If you ever come back from the vet with a medication prescription for your dog, you may feel a little nervous about the whole thing. Your dog may not be the most cooperative with situations outside his normal routine and taking medicine is a prime example of this.

Afterall, most dog medicines generally taste bad and the texture is unfamiliar to your pet. His first response is to usually spit it back up or struggle with you as you try to give it to him.

There's no doubt, getting your dog to take his medicine cooperatively is a frustrating experience. Maybe you're not sure if you're doing it right at all or giving him the correct amount considering he drools most of it back out.

This tutorial will clear up your confusion and show you EXACTLY how to handle this situation.

First, you should know that many dog medicines are available in both pill form AND liquid form. Ask your vet whether you have both options so you can decide which form of medicine will be easier for you to administer. Once you decide on a medicinal form to administer, just follow the steps below...

A lot of people prefer this method of administering dog medication. Even if your dog isn't the most cooperative when receiving medicine, liquid form medication will always absorb to some extent on your dogs tongue.

Also, by the time he does recognize the tase it will already be in his mouth and working it's way to his body. This is my personal favorite for administering do medication because it avoids the whole "spitting up the dog pill" scene that most people complain about.

Just follow these steps and this will be a piece of cake...

• Draw up the prescribed amount of liquid medication in the eyedropper or syringe. As for the amounts directed, follow your doctor's instruction and remember:
  
  1 ml = 1 cc
  5 cc = 1 teaspoon
  15 cc = 1 tablespoon
  
  
• If you have a small dog, wrapping him in a blanket and soothing him beforehand is a good way to calm and restrain him prior to administering medication.
  
  
• Gently grasp your dog's muzzle with your other hand. Your thumb should rest on one side of the top of his mouth and your fingers on the other. Never grab your dog from his jaw. Always hold him from the top of his muzzle.
  
  
• Once you have a gentle but firm grip, slowly tilt his head upwards towards the ceiling. His mouth should open a bit as he breathes.
  
  
• Place the tip of the eyedropper or syringe in his mouth, just behind his canine teeth. You may see flat teeth over there, just push the tip of the eyedropper past this area so the medicine will drop into his mouth.
  
  
• Slowly push the medicine through the eyedropper into his mouth, giving him time to swallow. If he does spit some of it back up, do NOT readminister the dose unless you think he didn't swallow ANY of it.
  
  
• The faster you get this over with, the more cooperative your dog will be, so go through the motions in your head before doing this for real.
  
  
• Remember, after your dog swallows his medicine, praise him with positive reinforcement and offer him a treat. He'll begin to associate taking his medicine as a good thing when you show your happy enthusiasm.
  
  

This can be a little harder because pills are more difficult for your dog to swallow and much easier for him to spit up. You may want to try hiding the pill in wet food or a treat, but you'll still need to monitor him and ensure that he takes it.

That said, the first couple of steps are exactly the same as when you administer liquid medication...

• Gently grasp your dog's muzzle with your hand. Keep your thumb on one side of the top of his mouth and your fingers on the other. Never grab your dog from his jaw. He needs those muscles to swallow. Always hold him from the top of his muzzle.
  
  
• Once you have a gentle but firm grip, slowly tilt his head upwards towards the ceiling. His mouth should open a bit as he breathes.
  
  
• Using your other hand, place the pill as far back into his mouth as you can reach. Try not to touch too much of his mouth back there as that will trigger his gag reflex and he'll just cough the pill back up. Instead, try to drop the pill onto the back of his tongue. That's what you should be aiming for.
  
  
• After you get the pill in his mouth, quickly close his mouth and hold it. Don't worry, he can breath through his nose.
  
  
• While holding his mouth closed, gently rub his muzzle or blow on his nose. This will stimulate his natural reaction to swallow.
  
  
• As always, speed is of the essence with this procedure. Know the steps in your head before you do it for real. The faster you get this over with, the more cooperative your dog will be.
  
  
• Once you're sure that he swallowed the pill, praise him with positive reinforcement and give him a treat. Show him that this task is rewarded when he goes through the proper motions.

Pretty helpful stuff, huh? Really, this is just a snippet of the kind of valuable tips and information you'll be getting in the Dog Health Guide on the next page.

The Dog Health Guide on the next page is a must read for EVERY dog owner. Being prepared for situations affecting your dog's health is SO important. Don't put it off until you have a real medical problem on your hands. Take action now!

Check out the Ultimate Dog Health Guide on the next page and you'll be ready for ANY dog health issue that comes your way!