Some pet parents struggle to get their fur babies to take their pills. While it may sound like a joke, it is a global problem. There are countless stories of people trying various methods to give medicines to your pet. Let’s just say thousands of pet parents are struggling with this issue daily.
Why is it so difficult to give medicines to your pets?
Another aspect of the story is why our pets do not want to take their medications. Many even put up a fight to avoid pills. On the contrary, some pets accept tablets very smoothly. But a few of them do everything they can to elude the situation. But why wouldn’t they want to take their pills? There are a few reasons which answer this question.
- The Pills Taste Bitter
Even though our pets are not allowed to have tasty food, they still have a perfect sense of taste. And something as bitter as pills will make them reluctant towards it.
- Unpleasant Smell
Many medications have a strong smell that is unappealing to pets. Dogs, especially, are brilliant at smelling and ultimately try to avoid taking the pills.
- The Texture of The Pills
Some pets may not like the medication’s texture, making it difficult for them to swallow.
- Fear and Anxiety
Some pets may have had negative experiences in the past with tablets. Therefore, it can make them anxious about taking medication.
It is essential to overcome these challenges, and the best method is to find creative ways to make medication more appealing to pets. Using positive reinforcement, patience, and persistence, we can effortlessly give medicines to your pet.
5 Simple Hacks To Get Your Pet To Take His Pills
Hide the Pill in Food
Hiding the pill in your pet’s food is the simplest method of feeding medication. However, we must ensure that our pet takes the total dose and doesn’t just eat around the pill. A more effective way is to crush the tablet, dilute it in water, and mix it in your pet’s food entirely. You can also try hiding the pill in small pieces of cheese, chicken, or any of your pet’s favorite foods. Stay close by and watch your pet to ensure they have swallowed the pill.
Give it Before Their Daily Walk
Many animals can’t contain their excitement regarding their daily walks. It is their favorite part of their day when they are most distracted. Giving your pets their medications is best when they don’t notice it. You can give them the pill when leaving for a walk or at the park when they are distracted by their surroundings. To cover your tracks, keep some treats. And they won’t remember about the medicine.
Ask your Vet for a Palate-friendly Pill
Technology makes life easier in all domains. These pills have a taste and texture which is more appealing to pets. They come in various forms, such as flavored, chewable, and soft chews. Palate-friendly pills can make the medication-taking process less stressful for both the owner and the pets. Another theory states that the treatment is more effective when pets enjoy taking their medications. Nonetheless, if you have difficulty giving your pet its medication, it’s worth asking for palatable pills.
Use Pill Pockets
Pill Pockets are the best alternative if you don’t want to feed people’s food to your pets. They are soft, chewy treats with a hollow center where you can insert the medicines. Pill Pockets make it easier to disguise the medication and make it more portable for your pet. We can get Pill Pockets in various flavors, such as chicken, peanut butter, or any smoked meat. The need for innovative treats to overcome the problem of feeding tablets to your pet led to Pill Pockets.
Use a Pill Popper or Pill Syringe
Even though forcing your pet to take a pill is not a good idea, sometimes we must take it the hard way. If we do not wish to stick our hands in our pet’s mouth, Pill Poppers are the best tool. It is a simple process. Load the pill into the syringe, place it at the back of your pet’s mouth, and push the plunger. Pill Poppers are readily available at any vet’s office or pet store.
We must always consider the vet’s advice and instructions to give medications to our pets. And forcing the pill down is not a solution. Instead, it can have many negative impacts on our pets. So use these tips the next time you plan to give medicines to your pet.