This will make the experience more positive and easier for the next time. After each use, rinse the syringe or dropper thoroughly with water and refrigerate the remaining medication if necessary.

We hope these tips and products will help you give your pet a pill without a fuss. Remember to always follow your vet’s instructions on how and when to give the medication, and check with them before using any food or treat to hide the pill.

 If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us at Marmaduke Pets online store. We are here to help you and your pet live happier and healthier lives!