How do you get a really smart dog to swallow a pill?

hollow out a small piece of a hot dog and put pill in it then cover back up hole with it

Introduction

Yeah, that's the old school way to give a dog his medicine--holding your poor pooch's mouth open and forcing a pill down his throat. Since this will no doubt be highly unpleasant for you both, there are some easier methods to try.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need

Cream cheese

Pill splitter

Steps

1Step One Click to enlargeIt's not a pill, it's a treat! The absolute best and easiest way to accomplish this task is to hide the pill in some form of food that doesn't require a lot of, if any, chewing. Cream cheese works wonders for me. I knife off a little bit and cover the pill completely, then feed it to them by hand. My dogs gobble it down before they even know what hit 'em! Margarine also works well. Sliced cheese does not.

2Step TwoIf the pill is too large to go inside a treat, split it or crush it up so it will be easier to hide.

3Step ThreeWatch them eat the treat, just to make sure they didn't surreptitiously spit the pill out. If they do spit it out, try putting it in a different kind of food. You can even hide it in a piece of chicken breast if you must. Never known a dog to turn down actual meat...

4Step FourYou can also mix the pill in with their regular food. Wet food is better for this task, obviously. But you must watch and make sure they didn't leave the pill or spit it out.

5Step FiveIf you have an older pet with digestive restrictions, ask your vet if the medication comes in a liquid form.

6Step Six Click to enlargeFinally, there's a new invention called "Pill Pockets" which are an actual pre-made dog treat with a little hole in it to insert the pill. They also come in cat form. You can find these at major pet stores or online. Their website is www.pillpockets.com. You can enter your zip code and they will show you a retailer near you.

How To Feed Dogs Pills

If peanut butter doesn't help, then I'm sorry to say that you are forced to feed the dog.

Ways to do that:

You have to do this carefully.. Get him in a sitting position between your legs (you're standing if it's a big dog) and use your legs to hold him.. Pry his mouth open (it helps to put pressure on his tongue), drop the pill as far back in his throat as you can, hold his mouth closed and lift his chin so his jaw is in line with his throat.. Then gentle stroke your hand down (always in a downward motion) his throat until he swallows.. Then give him fresh water to make sure it gets all the way down..

It takes practice, but the key is getting the pill as far back as possible.. Get someone to help you if he wiggles too much.. And never try it with an aggressive dog unless you're sure you can control him (and keep from getting bitten)..But I guess your dad is already doing that.

I taught my dog to accept pills at a very early age. All you need is something that looks slightly pill shaped yet tastes great (mild slim jim works great) and you ask for the sit, then when she opens her mouth to take the treat tell her open, since her mouth is already opening you can praise and immediately treat. Keep at it until she opens her mouth for the word. Then move to something that looks exactly like a pill (brewer's yeast tablets) they taste good yet look like a pill. Continue the above step. When it comes time to administer the pill act exactly like you are just doing a training session and treat her. When she is finished with the first treat give her the pill and then immedietly give her a treat.

smart dog swallow pill

Well I had a VERY smart dog and he had to swallow pills for one week....I cut up a hot dog weiner and put the pill into that then my dog swallowed it.

They make treats called "Pill Pockets" that is a little treat with a hole that you put the pill in and then close it up. My three dogs are very smart and always know when I'm giving them a pill, but they swollow the Pill Pocket without a thought.

They sell them at many vets and pet stores like PetSmart.

Here is the link to them: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productI...

You can try a product called Pill Pockets they seem to work well. Depending on the size of the pill you can purchase a pill gun from your local pet store. The other option might be to try regular american cheese, give her a small piece plain first, then the 2nd piece with the pill and then a 3rd smaller piece, vary it each month. Hope this helps.

She can't be all that smart, or she would just take the pill so she didn't need to have it rammed down her throat.. When a dog refuses to take a pill that is necessary, and you are sick of wrapping it in everything in the hosue and she still spits out the pill, your only option is to shove it down the dog's throat.

1. Crush the pill.

2. Slice 1/3 of a hotdog lengthwise and sprinkle the pill in like a sandwich filling.

3. Feed the hotdog first thing in the morning or when your dog is starving.