Unique (?) problem with our german shepherd. Ideas?

[gritsar]

Our older GSD Jax tends to get ear infections in his right ear (3rd one and he's 5). This time around the vet put him on a 14 day antibiotic and ear drops. The ear drops are no problem, the capsules of the antibiotic are. Jax is too smart for his own good...we're talking about a dog so smart that he trained himself to be my physical assistance dog by the time he was a year old. Jax knows three languages....we started out only speaking to him in german, but he learned english, so we switched to pig latin; he figured that one out too.

Anyhow, he's SMART.

He had 14 days total to take this antibiotic.

Day one - wrapped it in softened cheese.
Day two - Jax figured out that every time he got a piece of cheese it gave him a bit of a tummy ache, so he started taking the ball of cheese, but eating carefully and spitting out the capsule.
Day three - Switched to the dog treats made to slip a capsule in for the morning dose. Evening dose, Jax ate the treat, spit out the capsule.
Day four - Switched to raw hamburger made into a meatball. Evening dose time, Jax ate around the capsule.
Day five - Switched to chunks of hot dog, same result.

Jax is very well behaved, but he will not allow us to force it into his mouth. Pill "shooter" doesn't work either.

Any other ideas?

 

[chicmom]

Maybe you could open the capsule, and buy some of those beef gravy packets, cook some up, and put the meds in the gravy. Then offer him the bowl. He might just lap that up!

 

[Godsgrl]

My dogs like to lose the pill in treats too sometimes. I have great results with chunky peanut butter. It already has chunks in it, so the pill/capsule is harder to detect. If this doesn't work, try this: open your dog's mouth, and put the pill as far back as you can on his tongue. Close his mouth, hold his nose up, and rub his throat. Keep it up until you see him swallow. Good luck!

 

[gritsar]

Thanks

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Peanut butter - the sticky nature short circuits the "spit it out" reflex because they are too busy trying to lick the peanut butter down as opposed to other more solid wrap around foods, treats, pockets.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Peanut Butter is the best way to give dogs medicine. If you mix the medicine in with the peanut butter the dog can't separate it from the sticky gooey peanut butter or they don't even notice it if you hide it well enough in the peanut butter. It has always worked with are Cocker Spaniel.

 

[aprille218]

Also give the meds with treats of 3.
Give a smaller bit of the treat without the pill.
Then the pill/ treat combo and immediately after he takes that one offer another non medicated treat.
Usually they are anticipating the next treat so they swallow the medicated one whole.
Also works well if the have competition in the form of another dog wanting to get the treat. Good luck!
Aprille

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Forget about pills and drops and ask your vet for a BNT treatment. Best thing my vet has EVER started doing.

I own a Mastiff, and he gets ear infections at least once a year no matter what (every summer). The BNT treatment is an antibacterial, antifungal, and an anti-inflammatory all mixed into beeswax and then injected into the ear. I notice relief within HOURS of it being injected and it's cheaper than the pills (which I need a lot of for the giant beast).

 

[dainerra]

fastest and simplest solution. Pry his mouth open, toss the pill into the back of his throat. Hold his mouth closed and blow lightly across his nose until he swallows.
As soon as he does, praise him and give him an extra yummy treat like a piece of hotdog or something else that he only gets at pill time

 

[dainerra]

Highstreet, ear infections every summer are likely caused by allergies. Frequent summer ear infections are also common in dogs that do a lot of swimming - water in the ear leads to infections.