Dog Won't Eat His Pills

My dog had surgery yesterday to remove a tumor, all went well. They gave me pain pills (Tramadol 50 mg) and he won't eat them. I even cut them into 4 or 5 little pieces, hide them in a piece of barbequed hamburger and no go. He chews it a bit and shakes his head and out it goes.

I also give him a big capsule, Clindamycin HCI 150 mg for his teeth and he eats them right up. Go figure.

I'll call the vet in the morning unless someone has a solution.

Thanks

 

I've had luck forcing them down - push in on the sides of the dog's mouth to get them to open and then place the medication far enough back in their throat they have to swallow it.

Sounds cruel but it's pretty quick and the dog doesn't resent me afterward.

 

Baldwin,

Depending upon the breed of dog, you can reach from the top of the muzzle, and using your thumb and forefinger, open his mouth, then shove the pill way back in the middle of his tongue, then hold his mouth closed and stroke under his chin, to get him to swallow. Mitch is right, it sounds terrible, but that's the easiest way to pill a recalcitrant dog.

 

Recalcitrant dog? No, he's a little turdblossom is what he is. Just cutting his hair is a two day event. He'll allow me to irritate him for so long then off he goes to the other side of the room and stare at me. I got him from a shelter 10 years ago (they guessed he was at least 3) and that is just the way he is.

I tried as you two suggested and he'll have none of it. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, doesn't bother with the incision at all, like it isn't even there.

So, I guess the most important thing is he doesn't mind chomping down the antibiotics. They only gave me 6 pain pills but 20 of the Clidamycin so we'll keep on giving him those.

Thanks very much for the suggestions!


He may be cute but he's still a little turdblossom!

 

Just to add to what the others have said... giving dogs and cats pills is actually pretty easy once you learn the trick. It often takes another person to help you hold the dog. If you only have one person you can roll him up in a rug to restrain his feet for a minute. (if he will tolerate it)

First, rub the pill in butter or lard, giving it a generous helping. Wear a leather glove on one hand to prevent biting... and have the pill ready in the other hand. If you can have him in your lap it works best, but you can also put him over the back of a chair. Hold his head straight up, pinch the corners of his mouth to open his jaws up and quickly throw the pill down his throat- it has to be on top of his tongue! If you can push it down great, but I like the tossing method. Once the pill is in, you have to close his mouth fast, hold it shut with the glove hand and keep his head pointed straight up... rub his neck as mentioned to help him swallow.

It may take a few times to get it to work because you have to catch onto the technique. Have a treat ready for him so that he associates taking his pill with something good afterwards. Good luck!

 

Hey..if he doesn't need the pain pills...maybe he's just trying to tell you he's smarter than the Vet. "Yeah, gimme the antibiotics...but I don't need no stinkin pain pills!"

Glad he came through OK..hope he hangs around for a few more years. Our critter kids haven't been so lucky.

 

Yeah, from what you say, I don't think I'd be too worried about the pain pills.

 

Unfortunately, I think that is the least of our problems now.

The lady called from the vet's office and explained what she did to his nose. On the top of his nose were a couple cracks, just looked ugly. She explained it is like a callus on the bottom of your foot, dead skin. Anyway, she took a belt sander or something and ground it off, looks just fine now. No biggie.

Anyway, while trying to find something on the internet about this I ran across this letter:

"My 16 year old Jack Russel was euthanized yesterday because of severe CCDS/Dementia. He is like many of the other stories; lost interest in everything, never wagged his tail, staring at walls, stuck in corners, pacing in circles continuously....."

WHAT...dementia in dogs?? Never heard of such a thing. My dog does most of those things. I thought it was just old age which I guess it is, sort of.

Visiting a friend the other day, we've been there many times, and he just paced back and forth....kitchen, front room, kitchen, front room. Then he got stuck in a corner, stuck under a chair.

Whilst out in the garage when it cools off I'll close all the doors and take his rope off. What does he do? Walk around my truck.....around and around and around until I put his rope back on.

Month or so ago I heard him whimpering in the kitchen. Turn the light on and there he is stuck with his front legs inside a plastic tote I have under the table.

Geezz.....what a conundrum this is. I'll have to ask the vet when she takes his stitches out.

 

Baldwin,

I am sorry you are dealing with this, but yes dogs as do many mammals, can get dementia as they age. My old vet explained it (way back then) that the brain just starts getting tired. Not a real scientific definition, but still I think it holds true. I would definitely ask the vet about it when you take him in to have the stitches removed. My rule of thumb is that if they are still having a quality life, are not in pain, or distressed, let them live out their lives. But many people disagree on what quality is.

Please keep us posted and let us know how he's doing.

 

No expert...but I agree with Rhainy...
You have to balance HIS quality vs what you can stand to see. Just because he's not his old playful, aware, energetic self...does not mean it's his time.

When he starts no longer eating or is in pain or can't control his bodily functions or injuring themselves....then it might be time.

When they, (the pet), just don't know what's going on...wheres the harm?

Man...losing pets is tough.....

 

Oh no, I think I've left the wrong impression. He ain't going anywhere if I can help it. I've had him just over 10 years and I left him home alone exactly ONCE when I went to an Air Show. Even missed a couple weddings when they wouldn't allow a dog.

He eats fine, weight is good, just these few weird little things going on. It just kind of freaked me out with this dementia and wondering what is down the road. We'll just keep on truckin' and see how it comes out.

Thanks folks!

RhainyC, have you ever heard of this nose thing, I can't find anything on the net?

 

Baldwin,

Glad to hear he isn't going anywhere! I did misunderstand. (Sorry I misunderstood!)

I've not heard of the sander type thing for the nose calluses, but yes, dogs can get them, just as we do on our hands.

 

Happened to my last dog - started with infrequent bouts weeks apart and progressed over a couple years to the point he got confused in the yard one morning and wandered off; we finally found him across town ten hours later, still confused. After that episode, he was relatively ok again until he died another year later.

 

Vet just called, tumor was benign, and I forgot to ask her about the nose. I'll ask next week.

Just kidding about the belt sander. I'd think they use something like a pumice stone.

 

Baldwin,
That's GREAT News! YAAY! Ok, now you say pumice stone, we did use those! LOL I am glad your pup will be ok.

 

Sliding the pill down it's throat is probably what's going to work. You're dog may not like it, but it's not going to hurt him. I've also tried wrapping the pill up in a piece of cheese and that seems to work a lot.

 

I had to give my dog pills once, and the vet gave me a big straw. And you open the dogs mouth, and use the straw as a blow gun, and shoot the pill down. Just don't inhale and take the pill your self.

 

I have a blowgun, not sure if I'd trust myself though.

Update: Even though I got there at opening time, they took in 4 dogs and a cat ahead of me so I never saw the vet. I think it was surgery day. Young guy came out, cut the stitches and away we went.

He was limping a bit but after taking the stitches out he seems fine there. Not sure if taking the growth off helped but he doesn't seem so weird now. Doing good.

Yesterday I ordered him some multi-vitamin/mineral tablets for seniors, sort of a Centrum Silver for dogs. I don't think that can hurt.

Thanks