Costco Connection - April 2012

tossed to them will often catch and swallow a pill if you act as though you’re tossing a treat.

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Last resort

If those tricks fail, you’ll need to master the more direct method: Open the dog’s mouth and insert the pill. Try these steps.

•Before starting, have some tasty treats within reach.

•Hold the pill in the fingers of one hand. Place that hand on your dog’s lower jaw and the other hand on his upper jaw.

•Lift his head up toward the ceiling.

•Open your dog’s mouth and twist your hand around so you can insert the pill. Place the pill to the side of your dog’s tongue as far back as you can reach, and then quickly withdraw your hand as you close your dog’s jaws.

•Continue to hold your dog’s jaws closed with one hand while keeping the dog’s nose pointed up toward the ceiling, and gently stroke his throat downward with the other hand to encourage the dog to swallow.

As soon as you think the dog has swallowed the pill, offer a treat for a follow-up swallow. Keep an eye on the patient for a minute or two. Some dogs learn to hold the pill in their mouth and then spit it out when you’re not watching them.—DW