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How Your Pet Might Benefit from the Latest Advancements in Veterinary Medicine

May 3, 2016

As pet parents, it is crucial that we stay in the know and keep up with the latest veterinary medicine advances.

Today, Carol from Fidose of Reality and myself are going to discuss the different ways that your pet can benefit from the latest Veterinary Medical Advances. For pet parents, this means that we have more tools in our toolbox so that we can advocate for our pets!

General Veterinary Medicine

Vaccines:

While there has been a bit of an anti-vaccine movement that has occurred in veterinary medicine, vaccines are still very important for the health of our pets and the health of our human-animal bond. Many of the vaccines recommended for your pet’s health are tried and true. You have your very typical; Rabies, DHPP, Lepto, Lyme, and Bordetella for dogs. However, outside of the standard vaccines are new vaccines that allow us to protect our pets from more diseases, like the rattlesnake vaccine.

“Approximately 300,000 dogs and cats are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United States.” – Red Rock Biologics (Makers of the Rattlesnake Vaccine)

While this “new” vaccine (first available in the early 2000’s) does not make our pets immune to the devastating bite of a rattlesnake, it does buy time so that there is a better chance your pet can be treated and will survive (UCDavis Veterinary Medicine). While this vaccine is still rattlesnake specific (i.e. it does not vaccinate against all types of rattlesnakes), it is a huge improvement in the fight against rattlesnake-related deaths, especially in areas where they are prolific (Vetstreet).

What does this mean for my pet?

If the rattlesnake vaccine sounds like something your pet needs, please discuss the customized vaccine schedule with your veterinarian.

General Pain Management: 

New guidelines for pain management in veterinary medicine were released by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) in 2015 (the last version was released in 2007). The newest version includes emphases on an integrated veterinary approach (i.e. not all western medicine all the time), and a section specifically dedicated to treating the increase in feline degenerative joint disease.

Pain management is incredibly important in veterinary medicine. As a matter of fact, I spent most of my day as a Veterinary Assistant managing pain in for my patients, especially for post-surgical patients. Advances in this category of veterinary medicine are imperative for improving the quality of life of our pets.

“Classic veterinary medical education places a strong emphasis on treatment of disease through pharmacology and surgery, the esoteric skills that are the domain of the trained clinician. Increasingly, evidence-based data and empirical experience justify a strong role for nonpharmacologic modalities for pain management. A number of those should be considered mainstream options and an integral part of a balanced, individualized treatment plan.” – Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats

The important takeaway in these advancements is not just that pharmaceuticals are improving from year to year in terms of their efficacy, but also, the outlook and integrative approaches are also improving.

What does this mean for my pet?

It means that your veterinarian is gaining access to more tools so that your pet can feel less pain. There are so many pets with arthritis or other forms of degenerative joint disease. Pending the onset of the disease and the average life span of your pet, your pet could outlive the efficacy of pharmaceuticals, or their body could stop tolerating the medications. This is where alternative and integrative veterinary medicine can step in to continue to treat the disease and minimize the symptoms.

If you are at all “nerdy” about veterinary medicine (life myself), I highly recommend you read the guide from AAHA/AAFP; it’s full of fun facts and science jargon!

Specialty Veterinary Medicine 

Stem Cell Therapy

When I was completing my undergrad in late 2010, I wrote a paper about the new stem cell therapy that was changing the way that veterinarians could treat degenerative joint disease.

“In fact, one in five dogs over a year of age will develop degenerative joint disease (DJD). And the number jumps to four out of five for certain large breeds.” – Dr. Becker 

How does it work? 

Adult stem cells have the ability to develop and/or replicate into many different types of cells. Specifically, their job is to continue to divide and replace cells that are dead or diseased. As a result of their specific abilities, they can repair damaged joints or tissue and improve certain types of diseases.

According to HealthyPets Mercola, as of 2015, several studies were underway to use adult stem cells to treat the following diseases in dogs:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Hip & Elbow Dysplasia
  • Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Are there cases and evidence that the treatment has improved the symptoms of DJD and other similar diseases?

