If you have to give tablets regularly to your unwilling pet you will know why these items have been made. When giving a tablet to a dog have them sitting at your side. Place one hand on the dog’s upper jaw and press its lips gently against the sides of its teeth with your fingers. With your other hand, pull the lower jaw down and place the pill on the base of your dog’s tongue, far back in the mouth. Close the dog’s mouth, return its head to normal position, and encourage it to swallow by blowing on its nose or massaging its throat.   

When giving a tablet to a cat, put a towel on a table or on a rug on the floor – this gives it something to cling on to. Gently open its mouth and insert the pill right at the back of its tongue. If the cat tries to scratch you, wrap its body and legs in a towel, leaving only its head sticking out. You can force a cat’s mouth open by applying gentle pressure with your thumb and forefinger on either side of its face at the space between its teeth. Close the cat’s mouth, return its head to normal position, and encourage it to swallow by blowing on its nose or massaging its throat. 

Some animals will take a pill in a small amount of canned pet food, cheese, or peanut butter. You must be sure that they swallow it, as some pets will appear to have eaten something only to spit it out when you are not looking. 

Giving liquid medicines gently pull the corner of your pet’s mouth away from the face to form a “pocket”. Slowly give a small amount of the liquid. Allow your pet to swallow before giving more liquid.  Do not squirt all the medication into your pet’s mouth at once. Good luck!