SparkleDark/Everything_about_dogs · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Administering Medicine. — It is foolish to force medicine down a dog's
throat if he can be "tricked" into taking it naturally, without even being
aware that he is doing so. Even when force is necessary there is no need
for opening a dog's teeth when liquid is to be given, for if poured into the
patient's cheek it will drain through the teeth. When a dog refuses to swal-
low whatever is placed in his mouth — as he is liable to do — all that is neces-
sary is to hold his head up and close his nostrils and jaws for a couple of
seconds.

Giving pills to some dogs is a more difficult matter. Hold the dog's
head well up, open mouth with your left hand, and place the pill well down
his throat on the base of the tongue, quickly close his jaws for a second
and slightly chuck your hand or finger agaist his throat and he is bound
to make a gulp and swallow it. Some dogs are very cute and will keep the
pill inside or on one side and when you are not looking will quickly spit
it out, so watch them for a minute or so to be sure the pill has gone down.
Pills can also be given hid in a piece of meat (providing the dog is not so
sick that he has refused food), but if you give them pills this way, fool
the dog by giving him first a few pieces of meat one at a time, having your
prepared piece handy when he will not suspect and will take it, following
it up with a few more pieces of meat.

A great many dogs will take — when not too sick — castor oil, cod liver
oil, syrup of phosphates, and many powders even, in a little savory broth or
porridge. When powders are refused in food, mix them in a little butter,
honey or syrup, and place well back on the tongue. With large and pow-
erful dogs the mouth can be held open by twisting a towel around the
upper jaw, and an assistant is generally necessary except with small toy
dogs, which can be held tightly between the knees while giving the med-
icine. As soon as the medicine is placed on the tongue, close the mouth
and hold it shut till dog is seen to swallow, but must not be held so as to
interfere with his breathing through the nostrils. The best way to give
liquid medicine is to gently raise the dog's head and form a pouch or pocket
by drawing outwards -and slightly upwards the lower lip at the corner of
the mouth, and gradually pouring into the funnel thus formed.

Gelatine capsuls are very handy in administering powders. If the
dose is bulky it is better to divide it up among several small capsules than
it is to try to inclose it in a single large one. Powders are also adminis-
tered by mixing with butter, syrup or glycerine.

Injections. — Use a rubber syringe, never a glass one, as they are dan-
gerous. A bulb syringe with a flexible tube two or three inches long I find



the best, as you can so handily hold the bulb in your hand and work it
quickly when ready before the dog can get out of position. The regular
fountain syringe is also very good. For injection in the ear there is a
regular ear syringe made.


"There is nothing analogous between the dog and the horse. The vet-
erinarian who treats a dog from an equine standpoint is a failure. In tem-
perament and nervous organization the dog resembles man, but his diges-
tive organs differ so radically taht medicine does not act on each alike. As
an instance, common salt has no particular effect upon man. On the dog,
in small doses, it is an emetic; in large doses, a poison. Castor oil is a
mild laxative on man; on the dog it is an active purge. Epsom salts act
only mildly on man; on dogs it acts violently, producing copious, watery
stools. Aloes and rhubarb, recognized as purgatives on man, have no
particular effect o ndogs, and so with numerous other drugs.

"The dog is particularly susceptible to the action of chloroform. This
is on account of the irregular heart action previously mentioned. His
sensitive nervous system responds quickly to the smallest doses of strych-
nine, and a minute quanty of mercury produces profuse salivation. These
drugs should only be administered by an expert. Opium is not particu-
larly dangerous in its action on dogs.

"Between human exclamations, canine howling, coughing and gasping
and occasionally biting, the dog generally escapes without the medicine.
Kindness and strategy are the only safe methods for giving medicine. Aim
to get the dog to take his medicine without knowing that he is getting it.
This can be accomplished by having the medicine in pill form. One of
the pills can be introduced into a slit made in a small cube of meat. Disarm
the patient of suspicion by preparing several similar cubes of meat without
the pills. Give him one of these. He may examine it, but finding it all
right, will swallow it. Another should be given him. If he swallows it
without examination, give him the cube containing the pill and it will
follow its predecessor. Do not use fluids if it is possible to avoid them.
Gelatine capsuls can be had in various sizes to accommodate all drugs.
It is better to give two small capsules than one large one. To give a
capsule have an attendant take a small dog in his lap; a large dog should
be gently backed into a corner. Stroke the dog's head and face gently;
then with the left hand held over the head just in front of the eyes, press
the lips against the teeth just enough to cause him to open his mouth.
Moisten the capsule, place it as far back on the tongue as possible, which
can be inserted well down the throat without danger to either the dog or
the physician. Close the mouth quickly and the capsule will be swallowed."
The following was published in the Dog Fancier, written by their
veterinarian, Dr. D. H. Hall, and is worth publishing, containing many good
ideas:



"In the treatment of dogs or other domestic animals one great obstacle
to successful medication is the difficulty often encountered in the adminis-

Administering Medicine. — It is foolish to force medicine down a dog's

throat if he can be "tricked" into taking it naturally, without even being

aware that he is doing so. Even when force is necessary there is no need

for opening a dog's teeth when liquid is to be given, for if poured into the

patient's cheek it will drain through the teeth. When a dog refuses to swal-

low whatever is placed in his mouth — as he is liable to do — all that is neces-

sary is to hold his head up and close his nostrils and jaws for a couple of

seconds.

