How to give a pill to a dog | Easy way to give a dog a pill

September 14, 2019
by DR Roxanne Jones

Pets, like humans, need pills from time to time - it’s simply a fact of being alive. That means as a fur parent, there’s going to come a time when you need to give your dog a pill, whether it’s a simple dewormer or some sort of medication for an illness.

Some dogs are pretty relaxed about taking their meds and are easily fooled into eating a treat with a pill tucked inside. But other dogs simply refuse, and it can be a real battle to medicate them. Knowing how to get it right will help you to do it (relatively) painlessly and get that pill down your doggie’s throat without too much of a fight!

Follow the simple steps below next time you need to give a pill to your dog, or watch the video for a step-by-step demo featuring Dr Jones and our very patient patient, Benji.

3 Easy steps to giving your dog a pill

First things first: if your dog likes to put up a fuss when you try to medicate him, it may be worth getting someone to help you. One of you can hold the dog, and the other person can administer the pill.

Once you have your dog seated and still, you want to hold him around the jaw. Then, try and press quite firmly on the canines to make your pooch open his mouth. When your bottom finger is pressed firmly at the bottom of his mouth, his jaw will open.
Quickly, while his jaw is open, stick your hand in and drop the pill right down the back of his throat.
If you’re worried your doggie will spit the pill back out, hold his mouth closed as soon as you’ve put the pill in. You can also blow lightly into his mouth as this may cause him to swallow - and thus swallow the pill. Another clever trick is to have a little syringe of water on hand. Once you’ve popped the pill into your doggie’s mouth, hold his mouth closed, and then squeeze a little water into his still-closed mouth. This will force him to swallow, and down the pill at the same time.

And that is the easy way to give a pill to a dog! We hope this works for you. Remember to watch the video for a step-by-step demo.

Disclaimer: Always consult your vet for professional advice. The Zuki.co.za blog is provided as an educational tool and should not be used to diagnose illness or treat an animal.

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