MEDICATIONS

Liquid medicine is the easiest to give to unwilling pets. Often a needleless syringe will accompany the liquid. Draw up the designated amount, then insert the tip into the corner of your pet’s mouth and slowly squirt the medicine into his cheek. Keep his head tipped up so that gravity prompts the medicine to flow in the right direction. Stroke his throat until you see him swallow. You may need to give just a few drops at a time to be sure that he gets it all. If you do not have a needleless syringe, you can use an eyedropper.

PILLING

Dogs often take pills willingly when they’re hidden in a tasty treat, but, some dogs and most cats will swallow the treat and spit out the pill. You must make sure your pet actually swallows for it to do any good.

HOW SHOULD I DO THIS?

FOR A DOG

To give a dog a pill, circle the top of his snout with your hand, pressing both sides of his jaw along the gum line just behind the large pointed canine teeth. This action will prompt your dog to open wide. When he does, push the pill over the hill of his tongue with your other hand, then close his mouth; gently stroke his throat until he swallows. Follow the pill with a treat to chase it down so that he’s distracted and forgets to spit it out.

FOR A CAT

The same technique works with many cats, but if it doesn’t, grasp the loose fur at the scruff of your cats neck and pull his head back until his nose points to the ceiling. His mouth will automatically drop open. Just pull down the jaw with one finger and drop the pill into his mouth at the back of the tongue. (It helps to put some butter or margarine on the pill to help it slide down.) Aim for the `V` shape in the centre of the cats tongue. Close his mouth and watch for him to swallow. Cats usually lick their noses after swallowing a pill. You can also crush the pill with the bowl of a spoon, mix it into a piece of strong smelling cat food, and feed it to your cat.

MEDICATING YOUR PETS EARS

Pets ear canals are long and curved, so it takes a special technique to get medicine where it needs to go. Usually, ear medication is a liquid or ointment. To apply it, tip your pets head so the opening of the effected ear points upwards. Put several drops of the medicine in the ear canal, then firmly grasp your pets ear flap so that he doesn’t immediately shake his head and put the medicine all over you. Use your other hand to massage the base of the ear. You should hear a `squishing` sound as the medicine spreads through the inner canal.

MEDICATING YOUR PETS EYES

Eye medication is usually a liquid or ointment, and you apply both the same way. Tip your pets head so he is looking at the ceiling. Gently pull down the lower eyelid on the effected eye and drip or squirt several drops of the medicine into the cupped tissue. Then, release the eyelid and let your pet blink several times. This will naturally spread the medicine over the eye surface wherever it’s needed.