While research is underway for stem cells, and some veterinarians offer this advanced therapy around the U.S., the number of conclusive studies and irrefutable scientific evidence is low. That being said, there are many owner and patient success stories available. If you are interested, Dr. Becker offers two anecdotal stories in her “An Innovative New Way to Repair Joints” article here.

What does this mean for my pet? 

If your pet is suffering from one of the above diseases, and you feel that their quality of life is suffering. You have an opportunity to seek out a veterinarian with experience providing stem cell therapy. Every single procedure has risks, old or new, so be sure to discuss those risks with your veterinarian prior to treatment.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy for pets is part of the “integrative veterinary medicine” approach that I mentioned above. The concept and purpose of animal physical therapy is the same as that of human physical therapy; regain muscle strength and balance in order to recover from surgery or injury. Specifically, in veterinary medicine, physical therapy is being used for post-surgical and neurological patients (MSPCA – Angell).

“Dogs can lose up to one-third of their muscle mass in the rear limb following surgery for a cranial cruciate ligament rupture and it may take over a year to regain the lost muscle.” – Roxanna Khorzad, DVM

Physical therapy comes in different forms. For some pets, balance and strength exercises are recommended. For others, hydrotherapy using an underwater treadmill is the most recommended form of physical therapy.

Here are a few potential benefits to physical therapy according to Dr. Khorzad,

  • Improved Muscle Strength
  • Reduction of Pain
  • Improved Muscle Tone
  • Improved scar tissue
  • Improved function
  • Improved biomechanics
  • Improved flexibility
  • Reduced Pain
  • Non-invasive

What does this mean for my pet? 

If your pet is has had a recent surgery or is suffering from a neurological disease, physical therapy and rehabilitation might improve their functionality and quality of life.

Pain Management 

Acupuncture

I had the pleasure of working with a veterinarian who practiced acupuncture. Our patients often received other medications to treat their disease, but used acupuncture as a more natural alternative for reducing pain and improving quality of life.

How does it work? 

Acupuncture draws the body’s attention to a place that needs to be healed by placing a needle into the body where blood vessels and nerve bundles meet. This action allows the body to heal itself. According to Dr. Patrick Mahoney, VDM, acupuncture can do the following for your pet:

  • Improve blood circulation
  • Improved oxygenation of tissues
  • Stimulated removal of metabolic wastes and toxins
  • Stimulate the nervous system
  • Stimulate the body to release anti-inflammatory and pain relieving hormones

What does this mean for my pet? 

While acupuncture is most certainly not a new practice, it’s integration into veterinary medicine is still considered new. However, in comparison to some of the other treatments in this post, acupuncture is more widely available in veterinary hospitals.

If you fee that this alternative form of treatment can benefit some of your pet’s chronic symptoms or diseases, I highly recommend discussing your options with your veterinarian.

Orthotics & Prosthetics

While our pets are amazing at adapting and moving forward after an injury or losing a limb, there are now more alternatives to manage their post-operative care in these situations.

Orthopets is a company that builds custom orthotics and prosthetics for pets to help them recover from injuries and adapt to limb loss. While I don’t have much experience with veterinary orthotics or prosthetics, I do know that these solutions will give you more alternatives to improve your pet’s quality of life and/or surgical recovery.

So there you have it. The above list includes some of the most interesting advancements in veterinary medicine. Do you have any experience with these new treatments?

For Carol’s mom perspective on this topic, please visit Fidose of Reality for more information.

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What is Preventive Medicine and is it Appropriate for Your Pet?

November 9, 2015

Firstly, let’s define preventive veterinary medicine.

According to the Medical Dictionary, preventive medicine is the branch of medical study and practice aimed at preventing disease and promoting health.

I am a fan of preventive medicine in regards to both my health and the health of my dog. I believe that a combination of proactive and preventive efforts can add years to our lives. However, there are times where I draw the line for both of us, and I support other pet parents doing the same.

