How to Administer Medications to Your Pet: Tips and Tricks
When medication is needed, pets don’t always understand that it’s for their own good. As a result, they’ll do anything to avoid swallowing pills or sitting still for injections. While they don’t know that everything you’re doing is in their best interest, it can be very challenging to convince them to accept their scheduled dose. It can take time (and a lot of patience), but giving your pet medication doesn’t have to be the feat of the century.
What to Know
Whether your pet needs medication to prevent certain health problems or they have a regular treatment plan, it is necessary to complete the entire length and dosing of their prescription. Even when a pet’s symptoms improve, it is important to finish the dosage. Prescription medications are planned out to ensure a full recovery from an illness or injury. Also, many medications fully address problems only when regularly administered.
Read the Room
We know how hard it can be to administer medication to a pet in pain, and the frustrations/fear that result from a pet’s aggression, intense stress, or anxiety. It’s important to remember these guidelines:
- Never scold or punish your pet for non-compliance regarding their medication.
- Watch their body language and wait for a time that they may be accepting of your efforts.
- While firmness can go a long way when administering medication, never force them into positions that cause or reinforce fear.
- Get creative about distractions and/or concealments!
How to Give Pets Pill or Capsules
Hiding medication inside cheese, peanut butter, deli meat or other tasty treats is a helpful trick for getting pills or capsules down. Be sure that the outer coating of the pill doesn’t come off. If they taste any medicine at all, they are more likely to refuse your efforts. Plus, the outer coating helps to time delay the medication until it is being digested in the GI tract.
Giving Injections
Common injections like insulin and allergy medication can benefit from training sessions with a veterinary technician. We are happy to help you get started on the right path so you avoid causing undue stress and pain. Regular practice of the following techniques can quickly lead to mastery:
- Always clean the injection site
- Always use sterile needs
- Never mix products, and keep syringes separated
If you need additional assistance prior to giving your pet medications or during an extended treatment plan, please call us at (248) 646-5655. The Beverly Hills Veterinary Associates are always here to help!