No matter how hard you work to keep your dog healthy, she's sure to need medication at some time in her life. To make sure medication is effective, you'll need to know how to give it, how much to give, and how long to continue giving it. Each issue is essential in ensuring your dog's return to good health. Here are some main points to remember regarding medications:

Your dog's medication may come in the form of a pill, liquid, or drops for the eyes or ears. Before you leave the veterinarian's office, make sure you understands when to start giving the medication, whether it should be given with food or on an empty stomach, and how often you should give it each day.

You should inform the veterinarian of any herbal or holistic remedies or other medications your dog is taking. They might interfere with the effectiveness of the prescribed medication.

It is important to give your dog the full course of medication, even if she seems to be better after the first few days. Her body needs to build up a certain amount of the drug in the blood-stream for it to be fully effective. That's also why drugs need to be given at specific intervals, such as every eight hours.

Use the following table to keep track of your dog's prescribed medications, dosages, and methods of administration. Later, you can always refer to this table if you forget the dosage or need to tell the vet which medications your dog is on.

How to Give Pills

Giving pills to a dog can be tricky, but there are a couple different ways to get it done. Check off the method that works best with your dog, and write down any notes you'd like to remember for the next time you give the pills:

• HIDE THE PILLS INSIDE SOMETHING TASTY. Peanut butter, cream cheese, and canned dog food are all excellent “carriers” for pills. But before you follow this plan, ask your veterinarian if it's okay to do this. Some medications shouldn't be given with dairy products like cream cheese.

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• GIVE THE PILLS BY HAND. If you have a dog that eats the yummy coating and spits out the pill, or if the pill should be given on an empty stomach, you'll need to give it by hand, use the other hand to hold the dog's mouth open. Place the pill toward the back of the tongue, close the mouth, and stroke the dog's throat to encourage swallowing. When you think she has swallowed, do a finger sweep inside her mouth to make sure it went down.

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• INVESTIGATE OTHER OPTIONS. If your dog balks at taking a pill, ask the vet if there's another way to give it. some drugs can be made into syrups that are applied to the gums so the medication is absorbed through the mucous membranes. Others can be compounded into something tasty, such as peanut butter, to make them more palatable.

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Though it might work for children, you don't want to crush pills and sprinkle them on your dog's food. Crushed pills can have a bitter flavor that make her reluctant to eat, and you won't have any way of knowing if she gets all the medication.

How to Give Liquids

Most liquid medications come with a dropper for dispensing them. If they don't, you can use a plastic syringe (the kind without a needle), as long as it has the proper measurement markings. Follow these steps for administration:

1. Fill the dropper or syringe with the appropriate amount of medication, and hold it in your dominant hand, using your other hand to open the dog's mouth.

2. Place the dropper in the mouth, aiming it at the cheek pouch, and pinch the lips closed.

3. Slowly release the plunger and continue holding the lips closed until the dog swallows.

4. Always end with a reward, such as a tasty treat (if food can safely follow the medication) or a favorite toy.

Eye and Ear Drops and Ointment

Administer eye drops straight from the bottle. Tilting the dog's head upward, hold the bottle in your dominant hand and squeeze the prescribed number of drops into the eye. Try not to touch the eye with the applicator tip.

To apply an ointment to the eye, hold the head still with one hand, and pull the lower eyelid downward. Using your dominant hand, squeeze a small amount of ointment onto the eyelid, then release the eyelid and gently rub the surface of the closed eye to distribute the ointment over the eyeball. Again, be careful not to poke the dog in the eye with the applicator. It may help to have someone else hold her head for you.

Ear medications often need to go deep into the ear, so they usually come in a tube or bottle with a long, narrow applicator. Place the applicator inside the ear and dispense the appropriate amount. Be sure you have a firm grasp on your dog's head while you do this. Before she can shake his head and send the medication flying, fold the ear over and gently massage it to make sure the medication is thoroughly distributed.