Any tips on giving liquid meds to an old dog?

[TBFAN]

My 14 year old Aussie is on several different pill meds for his elevated liver enzymes, and he takes them fine with the addition of a little peanut butter.

But just recently he had another seizure, and the vet recommended Lactolose syrup twice a day (as well as some other pills). I’m worried about how to get the syrup into him, since he HATES a syringe in his mouth. I had tried the pill dispenser tool previously, but he hated that, which is why we ended up using peanut butter (much easier). The vet gave me regular syringes to use, but I think I might look for a curved tip, or something a big longer than what they gave me.

Does anyone have suggestions for how to get liquid 2x a day into a dog who is convinced he’s not swallowing what you’re dosing? I don’t know how palatable the stuff is, but I know my dog, and he will hate the idea.

Thanks,
Susan

[Simkie]

IIRC, lactolose is really palatable. Does he like bread? How about a bite of bread with lactolose squirted on top?

[SaveTheOtters]

We give our JRT liquid allergy meds each day. Sometimes we dump it on her food and sometimes we soak it into a piece of bread that she devours, but it’s flavored so she’ll eat it anyways. Plus it’s not life or death so it’s not necessary that she get absolutely all of it so I’m not sure this method would work for you.

[MunchkinsMom]

How large is the dosage? You might have some luck with the Greenies pill pockets, the large size might work for you.

Before they made those pill pockets, I had an issue with a liquid medicine, and I would get Snausages, and hollow them out myself, and then put the liquid into the hollowed out Snausage, and the dog loved it.

[Linda]

Well, here’s what we do.

Our older dog gets arthritis meds every morning. (the others are outside when she gets her meds)

We make a big deal out of getting cheese out of the fridge, mixing it with a small amount of dog food and spreading the small amount of liquid medication over the whole thing.
She can hardly wait to get it - but a lot of that (I think) is our saying “whoooo what is this! oh boy… doggie food!” She GOES for it! .

And she is not one of those dogs who is that excited about dinner…

[Sansena]

I can sympathize. If you can’t put the syringe in her mouth, what about simply pulling a cheek away from her teeth, making a pocket, then squirting the meds in there? I’ve used this method before on a vet’s recommendation, with quite a bit of success.

[Blinkers_On]

I dip the syringe in cream cheese or cheese wiz and they take the liquid happily as they are distracted by the cheese.

[tarynls]

Lactulose, as I recall, is pretty sweet. Can you mix it with a bit of peanut butter, cottage cheese or cream cheese in a small dish?

[TBFAN]

Thanks for the suggestions! I will definitely try them. The bread trick might work if I got some nice fresh pumpernickel, which he loves. I didn’t think about mixing it with the PB, but that might work too.
He has to have 20cc per day, but I think we are dealing with some “medicine fatigue” (at least, I’m feeling it!).

Poor guy has been so foggy lately, I’m hoping I can get the lactolose into him and that will bring back a little sharpness to my old man.

Susan

[LauraKY]

Bread, topped with a little bit of liverwurst…I’ve never seen a dog refuse it.

[PiaffePlease]

greenies pill pockets are a lifesaver for just about any meds (liquid, powder, pill). Or mix it with something tasty (PB, cream cheese, etc) and make a paste out of it.

[TBFAN]

True, Greenies pill pockets work great, but they’re too expensive when you’re giving as many pills as the old man gets. Didn’t think about trying to put the liquid in them, but that may be an idea too.

Thanks!

[tarynls]

You might be able to fit 3-4 mL of Lactulose in a Greenie pill pocket. That’s a LOT of pill pockets when you have to administer 20 mL!

[li_l_bit]

Have you tried training her to enjoy the syringe the same as you would train a horse to accept the dewormer paste? I have to give my dobie liquid medications from time to time and the first few efforts were disastrous and very messy. I just had to fill the dose syringe with something that tasted good to her a few times when she didn’t need the medication, like chicken broth or watered down canned food. Also be sure to put the syringe in the side of her mouth where no teeth meet, just like a horse. Just lift the lip and insert dose syringe tip. Also, just squirt small amounts at a time, give her a chance to swallow and continue till it’s all down the hatch. Try to make sure the syringe tip is on top of her tongue. Easier for her to swallow contents. It only took a couple of days to get to the point of accepting it just like any other of the many grooming or management procedures we need to do with our dogs. After the medication, the first few times I gave her a liquid treat from the syringe and every great once in a while I will dose treat just for the fun of it.

[Lone]

I’d second the bread idea. That’s what I did with my dog when he needed some liquid medication. Depending on the consistency/amount you might be able to just squirt it over the dog food too

[TBFAN]

So far the liquid on pumpernickel seems to be working. I’ve cut the dose down a little, on advice of the vet, since it was give him a bit of diarrhea.

Marty is 14 now, and although I could work with him to make him more accepting of the syringe, his seizures and general health make me want to spend time with him doing things he likes, rather than things that upset him.

Thanks for the help!

S

[allintexas]

My girl is getting a liquid med 2x per day, and I pull out her cheek a little to make a pocket, put the tip of the syringe in there, then slowly push in the plunger. just tilt her nose up a little, and she swallows it. Afterwards, I give her a little spoonful of peanut butter. She knows the pb is coming, and I think she is to excited to worry about having to take the medication.