How to make dog drink medicine?

Like us, not all dogs love to take their medicines. But if needed, you can try hiding them in their food, inserting them in a pill pocket, powdering them and dissolving them in your dog's drink, or using a dropper or syringe to squirt them in their mouth. 

Why do dogs hate taking meds?

Unlike humans, dogs lack an understanding of medicine's purpose.

This is why many dogs hate taking them. 

They might perceive it as a foreign object and not safe to consume.

Some medicines also have a bitter taste and smell that can be unpleasant, which dogs can detect.

This makes them reluctant to consume the medicine. 

5 Tricks to make your dog take medicine

Hide it in their food

The first thing you can do is to hide it in their food.

This might be the most used method for dogs refusing to take their medicine.

And it can be pretty effective, too.

Make sure to feed them with soft, tasty treats, such as:

• Cheese.
• Meatballs.
• Peanut butter.

Try to mix the medicine with your dog's favorite food.

Although it is one of the best options, some dogs can still know when you are trying to feed them with medicine.

Pill pockets

These are designed treats for pets that have a built-in pouch.

You can insert their medication in there and feed them to it. 

They are specifically made for this situation, and they are highly effective, too.

These treats have flavors that you can choose from, and they are meant to mask the smell and taste of the medicine so your dog won't know.

Powderize the medicine

Try to pour the medicine and mix it with their milk.

This would be a great option if it is already in liquified form.

However, if it is still not, one thing you can do is to powderize it. Make sure that you have powdered it thoroughly.

After, you dissolve the powder and mix it with the dog's drink, whether water or milk.

This is another good way to trick your dog into taking their medicine.

Use a dropper or syringe

Another way you can trick your dog into feeding them with medicine is to use a dropper or syringe. 

This is true for liquid medications.

You can do this by holding your dog's mouth gently and squirting the liquid from the tool into the dog's mouth.

Make sure to avoid squirting the dropper or syringe too much or too quickly, as it can cause choking or gagging to your dog.

Positive reinforcement

With all the methods that you can use to trick your dog into taking their medicine, doing so with positive reinforcement is still the way to go.

This can give your dog a much more pleasant experience when taking their medicine.

After you give them their medication, immediately give them praise and love for their actions. 

Give them a treat.

This will help your dog associate taking medicine with a positive activity, as they will receive a reward.

How to give your dog liquid medicine?

The first thing is to hold their mouth open gently and start tilting their head back a bit. 

When done, insert the dropper or syringe into the side of your dog's mouth.

Make sure to do it slowly, and reward them after they have taken their medication.