It is important to understand that you can be proactive as a pet parent without actual using medicine. For example, taking the time to brush your pet’s teeth will prevent dental disease in the future, but does not include the use of medicine. However, having an early dental procedure to keep your pet’s teeth healthy and prevent extractions is the use of preventive medicine.

There are many ways that you as a pet parent can be proactive without the use of medicine. Examples include:

  1. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity can make your pet susceptible to so many other diseases and health complications. Maintaining a healthy weight and Body Condition Score can make the world of difference for your pet’s health long term.
  2. Brush Your Pet’s Teeth: As mentioned above, regular brushing of your pet’s teeth can prevent the progression of dental disease. Preventing the severity of dental disease can be integral to your pet’s overall health. Additionally, dental disease can be very expensive to treat, so regular brushing can also provide benefits to you financially.
  3. Feed High-Quality Food: Purchasing the right food for your pet can be challenging with so many options on the market. I highly recommend working with your veterinarian to determine the best high-quality food for your pet. Providing the right mix of nutrients for your pet can add quality years to their life.
  4. Keep Your Dog Groomed: Grooming isn’t always considered a part of your pet’s health, but it is important. Specifically, long unattended nails can cause dogs and cats to sustain injuries due to irregular gaits and posture.
  5. Don’t Skip Out on Annual Exams: My experience in veterinary medicine made it clear that annual exams were crucial to the health of pets. During these exams, we were able to answer pet parent questions and concerns in addition to thoroughly evaluating their pet’s health. I have said this before and will say it again, I have seen annual exams save lives, and they are important.
  6. Add Supplements: There are some excellent supplements available for pets these days. The most common in my experience include joint and digestive support, both of which are very important to your pet’s longevity. Work closely with your veterinarian, or ask about supplements at your next annual exam (see what I did there?).

I would define the above list as proactive medicine (if I was allowed to make up my own definitions). Pet parents can be very proactive by making sure their pet receives the care and guardianship provided above. However, preventive medicine includes some additional treatments in my opinion, and they are as follows:

  1. Flea & Tick Prevention: Not only are fleas annoying and gross, but your pet can also suffer from flea bite anemia and flea allergy due to a severe infestation. I once rescued a kitten who weighed only 2 pounds at 5 months of age and suffered greatly from flea bite anemia. To give you an idea; after 2 days of feeding and treatment, he was so weak from anemia that even a bath was exhausting for him. Ticks put your pets at risk for lyme disease, which can be lethal, so it is important to know if your pet’s activity exposes them to ticks. Working with your veterinarian to select the correct flea & tick prevention is important. I have seen animals have reactions to certain flea & tick products, so research and carefully watch your pet after application.
  2. Vaccination: It is so important that you keep your pets up to date on their vaccines. However, vaccine protocols can vary significantly from region to region, so I encourage you to research the norm for your area. You can even call local hospitals to research the different protocols. I strongly believe that vaccines are important, but I also believe that there are instances of over vaccination happening around the United States. Therefore, I suggest doing your research and making the right decision for you and your pet.
  3. Heartworm Prevention: Heartworm disease can be a huge threat to your pet’s health and longevity. Of course, the southeast region of the U.S. has a higher density of cases than many other areas, so prevention is more important there. The good news is that there are products on the market that combine flea and heartworm medication. One of these products is called Revolution, and it is my prevention of choice for Rooney.
  4. Bloodwork: At a certain age, bloodwork should be a standard part of your pet’s annual exam. Bloodwork gives your veterinarian a very detailed look at the quality and functionality of your pet’s internal health. Bloodwork is especially important if your pet is on long-term medications. I have Rooney’s bloodwork drawn every other year since he is still young. If we don’t see anything to be concerned about, at least his veterinarian has a baseline for all of his values.
  5. Urinalysis: This is especially important for cats. So many cats are prone to renal disease, and it’s important to catch the signs early. Additionally, certain long-term medications can affect kidney function. A preventive urinalysis can avoid long-term damage and add time and quality to your pet’s life.

In my opinion, preventive and proactive medicine is always appropriate for pets. However, certain aspects may be better suited. or more important, for your individual pet. The point in preventive medicine is to provide your pet with the best health outcome possible.

