subject: Tips on how to administer pet meds [print this page] Tips on how to administer pet meds Tips on how to administer pet meds
Administering pet meds when your pet is sick is not easy as it sounds. They can be like babies. Just like a baby, pets do not understand that the pet medicine is for their own good. What they do know is that the medication does not smell tasty like their usual treats. You need to know how you can get your pet to take the drugs.
Pet medicine can be a liquid or a pill. You should ask your vet if the drug can be mixed with the pet food. If he or she says that it is possible, you can mix it with the food. You can use a variety of pet foods. For pills, use a type of pet food that you can easily wrap the pills in. Food with strong flavor can help hide the taste of pet medicine.
Before you let your pet feed on the mixture, give it some food without the medication. You need to let your pet taste some of the food so that it knows there is nothing wrong with it. You can then mix the drug with the pet food and give it to your pet. Make sure that the pet finishes the entire dosage. You should not mix the pet meds to the entire meal of your pet. There is a chance that your pet might not be able to finish the entire meal and the whole dosage. This makes it difficult to tell how much of the pet meds your pet had consumed. Giving your pet liquid medicine takes patience.
If your vet says that you can't mix the pet medicine with the food, you can use a dropper or a syringe to get the pet meds down the pet's throat. You can also use a pill gun. This can be quite tricky. Before you attempt this, get the materials and medicine ready. Remember not to show your anxiety by talking in a cheerful tone. Your pet can sense the hesitation or stress in your tone. Your pet should be positioned in such a way that it will not be able to bolt. You can position it on your lap or have it sit with its back against a chair or wall.
With one hand, gently open your pet's mouth and slightly tilt back the head. Insert the dropper or syringe with your other hand between the back teeth and the cheek. So that your pet does not choke, slowly squeeze the pet meds into their mouth. Keep your pet's muzzle closed until your pet has swallowed the meds or for about 30 seconds. If the pet is having trouble swallowing it, gently blow on its face or stroke its throat. Give your pet a treat when you are done.
Giving pet meds to your pet requires practice and patience. Your pet will learn to take the pet medicine more easily as you get better at it. Your pet will learn that the meds won't actually hurt it. One way to practice giving your pet its medicine is to use water with a syringe or dropper and give it to your pet.
