Hey Woofa’s,

Let me ask you a question – have you ever struggled trying to give your dog a tablet?

This last week, after Billy’s Kennel Cough diagnosis, we’ve had some fun.

We had to give Billy his antibiotics, two tablets each day.

While it has been quite some time since I’ve had to give a dog tablets, I think Isabel was the last time, I still remember the struggles.

I remember, when I lived at home with my parents, my dad struggling to give our staffies tablets.  He’d pry open their mouth, have the tablet ready and put it in as far as he could, then he’d close their mouth, rubbing their neck, waiting for the swallow.

Then thinking all was a success, out would come the tablet all mushy on the floor.  I won’t repeat what my dad said lol.

The struggle is real, not all dogs willingly take tablets.  You’re lucky if your dog does.

So this got me thinking about all the ways I’ve tried giving tablets over the years.

I thought I’d share them with you.

6 WAYS TO GIVE YOUR DOG A TABLET!

1 – In Their Dinner – You can try putting the table in your dog’s dinner.  However, you must remember your dog’s sense of smell is out of this world, so your dog knows that the tablet is in there.  They can smell it.

It’ll become a matter of how hungry they are as to whether they scoff up the tablet.

We’ve had dogs eat around the tablet, leaving it in the bowl.

It’s great if they take it this way, easy peasy.

2 – Wrapped Up In Their Favourite Food or Treat – This is when you get their favourite food or treat, say cheese or some ham for instance, and try to hide the table in the treat and then give it to your dog.

Again if this works it’s great.  It has to be a high valued treat or piece of food that your loves and will do almost anything to eat.

A customer was telling me they have four treats, say four lots of cheese pieces, the first two might not have the tablet in it but the third one does and then they get a fourth.

This way it’s all about how quick the dog is taking the treat and hoping for it not to realise there’s a tablet in number 3.

3 – My Dad’s Way- Stuffing It Down Their Throat – I don’t mean sticking your fingers down their throat, I mean opening their mouth with head tilted back, putting the tablet in as far as you can go, closing the mouth while rubbing the throat, and hope they swallow.

For some this will work, however I can’t stress enough NOT TO DO THIS if your dog isn’t familiar with you being around their mouth with your fingers.

Not many dogs love us sticking our fingers in their mouth, however some are more tolerable than others, so proceed with caution.

4 – Crush The Tablet Into Their Food or Favourite Treat – I find this way a little easier than using a whole tablet.  In crushed form its more of a powder within their food/treat, so they can’t just spit the tablet out.

For my previous staffy Isabel, I use to make her toast, cut it into a small square, butter it, put the crushed tablet on top spread out, and then put honey on top.  This is how she would take her tablet.

There was no mess or fuss, her drive for honey on toast overcame her not wanting to take a whole tablet.

5 – Stick It To The Roof Of Their Mouth – This is the way I give Billy tablets, it’s not mean, just read on.

I crush his tablet, put peanut butter (or you could use honey) on a teaspoon and mix the two together.  Make sure the crushed tablet is mixed right into the peanut butter.

Here is where Dean and I differ, he’ll chase Billy around the house begging him to just lick it off the spoon, and eventually he does.

I on the other hand, put the mixture on the end of my finger, open Billy’s mouth, and stick my finger in enough so I can wipe the peanut butter on the roof of his mouth.

This way it sticks and he has to lick it to get it off and he has taken his tablet as well.

Again, proceed with caution, Billy is very tolerable of me sticking my fingers in his mouth.  NO he doesn’t love it but I also clean his teeth with wipes so he’s use to me annoying him with my fingers in or near his mouth.

6 – Ask The Vet To Do It For You – Not sure if this is the best way, it depends on how many times a day you have to give the tablet.

Your vet may also charge for each visit.

You could also have your vet show you how to administer the tablet!   Or ask if the medication comes in a liquid form, however you still have to give them that too.

The best way to administer a tablet is whatever works best for you and your dog, as long as no-one gets hurt in the process.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

Giving tablets to your dog is not always easy.

Hopefully, at least one of the methods above will work for you.

GOOD – LUCK!

IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – HOW YOU GIVE YOUR DOG TABLETS?