How to Give Your Poodle Medication
At some point, you'll probably have to give your poodle some sort of medication, even if it's just nutritional supplements. While it may sound like a daunting task, it needn't be traumatic for either of you.
Pills and Capsules
Before you jam a pill or capsule down your poodle's throat, try getting him to take it voluntarily. Some dogs will scarf a pill down with their food. If your dog simply eats around the pill and leaves it in the bowl, try coating the pill in something delicious (such as peanut butter, cream cheese, or pureed broiled liver) and offering it to him. Act like you're giving him a big treat. Many poodles will happily lick it off your finger and swallow the pill.
As a third option, you can try grinding the pill into a powder with one of those inexpensive pill grinders available at pharmacies and mixing it in with your dog's food. You can also empty capsules right into the food.
Essential
Before giving your poodle pills with food, check with your veterinarian to make sure it's okay. Some medications shouldn't be given with food, though many are less upsetting to the stomach if they are.
If your poodle won't eat medicine-laced food, you'll have to pill him. Ask him to sit, then open his mouth, pop the pill onto the back of his tongue, close his mouth, and rub his throat until he swallows. Make it one swift motion, with no fuss or fumbling. Be matter of fact and cheerful. Be sure to give him a treat when it's all over.
If you're going to be giving your poodle medication for an extended period of time, and he won't accept it in food, talk with your veterinarian about having a compounding pharmacist make up the prescription in a liver-flavored chewable or fish-flavored liquid that will be more palatable for your dog to take. This could save you the stress of having to pill him. And it might even be less expensive.
Dispensing Liquids
Liquid medications can be trickier to give your dog. If that's the only form the medicine comes in, look to your vet for the best advice in administering it. Generally, the easiest way to give a liquid is to put it into a syringe (with the needle removed) and squirt it into the side of your poodle's mouth. You want to avoid squirting it into the back of his mouth to keep it from going down his windpipe.