To read Carol’s Mom perspective, please visit her at Fidose of Reality.

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The Lumpy Truth About Canine Lipomas

August 22, 2018

I can’t tell you how many patients I had visit the vet hospital with lipomas. Lipomas are so common in dogs. Yet, many pet parents may be unaware of the commonality, evaluation, treatment, and effects on their pet’s health. So Carol from Fidose of Reality and myself want to discuss them with you in detail!

Lipomas are often identified either by a pet parent or during a pet’s annual exam, during the “lumps and bumps” portion of the physical exam. As mentioned, lipomas are common in dogs. How common you ask? “About 16% of dogs are affected, Middle-aged to geriatric dogs are most predisposed.” (Embrace Pet Insurance). Now that we have established their commonality, are they something pet parents should be concerned about? Let’s find out.

Today, we discuss what defines a lipoma, what causes lipomas, if they need veterinary evaluation, and common treatment plans.

What is a lipoma?

Lipomas are subcutaneous (underneath the skin) masses or tumors that develop commonly in dogs. They are usually soft, with limited mobility under the skin. The overlying skin is usually not affected. – PetMD

While most commonly located under the skin, lipomas can develop in the chest and abdominal cavities (Embrace Pet Insurance). If your veterinarian determines your dog’s lumps are lipomas, you may feel very relieved that they are not cancerous, as you should. However, due to their ability to grow (and they can grow really quickly) lipomas can cause problems with mobility. Additionally, there is a possibility that the lipomas can grow large enough to disturb the natural anatomy of your pet, especially when they growth within the chest and abdominal cavities.

The Lumpy Truth About Canine Lipomas Photo by Sarah Crawford on Unsplash

Photo by Sarah Crawford on Unsplash

It is important to note that while lipomas are benign, they appear similar to liposarcomas.

Liposarcomas are malignant and can spread (metastasize) to the lungs, bone and other organs. These tumors are rare, but are indicative of the importance of examining all subcutaneous masses respectively. – PetMD

What causes a lipoma?

While there are things you can do to prevent lipomas the exact cause is unknown. Many veterinary professionals assume a genetic component is involved since there is a overrepresentation of lipomas in certain dog breeds (Embrace Pet Insurance). Dog breeds most commonly affected by lipomas include; Labrador Retrievers, Weimaraners, and Doberman Pinschers, according to Embrace Pet Insurance.

When working at the veterinary hospital I noticed a trend. Dogs who had significant changes in weight throughout their life seemed to come in with more lipomas. According to Dr. Karen Becker, I may have been on to something:

There is a connection between the number and size of lipomas on a dog, his ability to metabolize fat, and his overall vitality. Dogs with an under-performing metabolism have a greater tendency to develop lumps of fat. –  (Healthy Pets Mercola)

It’s important to note that among dogs, obese adult female dogs are particularly at risk for developing lipomas throughout their life (Embrace Pet Insurance).

The Lump Truth About Canine Lipomas - Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

What can I do to prevent lipomas?

Dr. Becker recommends that in addition to healthy diet and exercise, pet parents should be mindful of their dog’s BMI (Body Mass Index), which in veterinary medicine is often measured as their Body Condition Score. Exercise by virtue of increased circulation and lymphatic drainage, decreases the opportunity for lipomas to form. Along those same lines, Dr. Becker recommends adding canine massage and chiropractic to your dog’s health routine in order to further prevent lipomas from forming (Healthy Pets Mercola).

Do lipomas need veterinary evaluation?

Yes! First of all, you never want to assume that a lump on your dog is a lipoma. It’s very important to have all “lumps and bumps” checked by your veterinarian. Often, veterinarians will keep track of where your pet’s lumps are using a diagram in your pet’s medical record. In addition to keeping track of the location of the “lumps and bumps” on your pet, it’s imperative to keep track of the size, shape, and feel of each. Based on how fast it’s growing and how it is affecting your dog’s overall health, your veterinarian can better assess when a lump or bump needs removal.

