Im so FRUSTRATED!

[Nasdaq_Diva]

i'm almost to the point of tears! I've become so frustrated with Tommy I'm to the point of wanting to whoop him.

We get along great, but he has no interest in learning commands. He has moments of ignoring me all together. I never yell or curse him. Never raise my hands to him. Yet, he has moments where he'll literally run from me like he's afraid.

I've had him since Nov. And this is his 2nd time gone to the Vet already for medicines from an existing infection he's had. This last visit cost me around $120. At first, putting the pill in his food was working. When that stopped, I was using it wrapped in Peanut Butter, then wrapped in his treats.. Now that isn't working. 2x so far I've tried holding him down and putting it in his mouth. Yesterday it worked after numerous tries. Today no such luck!

I want him to just take the darn medicine. Why is this so difficult?!

Please no flaming, this is mostly a vent.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Nasdaq_Diva

i'm almost to the point of tears! I've become so frustrated with Tommy I'm to the point of wanting to whoop him.

We get along great, but he has no interest in learning commands. He has moments of ignoring me all together. I never yell or curse him. Never raise my hands to him. Yet, he has moments where he'll literally run from me like he's afraid.

I've had him since Nov. And this is his 2nd time gone to the Vet already for medicines from an existing infection he's had. This last visit cost me around $120. At first, putting the pill in his food was working. When that stopped, I was using it wrapped in Peanut Butter, then wrapped in his treats.. Now that isn't working. 2x so far I've tried holding him down and putting it in his mouth. Yesterday it worked after numerous tries. Today no such luck!

I want him to just take the darn medicine. Why is this so difficult?!

Please no flaming, this is mostly a vent.

I'm going to sidestep how old he is. But to ask is it possible to separate the gel capsule and put into the food? If it is not a gel capsule, then grind it very fine and place into his food.

[DvlshAngel985]

I get it. It is frustrating when you're trying so hard, and it just doesn't work. I've had Kaji since Aug 2009 and there are times that he just won't come to me. We'll be in the middle of play, having a good time, and I'll ask him to bring me the toy. He doesn't, starts to cower, and if I approach him he pees out of fear. We were playing and having a good time, why the fear? It is incredibly frustrating. BUT.... that's what we took on. When he gets that way, I don't approach him anymore. Instead, I lay down on the ground when he gets that way. Instead of cowering, he runs and attacks me with kisses. It's funny! You'll learn what intimidates him and adapt your interactions accordingly.

[princessizzy]

Maybe try putting it in a piece of canned Chicken breast or wrapped to a piece od deli meat... But DONT'T let him see you put the pill in.. and take couple bits of the rest so he sees that you like it... Sometimes we have to play tricks on our little buggers..lolol.. they are stinker

[jacquelinebabco]

Cheese has always worked for my gang?

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by gemy

I'm going to sidestep how old he is. But to ask is it possible to separate the gel capsule and put into the food? If it is not a gel capsule, then grind it very fine and place into his food.

I would check with a vet before doing that to make sure it was ok. Some pills are specially coated to dissolve at a specific rate or pH. Crushing it can bypass this and give too much medicine too soon.

Originally Posted by princessizzy

Maybe try putting it in a piece of canned Chicken breast or wrapped to a piece od deli meat... But DONT'T let him see you put the pill in.. and take couple bits of the rest so he sees that you like it... Sometimes we have to play tricks on our little buggers..lolol.. they are stinker

That's what I do, too. I also feed it at a rapid pace so they don't have time to realize I slipped something in.

[roseslevi]

Greenies sell/make a little pill pocket that works wonders as well, just wrap it in it and it's gone.

[ArmaniMan]

My Chloe is the same way with pills and needs to take them every day for life. I find different tricks and switch them around, right now we are grinding it fine and mixing with chicken baby food and this is working great. It is frustrating, but remember, they are babies, the meds don't taste good and they don't understand why they have to take it.

[jrsygal37]

Liverwurst has always worked well. Right now I'm going through this with Mia, with her Clavomox nit's a liquid. She runs when she sees it. Poor baby has had so much shoved in her ears and mouth. I've been now just dripping it into a tiny bit of food to get her to take it. Less tramatic. Try the liverwurst. Roll it into it and they don't know. They just scoff it right down. e.

[Nasdaq_Diva]

For his and my own sanity he's downstairs away from me. Thanks everyone for the advice. Glad to hear I'm not the only one. Everytime I find myself frustrated I tell myself, " he needs love and patience" I keep repeating it and I feel better..But today..boy oh boy!

I'm going to go wrap it in cheese and see how he does with that. I've never given him cheese before.

[SophieKatesMom]

I use the Greenie Pill Pockets also, it is the only way I can get Sophie Kate to take her meds.

I feel your frustration, Sophie Kate is impossible to give pills to also. I remember making the same post just about 2 years ago. As everyone has said you will have to keep trying different methods and fool Tommy into taking his pill.

I tried cheese, it worked great for a few months until Sophie Kate learned to suck the cheese off the pill and then spit out the pill.

Take a deep breath and remember you have a lot of people who will listen and offer advice.

[YorkieRose]

How old is your Yorkie...was he a rescue?

I have never had a Yorkie spit out a pill if I put it in dab of peanut butter and stick it on the roof of their mouth...liverworst as mentioned is great.

Yorkies are self-willed...some will never learn commands or come when called..maybe Victoria Stillwell could get my Becca to obey and come, but I doubt it ..Kate and Pinkie always come when called and sit, walk on the lead..but Becca is Becca and I do not expect her to ever listen to me...so I use a stroller or carrier her, go look for her when I want her, whatever, she calls the shots...

[caw]

Your dog sounds like my Daisy. I have to give Daisy Bendadryl everyday for allergies. At first, I could push the pill into a soft treat and she'd gobble it down. After a while, I saw in her face that she was starting to notice a bit of an after-taste. Then, she refused to take the treat in her mouth. I tried crushing the pill and hiding it...didn't work. I tried the liquid form....she HATED it. Just as well because it was sticky and got all in her beard and even her front paw hair......MAJOR mess and called for an emergency grooming job. Also, I didn't like the idea of all that sugar being on her teeth everyday. I presently use organic peanut butter((because there is no sugar in it..just peanuts and oil) and have for many, many months now. She looks forward to it. I know you have already tried this and it is not working for you any more. BUT....I am a horsewoman and have had to get ALL sorts of undesireable medicines down horses throats for YEARS. Most horses don't like medicine either and oftentimes, hiding it in food doesn't work. What you have to do is hold their head up my the muzzle and stroke the throat until they swallow or they will spit it out just like a dog will. I used to have a horse that would take a bit of hay and "scrape" his tongue to try and get rid of any worming paste left on it and then he'd stand there and drool out the rest. So, I had to make sure that I always bypassed his tongue and squirted the paste right straight down his throat. Anyway, gettng back on track, if Daisy ever decides she's not doing the peanut butter thing, I plan on keeping her muzzle pointed to the ceiling until she "licks back" the pill down her throat and swallows. Maybe you could try this.

[Ellie May]

Ellie always takes pills when they are wrapped in food. But with her, eating sometimes makes her vomit (GI issues). So if she has to keep the pill down, I usually don't give it with food. I just put it on the back of her tongue...far enough back that she can't spit it out. You can also use a pill gun. Don't get bit though. If she didn't let me put things in her mouth, I think she would be in a lot of trouble by now!

[yorkieusa]

Some of them will pick a pill out of anything you give them. Why not simplify the situation and have the vet show you how to put the pill down their throat? It's fast, easy, and less traumatic for them. Once you learn to do it, it's easy. Then everyone's happier.