Giving Medicine

Administering medicine can be nerve-wrecking if it is your first time. Here are some quick tips that might save the day.

Ear Medicine

Begin by sitting your dog down, and then kneeling beside him as you pull up his ear flap. With the other hand, administer the medication, whether it's in a tube, syringe or dropper, and make sure it goes directly into the ear canal. Bring the ear flap back down, and then rub it gently to work the medication inside.

Eye Drops

When giving eye drops, have someone else to help if possible. Your friend can hold your dog's raised head still while you gently roll back the upper eyelid and drip the eye drops in. Cup his chin and gently tilt his head so his nose points skywards. Pull his lower lid open with one hand while pulling back his top lid and slowly squeeze eye drops in with your other hand.

Liquid Medicine

To give your dog liquid medicine, tilt his head slightly upward, and then place the dropper (or syringe) behind the lip fold at the side of his mouth. Squeeze the liquid medicine in small doses to give your dog time to swallow.

Ointments, Creams, and Salves

Correctly applying ointments, creams, and salves can be tricky. To be effective they have to stay where you put them, but your puppy? natural inclination is to lick them off. Rub topical medications in thoroughly, and apply them right before walk time. Hopefully, your pup will be too interested in his walk to lick at the medication on his wound. With a really determined licker, try a protective bandage.

Oral Pills

The first trick is to try and get your dog to eat a pill encased in a piece of food (such as cheese or fruit). Otherwise, you'll have to gently make him swallow it. Grasp his muzzle with one hand and pull his jaw open with the other. Try to place the pill as far back into his throat as you can, then gently close his mouth. Massage his mouth and throat, until you see his neck move in the familiar swallowing motion.