What is the treatment plan if my dog has lipomas?

It really depends on a few variables. Firstly, your veterinarian will want to confirm that the lump is indeed a lipoma and not a malignant tumor. Sometimes this is done through a visual exam, often for peace of mind and assurance, your veterinarian will conduct a fine needle aspirate of the lump to determine if it is indeed a lipoma (PetMD). If the lipoma is internal, or infiltrative, your veterinarian will require imaging to determine location and a plan for removal. Often, the lipomas found within the body cavity are most intrusive and your pet may be experiencing clinical signs of discomfort. The good news is, in a 2006 study, all dogs that had the benign tumors (lipomas) removed saw a decrease in clinical signs after surgery.

Once your veterinarian has identified the cell make up and location of your pet’s lipoma, they will assess if the lipoma is impeding your dog’s mobility in any way. Occasionally, your veterinarian will recommend removing the lump(s) if they have grown large enough, and it’s precluding your pet’s quality of life in some way.

Has your dog ever had a lipoma? We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback in the comments!

As always, please hop over the Carol’s blog, Fidose of Reality for her mom perspective on Canine Lipomas.

 

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What Do Heart Murmurs Sound Like?

January 19, 2018

This post was originally published on 12/22/2014, but has been updated to provide you with even more information. Welcome to another edition of Medicine Versus Mom where Carol Bryant from Fidose of Reality and I discuss veterinary medical issues experienced by pets and their families.

Today, I want to discuss heart murmurs. Heart murmurs can occur for a variety of reasons, in both dogs and cats, and can be a long term issue for your pet.

While working at the veterinary hospital I met quite a few pets who had heart murmurs. Some of which were so severe that you could even feel them once you knew what you were looking for. However, most heart murmurs are detected with a stethoscope. Today our goal is to provide you with clarity on heart murmurs and what you can do for your pet if they have been diagnosed with a heart murmur.

What is a Heart Mumur?

During my undergraduate degree, I was fortunate enough to take a physiology course. During that course, I learned that a heartbeat is actually the sound of two valves closing. When you hear a heartbeat, you may not actually distinguish that what you are hearing is not one sound, but two different sounds occurring within milliseconds of each other. The heartbeat is a lub-dub, not just a dub.

A murmur is an abnormal extra sound (which can sometimes drown out the normal sounds).  Murmurs most commonly occur between the “lub” and the “dub” and have a “shooshing” or “whooshing” quality. – Dr. Mark Rishniw, ACVIM

Understanding that a heartbeat is a series of sounds rather than one, will really help you understand what a heart murmur is, and what exactly you are hearing. The two separate sounds are the result of multiple valves closing as blood flows through the heart.

What Do Heart Murmurs Sound Like?

Photo Courtesy of http://philosophyofdog.com

The picture above provides a visual example of how blood flows through the heart.

Blood initially enters the heart in the right atrium.  The blood then passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle which pumps the blood through the pulmonic valve into the lungs to pick up oxygen (among other things).  The oxygenated blood then enters the left atrium.  Blood in the left atrium passes through the mitral valve to reach the left ventricle, which then pumps the blood through the aortic valve out to the rest of the body.  (Veterinary Partner).

These valves exist to keep blood flowing forward, and prevent it from flowing backward. When the valve is not opening or closing properly, this disturbs the blood flow and creates turbulence, which causes a murmur (Veterinary Partner).

A heart murmur is an extra heart vibration that occurs when there is disturbance in the blood flow (PetMD).

It is imperative to understand that a murmur is not an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is defined by irregularity and possibly erratic rate of the heartbeat (Merck). Basically, if the flow of the blood is not disrupted, but the rhythm (lub-dub) sounds irregular, than you are dealing with an arrhythmia, not a murmur.

What causes a heart murmur?

According to PetMD, murmurs are caused by the following:

  • Disturbed blood flow caused by high blood flow through a normal or abnormal valve.
  • Flow disturbances identified by forward flow through abnormal valves.
  • Flow disturbances identified by regurgitant blood flow due to an abnormal valve.

