We are having problems getting Star to open her mouth to get her worming tablets (or any tablets really). Her jaws clamp shut and it takes 2 people to force them open enough to slide a tablet in I did not realise how strong her jaws were until now. No wonder some people believe that jaws lock This is a last resort as she used to take tablets when they are wrapped in cheese but has gotten wise to us now. So is there anything we can do to open her jaws any easier?
I used to have the same problem with Teagan..so I used to give her tablets in different things...she likes them with a knob of butter, ham, cheese........ but now,.....she actually will eat them straight from her food...she picks them out and eats them seperately. Also, she is on metacam, and I got told dogs don't like it...she opens her mouth and waits for me to give it to her!!!
I used to give Star tablets in cheese and meats but she eats the cheese and spits out the tablet now Finn eats them straight from my hand too :?
Try crushing the tablets up.........put onto a peice of bread,with lots of butter or jam anything that they cant resist........works for mine! ;-)
only whats been said, ain't it strange how they shut up shop when it comes to pills, i can wrap them in any thing the food goes down the tablet is on the floor. the only other thing is to keep changing the food so they don't get wise to the treat or the pill poppers for tablets, not that i had much luck with them as tob's pills wouldn't fit inside. if you clean her teeth trick her get the toothbrush out and throw it in........lol
It is a nightmare but you have to laugh when she puts on that determined face as Star wont give up easily. We tried the pill treats before, they got eaten and the pill ended up on the floor She does like getting her teeth brushed but will only open her mouth just enough for the toothbrush
i 've never really had a problem carole i just hook my finger into side of mouth and slip pill down side of throat with my finger or if there not playing game i somtimes hook my 2 thumbs at either side of mouth lift it up and push pill down that way dunno if that helps i'm not very good explaining myself oh another way is to stand over them so your straddling them
thanks all these ideas to try next time Finn just looks at her as if to say what is all the fuss about :? he is just so greedy and will eat anything though.
Same here with Gelly, I cut bread and butter into soldiers, roll each one up and put the tablets in some of the rolls, that way she eats the lot.
only cause finn hasn't sussed it yet, hol has now and shes as bad as him.......... they spit them out together.
You can train dogs to 'open' on command. Start gradually with just a tiny open using one hand under the jaw and the other hand over the muzzle with thumb & forefinger behind the canines. As soon as the mouth opens under gentle pressure from your hand put the command on it and pop in a treat. Very gradually get wider opens. Of course, Star may now be too suspicious that you are going to sneak a tablet in to oblige with even the teeniest open but try with whatever her favourite treat is.
thanks SB will have a go and see if she will open her mouth that way Rob she is too smart for her own good at times
I used to grind to dust the many tablets Abe was prescribed then add to his food because he too used to clamp his jaws shut and i couldnt open them! I too tried wrapping them up in cheese etc,but he would spit the damn things out.
I have never had a problem giving a dog pills and do much the same as the others .. First I tilt the dogs head slightly upwards, put my hand over the top of the nose and with my thumb on one side and fingers on the other gently push the skin on the side of the mouth inwards towards the teeth and the jaw will automaticaly open..pop the pill down the throat and quickly close the dogs mouth. Now stroke the throat in a downward movement to make the dog swallow..now praise and treat Amy has to have a heart pill every day and sits waiting for it at 7pm , it is followed by a treat..usually cheese. If you think giving a pill to a dog is difficult try giving one to a tortoise, they have jaws of steel and can almost remove a finger
To get her used to having her mouth opened being a positive experience why not give her a treat just for opening her jaw a bit. She probably has got into the habit of slamming her mouth shut because she associates having to open her mouth with a negative experience (ie: getting a pill)? Try starting off by just sliding your finger into her mouth and give her a treat when she allows this. Keep giving the same command (I use 'open') Then build it up so she will eventually allow you to open her mush! ;-) Ozzy used to be reluctant having his mouth opened for pills but he is fine now as he knows he always gets a biscuit for being good! If all else fails try putting the pill into liver cake, give a couple of bits then the bit with the pill in, gives them less chance of figuring it out as they are concentrating on the next titbit!!! Good luck!
I give Elvis the pedigree Chum tabs (some kinda meat flavour), they must be yummy as Elvis is sooooooooo fussy but he eats them straight up! But sorry, no easy solution to opening a boxer's jaw.
Hi Carole I think some tablets come coated with chicken flavour or something which makes the dogs want to eat them? They are called "palatable" tablets I think. We are lucky, Archie will eat any pill out of his food bowl or our hands as if it was a treat