Giving pills to some dogs is a more difficult matter. Hold the dog's

head well up, open mouth with your left hand, and place the pill well down

his throat on the base of the tongue, quickly close his jaws for a second

and slightly chuck your hand or finger agaist his throat and he is bound

to make a gulp and swallow it. Some dogs are very cute and will keep the

pill inside or on one side and when you are not looking will quickly spit

it out, so watch them for a minute or so to be sure the pill has gone down.

Pills can also be given hid in a piece of meat (providing the dog is not so

sick that he has refused food), but if you give them pills this way, fool

the dog by giving him first a few pieces of meat one at a time, having your

prepared piece handy when he will not suspect and will take it, following

it up with a few more pieces of meat.

A great many dogs will take — when not too sick — castor oil, cod liver

oil, syrup of phosphates, and many powders even, in a little savory broth or

porridge. When powders are refused in food, mix them in a little butter,

honey or syrup, and place well back on the tongue. With large and pow-

erful dogs the mouth can be held open by twisting a towel around the

upper jaw, and an assistant is generally necessary except with small toy

dogs, which can be held tightly between the knees while giving the med-

icine. As soon as the medicine is placed on the tongue, close the mouth

and hold it shut till dog is seen to swallow, but must not be held so as to

interfere with his breathing through the nostrils. The best way to give

liquid medicine is to gently raise the dog's head and form a pouch or pocket

by drawing outwards -and slightly upwards the lower lip at the corner of

the mouth, and gradually pouring into the funnel thus formed.

Gelatine capsuls are very handy in administering powders. If the

dose is bulky it is better to divide it up among several small capsules than

it is to try to inclose it in a single large one. Powders are also adminis-

tered by mixing with butter, syrup or glycerine.

Injections. — Use a rubber syringe, never a glass one, as they are dan-

gerous. A bulb syringe with a flexible tube two or three inches long I find

the best, as you can so handily hold the bulb in your hand and work it

quickly when ready before the dog can get out of position. The regular

fountain syringe is also very good. For injection in the ear there is a

regular ear syringe made.

"There is nothing analogous between the dog and the horse. The vet-

erinarian who treats a dog from an equine standpoint is a failure. In tem-

perament and nervous organization the dog resembles man, but his diges-

tive organs differ so radically taht medicine does not act on each alike. As

an instance, common salt has no particular effect upon man. On the dog,

in small doses, it is an emetic; in large doses, a poison. Castor oil is a

mild laxative on man; on the dog it is an active purge. Epsom salts act

only mildly on man; on dogs it acts violently, producing copious, watery

stools. Aloes and rhubarb, recognized as purgatives on man, have no

particular effect o ndogs, and so with numerous other drugs.

"The dog is particularly susceptible to the action of chloroform. This

is on account of the irregular heart action previously mentioned. His

sensitive nervous system responds quickly to the smallest doses of strych-

nine, and a minute quanty of mercury produces profuse salivation. These

drugs should only be administered by an expert. Opium is not particu-

larly dangerous in its action on dogs.

"Between human exclamations, canine howling, coughing and gasping

and occasionally biting, the dog generally escapes without the medicine.

Kindness and strategy are the only safe methods for giving medicine. Aim

to get the dog to take his medicine without knowing that he is getting it.

This can be accomplished by having the medicine in pill form. One of

the pills can be introduced into a slit made in a small cube of meat. Disarm

the patient of suspicion by preparing several similar cubes of meat without

the pills. Give him one of these. He may examine it, but finding it all

right, will swallow it. Another should be given him. If he swallows it

without examination, give him the cube containing the pill and it will

follow its predecessor. Do not use fluids if it is possible to avoid them.

Gelatine capsuls can be had in various sizes to accommodate all drugs.

It is better to give two small capsules than one large one. To give a

capsule have an attendant take a small dog in his lap; a large dog should

be gently backed into a corner. Stroke the dog's head and face gently;

then with the left hand held over the head just in front of the eyes, press

the lips against the teeth just enough to cause him to open his mouth.

Moisten the capsule, place it as far back on the tongue as possible, which

can be inserted well down the throat without danger to either the dog or

the physician. Close the mouth quickly and the capsule will be swallowed."

The following was published in the Dog Fancier, written by their

veterinarian, Dr. D. H. Hall, and is worth publishing, containing many good

ideas:

"In the treatment of dogs or other domestic animals one great obstacle

to successful medication is the difficulty often encountered in the adminis-