Antibiotics - how to get a dog to eat them

[anonymous-user]

Our 13 year old lab has been on antibiotics for about 1 month, he has another 10 days left of 3 tablets a day.

He refuese to eat them no matter what we do. We have tried mixing in with his food, wrapping in cheese, ham, chicken, mixing with fish, coated in jam, coated in jam in a sandwhich. Other than shoving them down his throat, he refused to eat them.

He will eat anything normally, just not with his tablets.

Any advice on what is best to do?

[ElectricSoup]

Crush and mix with meat pate?

[Scabutz]

ElectricSoup said:

Crush and mix with meat pate?

This. Our old springer got wise to the wrapped in cheese lark and would eat the cheese and leave the tablet. Crush and mixed in worked.

[daddy cool]

[Mr Roper]

Trial and error i guess,

Try pate...We do this and it works every time.

[geeks]

Crunchy Peanut Butter atop a dog biscuit works well with our two for their worming tablets.

[MYOB]

There's a way you can open dogs jaws with one hand by squeezing at the bottom and back of their lower jaw. Simply drop the tablet down their throat.

I know you asked for other ways but for me, through trial and error, this is the best method.

[anonymous-user]

MYOB said:

There's a way you can open dogs jaws with one hand by squeezing at the bottom and back of their lower jaw. Simply drop the tablet down their throat.

I know you asked for other ways but for me, through trial and error, this is the best method.

I've done this in the past but after a month of tablets, he is now scared of this methord so would like to try and find a better one.

I'll try meat paste and crushed up tablets

[peterperkins]

In your slippers or anything else you don't want chewed and eaten..

[Big_Dog]

Dogs always seem to focus on the next food. We use three slices of ham one for tasting next with the tablet in and the third to wave about whilst the dog eats the second. Works for us.

[garythesign]

May be worth talking to your vet to see if there is an alternative anti biotic without such a strong smell/taste

Hope it goes well for you.

Any photos? I love an oldie!

[Richard-390a0]

geeks said:

Crunchy Peanut Butter atop a dog biscuit works well with our two for their worming tablets.

Be mindful of what peanut butter you use though as some now contain an artificial sweetner that is harmful to dogs. (It's Xylitol IIRC)

[MYOB]

Pigdoguk said:

MYOB said:

There's a way you can open dogs jaws with one hand by squeezing at the bottom and back of their lower jaw. Simply drop the tablet down their throat.

I know you asked for other ways but for me, through trial and error, this is the best method.

I've done this in the past but after a month of tablets, he is now scared of this methord so would like to try and find a better one.

I'll try meat paste and crushed up tablets

Completely understand. He's on antibiotics for a lengthy duration!

[geeks]

Richard-390a0 said:

geeks said:

Crunchy Peanut Butter atop a dog biscuit works well with our two for their worming tablets.

Be mindful of what peanut butter you use though as some now contain an artificial sweetner that is harmful to dogs. (It's Xylitol IIRC)

Correct!

[COLONEL_SMITH]

Big_Dog said:

Dogs always seem to focus on the next food. We use three slices of ham one for tasting next with the tablet in and the third to wave about whilst the dog eats the second. Works for us.

This is how we do it. Works everytime.

[anonymous-user]

garythesign said:

May be worth talking to your vet to see if there is an alternative anti biotic without such a strong smell/taste

Hope it goes well for you.

Any photos? I love an oldie!

He is in the middle, holding a towel for god knows what reason.

The alternative is a operation, which I dont want to put him through, He has only 10 days left to go the fussy bugger lol.

Big_Dog said:

Dogs always seem to focus on the next food. We use three slices of ham one for tasting next with the tablet in and the third to wave about whilst the dog eats the second. Works for us.

Normally I'd agree but he is wise to this.

[moorx]

As suggested, meat or fish paste has always been the 'failsafe' here.

[garythesign]

Pigdoguk said:

Normally I'd agree but he is wise to this.

Love the photo in the boot of the car

All three look fabulous

[Saleen836]

Was a nightmare trying to get my old Labrador to swallow pills, tried everything but she would eat whatever and leave the tablet. What did work though was instead of handing her a treat I would make a game of it and throw it in the air for her to catch, do this a couple times then throw the tablet wrapped in cheese/ham/something she liked, worked everytime.

[TR4man]

We use a tube of Primula cheese, stick half a tablet into the end nozzle and squeeze it so that an inch long dollop of cheese covers the tablet - had no trouble at all with any of our Labs having their medication with this method. They love licking the cheese and don't seem to notice the tablets.

Make sure you keep the dog's primula away from your own though!