[rauch]

Dog has liver disease and vet said standard arthritis meds will shut down his liver. Only one pain killer can be prescribed, however taste is bitter and dog refuses to swallow it. Tried wrapping pill in many varieties of foods. Including liverwurst, peanut butter, etc. Need advise.

[shazamataz]

You might have to just go straight down the throat.
A lot of dogs refuse tablets and will spit them out no matter what they are wrapped in.
To make the dog swallow it you just put the tablet on the tip of your index finger, open the dogs mouth and slide your finger (and the tablet) right to the back of the dogs mouth to one side. You need to go right to the throat or the dog will push the tablet back up with its tongue.

It takes a bit of practice, and no, the dog doesn't overly enjoy it, but it's better to have a few seconds of discomfort from a tablet, than a whole day of discomfort from the arthritis.

[rauch]

It is worth a try. I will do as you suggest. Let you know how it went later. Thanks.

[shazamataz]

Let me know how you go.

I find it the easiest way for 'problem' dogs. I have one here who needs liquid medication twice daily, I tasted the stuff and it is absolutely awful.
I do the same with the liquid as I do with tablets, only I use a syringe and put it as far back in her mouth/throat as I can.

Depending on the size of the tablets you can also get pill dispensers that look very similar to syringes so you don't have to use your finger.
Tablet goes inside the syringe and you press the plunger once it's in the dogs mouth.

[Aurora_Bell]

Once you have the pill in his mouth and down his throat(ish) (Shazamatazz explained it best) tilt his head upwards and rub his throat.This will help stimulate his swallowing reflexes and lessens the chance if him spitting it out.

Have you tried glucosamine (with a vets approval). I had an senior dog with bad arthritis, and this seemed to help with the pain when taken on a regular basis. It's pretty 'all natural' so it may be a safe alternative.

[paleophlatus]

Pretty soon a dog will realize what you are going to do when you try to open it's mouth, and then it's even hard to get hold of it's head. AS Shazamataz says, you need to go clear to the throat, and getting the mouth open takes some practice...

Use your dominate hand to hold the pill, and the other to open the mouth.. fingers across the top of the nose, and slip your thumb between the teeth, in the space just behind the large canine tooth, and press your thumb against the roof of his mouth while you close your fingers tighter around his nose to immobilize his head. Most dogs will open their mouth just a little as you just touch your finger on the roof of their mouth, which is your clue to tilt his head back, and with pill between thumb and probably your first finger, insert it back, over the back of his tongue. You may feel something hard that far back, which is the top of his windpipe, (which is automatically closed by now). Release the pill and hold his nose a bit longer, without touching his roof of mouth any longer. Don't hold his mouth closed as he will want to lick his nose while swallowing. Gently stroke his throat if he doesn't swallow right away.

With practice, this happens quickly and usually with no big fuss. You may even just open his mouth a few times before going with the pill, just so it isn't such a big surprise to him, and lets him know it isn't going to harm him.

It is difficult to impossible to bring a pill, from that far back, up far enough to spit it out. Nor have I ever been bitten with my thumb on the roof of a dog's mouth, unless the dog is just looking for someone to bite. In which case, we do it a different way.

A little bit of butter (on the pill) makes the medicine go down, but is also harder to hold on to... your choice.

You will get dog spit all over your fingers, but it washes off easily, and just means you are the Master of pilling your dog.

[LadySam]

Just a quick note to go along with all your great instruction so far. You may want to keep a syringe with water to wash down behind the pill or a favorite treat handy to finish "getting it down" thus reducing the possibility of any tracheal irritation.

[shazamataz]

Excellent points, sorry my post was not the best, it's harder than I thought to describe. When you have been doing it for so long it sort of becomes second nature.

[paleophlatus]

Another good point.

[Aurora_Bell]

Great point Ladysam!

[rauch]

Thanks to you all for the great advice regarding pill swallowing technique. Actually, I have found that my lab will take the pill when it has been imbedded into a ball of Braunschweiger. He likes the taste of it and apparently it overrides the bitter pill taste. So far it's working. Thanks again... will let you know how it goes.

[shazamataz]

Excellent, well that's certainly a much easier (and more comfortable) result!

[paleophlatus]

Ach! Ein Reichshund ?