According to Veterinary Partner, the most common murmurs in dogs are associated with leaky mitral valves. Sometimes, murmurs are caused by holes between two of the chambers in the heart, or narrowing of a chamber or vessel, or anemic blood.

What are the different kinds of murmurs?

  • There are benign (non-harmful) murmurs in which the cause of the murmur is not associated with a known heart disease. These kinds of murmurs are not usually found in adult dogs, but can be found in puppies and cats of all ages. Characteristically, they have a soft sound and tend to be intermittent. Heart murmurs brought on by anemia or excitement often fall into this category (Veterinary Partner).
  • Congenital Murmurs are present from birth. The defect that is causing the murmur is always there, but may not be heard until later than life (Veterinary Partner).
  • Acquired Murmurs are brought on throughout the course of the pet’s life, but they are often associated with a heart or valve disease (Veterinary Partner).

Grading Scale

Murmurs are classified on a grading scale. Grade of a murmur is determined by sound (time and intensity), configuration, and location (PetMD).

HeartMurmurs

What do they sounds like?

A veterinarian that I worked for at Acorn Veterinary Clinic in Davis, California explained it to me the best. Dr. Jackman said that a heart murmur sounds like a washing machine as opposed to a lub-dub, this analogy would help me identify murmurs very well in the future.

The following videos are a series of audio clips, that show a view of the valves and how they are working with each type of murmur. Make sure to have your volume on, but I promise you this is very interesting. (I also want to thank Steven Farmer, DO for creating these videos).

First, this is the sound of a normal heart.

This second video is an Aortic Stenosis Murmur, which is defined but the AKC Canine Health Foundation as the narrowing of the aortic valve, or just above it. Listen for the “washing machine sound”.

This video is an Aortic Regurgitation Murmur, defined by Merck Manuals as back flow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle.

This last video is a Mitral Regurgitation Murmur (the most common in dogs) , which can be defined by VCA Hospitals as back flow from the left ventricle to the left atrium.

If you were able to hear subtle differences between these videos, then you have a great ear for heart murmurs. These are very challenging to distinguish, but will give you an idea of what your veterinarian is listening for.

Symtoms

If your pet’s murmur is due to a structural heart diseases, they may display signs of congestive heart failure, which according to (PetMD) includes: coughing, exercise intolerance, or general weakness.

What should I do if my pet has a murmur?

The short answer is, work with your veterinarian. There are so many different classifications and underlying causes for murmurs, that your veterinarian will need to help you determine if treatment is necessary, if there are any structural issues you should be worried about, and what you can do to help your pet.

Our dog Maui (who passed away in 2015) had a murmur since 2010, and lived a healthy and full life (she had epilepsy, but that wasn’t related to our knowledge). Maui was not on medication for any heart issues until she was diagnosed with heart failure in the fall of 2014. We miss you Mau Mau <3!

Maui

Have you ever had a pet with a murmur?

To learn more about heart murmurs, please visit Carol’s Fidose of Reality to hear her Mom perspective on this same topic!

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How to Administer Medication to Your Pet

November 30, 2017

Whether you are giving your dog medication temporarily or giving a pill for long-term treatment, administering medication to your dog is not an easy task. Not to mention, some dogs have become masters at avoiding medication and/or spitting it out when you aren’t looking.

As you can imagine, I have a lot of experience getting dogs (and cats) to take medication and there are a few things you can do to make administering medication just a little bit easier on you and your pet.

Food is your friend

If your dog is at all food motivated, the very first thing you need to know is that food is your friend when it comes to administering medication.

High Value Treat

If you have any experience training your dog, you may already know what they consider to be a high-value treat. For Rooney, it’s anything we are eating (he even gets excited about lettuce). However, for some dogs you might have to put in a little more effort to determine what they consider to be high-value.

Once you have determined your dog’s favorite high-value treat, you can use that information to help administer medication. For example, you could hide your dog’s medication in chicken or even some cheese. I prefer to use string cheese for small pills since you can stuff the pill into an already formed cheese stick. The more you coat the pill in the food you are giving, the more likely they are to eat the entire thing and the pill.

