Introduction

A senior pet may have problems taking medication for a variety of reasons. The pet’s health is the most frequent factor, as older animals tend to have less effective immune systems, making them more susceptible to illnesses and less inclined to take medication. There are some things you can do to make the process simpler for both of you if you’re having trouble persuading your elderly pet to take their medication.

3 Ideas for Giving a Senior Pet a Pill

1. Put pills and capsules in your senior pet’s food.

The simplest approach to administering oral medication to your senior pet is to conceal it in a tasty food treat. The secret is to get your pet so enthused about the treat that he consumes it rapidly, along with the medicine. In this manner, he avoids biting into the pill and tasting something unpleasant. (Capsules are infamous for disintegrating.)

Make sure your veterinarian is in agreement before using any human food. Drugs and certain foods can interact. For example, never conceal tetracycline antibiotic pills in dairy products. Your pet won’t benefit fully from his dose because some of the medication is bound up by the calcium in the dairy product.

Some of the finest foods to conceal drugs may already be in your cupboard or kitchen. Here are some pointers for utilizing our picks:

Peanut Butter: Put a tablet inside a spoonful of aromatic, gooey peanut butter and let your pet lick it off. Alternatively, you might shape some peanut butter into a tiny ball, add the pill, and give it to your pet as a treat. Check to see if the peanut butter contains xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is poisonous to dogs. Look at the labels! The three following brands don’t include xylitol: Justin’s, Jif Natural, and Smucker’s Natural.

Cheese: To keep calories low and sodium at a manageable level for your pet, choose soft, low-sodium, part-skim mozzarella string cheese. The majority of capsules and pills fit comfortably inside a tiny piece of this cheese. Alternatively, preheat the cheese in your hands and shape it around the drug.

Specialty treats: There are a variety of tasty sweets with holes in them that allow you to easily insert pills. Amazing, isn’t it? In addition to having a wide range of delectable flavors, they typically provide balanced nutrients and less sugar and sodium than human food. Always read labels and choose products with high-quality components that will be good for your senior pet.

2. Invite their canine friend.

Invite your other pet over for a snack if you have one. Dogs tend to be more eager to eat when there is some rivalry for food. First, distribute a few pieces to each of them. Then you can give your dog the snack and the medication.

3. Enhance the flavor of your senior pet’s medication.

Ask your veterinarian if it makes sense to compound your pet’s medicine so that it has a more alluring flavor. Ask her to recommend an animal-focused compounding pharmacy in your area if she is unable to complete the task herself. For example, ask for tuna-flavored liquid antibiotics for your cat. Fluffy might believe that the medicine she is being given is a special treat because of its delicious tuna flavor.

Three crucial guidelines for giving pills to senior pets.

1. As prescribed, administer medication to your senior pet. Read and abide by the instructions. For any questions, contact your veterinarian.
2. Never stop taking the prescription. Plan to administer the medication until it is finished, unless your veterinarian or the label specifies otherwise. Early antibiotic discontinuation can promote the development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.
3. Never give your senior pets the same medication. Giving a dog’s medication to a cat is particularly risky since cats digest drugs differently than dogs do. Even drugs that are okay for dogs might be harmful to cats.

Top 5 products people can use to get their senior pet to take a pill.