Reply #47: Memos from my cat: Swaddle the dog in a towel. Get vet to give liquid [View All]

[politicat]

next time. (Why vets give pills I don't know....)

Okay, first off, since he's a little dog, swaddle him in a towel, just like you would with a baby. Get all those limbs under control so you don't have to worry about him getting loose, and don't have to try to control with one hand while pilling with the other. Then try the shove, massage and watch method.

If he has a cold, he may not want to eat the cheese because he can't smell it, and dogs, though less picky than cats in general, won't eat what they can't smell. So a good, stinky food might be in order. For us, when the cats need meds, we crush the meds up, and mix them with dried, shaved bonito (the Japanese fish used to make dashi stock). It stinks up the house, but the cats can smell it though a sinus infection. (So can we.)

Crushing the pills and mixing in wet food might work, but if he's not hungry, he's not going to eat.

Can the meds be given as a suppository? I know it's gross to think about shoving a pill up the dog's butt, but you might want to ask the vet if that's an option if all else fails. Many pills will dissolve rectally.

Good luck. If I were closer, I'd come help!