Make sure that you check ingredients before giving your dog medication in any non-pet food. I would avoid “diet” or “light” foods as they tend to use alternative (and sometimes unreadable) ingredients.

via GIPHY

Dog Safe Peanut Butter

Dog safe peanut butter is also a high value treat, and my go-to for feeding pets their medications. I mentioned dog safe peanut butter on my Facebook page a few months back and someone commented and asked what I meant by “dog-safe”. As it turns out, there are several peanut butter brands that contain xylitol, which is a very toxic ingredient for dogs (most often found in sugar-free gum). So make sure to check that your peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol before giving it to your dog. Additionally, you can opt for an even healthier peanut butter option by switching to unsalted or homemade peanut butter (AKC).

The reason I like to use peanut butter to administer medication is because of the texture. It’s so sticky that dogs very rarely eat the peanut butter and spit out the pill because the peanut butter adheres together.

The Spoon Method

This recommendation is based on nothing but my experience. When I give Rooney a pill in peanut butter or cheese, I put it into a spoon. I find that when he has to bite down to get the food, which he does when I give it to him in a spoon, he tends to eat the pill a lot faster, and easier, because he isn’t licking the peanut butter or cheese out of a bowl for example, and carefully leaving the pill behind.

Pill Pockets

Pill pockets are designed to put a pill into the “pocket” of food and then easily close the food around the pill to make it more palatable for your dog. While I have never used these for Rooney, I had many clients who swore by their effectiveness and ease of giving their pet medication.

Make it Fun

If anyone has given their pet pills over a long period of time, they know many dogs will find a way to eventually leave the pill behind. Even when the most high-value treats are involved. Rather than handing your dog a random treat (with a hidden pill), and then moving on, you could make a training session or game out of it, which takes your dog’s concentration off of the treat and hidden pill.

Animal Behavioralist Patricia B McConnell suggests making the process of giving your dog medication fun. She suggests the 1, 2, 3 game outlined below.

The One Two Three Game: First, encase the pill in some highly palatable food, perhaps a piece of chicken or some peanut butter. Put it aside and give the dog a treat with no pill. Then give the dog a second treat. Next, pick up the treat-encased pill and put it right next to your dog’s nose, but don’t let him eat it! Pull it away, as if to tease him. Move it within an inch of your dog’s nose/mouth again and snatch it away a second time. Move it a third time toward your dog’s mouth and let him eat it. Follow it up with a fourth treat, this time with no pill. Unless the pill is truly noxious, this works really well and makes the entire exercise great fun.

I love the idea of getting your dog to play with you as part of administering medication rather than making it a forced situation. She also suggests using natural competition to your advantage if that motivates your dog, and is an available option for you. Dr. McConnell further outlines that process in her blog post here.

Opting for Liquid or Chewable Medication

A lot of medications can be compounded these days which allows you to give your dog flavored medication on top of their food (this is also a great option for cats), or as a treat. Unfortunately, not all medications can be administered in liquid form, so this isn’t an option for every one, but definitely something you can ask your veterinarian about.

Other Methods

Manually Giving the Pill

You can give your dog a pill by placing it as far back in their mouth as you can. I wouldn’t recommend this unless you have taken the time to try other methods, none of which have worked for you, and you are now in a situation where the medication is imperative to your dog’s health and well being and, therefore, you need to give the pill manually. If you are going to do this, make sure that you get a demonstration and further instruction from your veterinarian or veterinary technician. They will be able to show you exactly how you should administer the pill to your pet, so that you can avoid some common mistakes that pet parents make.

Stay Positive

If you can, try to stay positive about the experience. While giving your pet medication can be difficult, and at times, frustrating, rely on your veterinarian and their team to help you develop a solution. If you are going to give your pet a pill often, you don’t want them to have a negative experience. Adding food and positive reinforcement wherever possible will definitely help.

For more info on how to give your pet their medication, hop on over to Fidose of Reality for Carol’s Dog Mom perspective.

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