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

[Starfire669]

My dogs all refuse pills, and are talented at spitting them out. My Belgian Malinois will now refuse peanut butter because he knows a pill is in there. So I have to pry his mouth open and shove the pill down his throat. I put him between my knees and clamp onto his shoulders, like riding a horse. I then gently push his lips/gums ?? Into his upper teeth and he opens. Keep gentle pressure on his lips until the pill is in place to prevent him biting your fingers (my rottweiller nearly took a finger when I released too soon). Then hold his mouth shut, blow on his nose, and rub his throat, he will swallow it. When done, praise and give treats.

I use this method on the Belgian every time because of his refusal of peanut butter and his ability to eat whatever I wrap the pill in while spitting the pill out. I try the peanut butter first with my other dogs, if they spit the pill out, then I do this method with them as well. It has never failed me. Just remember to keep that mouth open while putting the pill as far back as you can.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have always used the open the mouth and shove the pill down the throat technique. Started when my first dog, a husky, needed heartworm pills. She refused the treats so my vet gave me the little white pills and showed me how to administer. Since then, I have had two more dogs that refuse to eat the "treats" meds. I always ask for the pills first. My last vet didn't carry anything but the treats, looked at me like I was insane when I asked for the pills. She offered to order the heartworm pills for me but since I was moving in a week, that wouldn't work since it would take her 2 weeks to get them in. Luckily this dog has decided that he likes the treats this year. I miss having more than one dog - that competition for treats really does work in your favor sometimes. Except for my Irish Setter, he would take his treat and then hide it in his dogbed so the other two couldn't find it; then come back for more.

 

[dainerra]

Quote:
I don't use the heartworm pills or treats. I use liquid Ivermectin and dose every 45 days. no fuss, no muss. Just put it on his kibble.

 

[Starfire669]

Quote:
I don't use the heartworm pills or treats. I use liquid Ivermectin and dose every 45 days. no fuss, no muss. Just put it on his kibble.

I switched to Advantage Multi a few years ago. It does heartworm, fleas, roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, all in 1 topical treatment a month. Now my only problem is the rottwieller, she attempts to roll and rub the Advantage off as soon as I put it on unless I immediately crate her. But sometimes antibiotics are needed or a supplement, and the it's back to riding my dog like a small pony and shoving a pill down their throats. 5 of my dogs are 50 pounds each, and the Rottie is 100 pounds, so yeah, small pony rides anyone? Lol.

 

[gritsar]

For us, it's Trifexis all the way for fleas and heartworms. Had one dog with heartworms, it will never happen again if I can help it.

 

[Starfire669]

For us, it's Trifexis all the way for fleas and heartworms.  Had one dog with heartworms, it will never happen again if I can help it. 

I have rescued 2 dogs that had heartworms when I got them, this is how I discovered Advantage Multi. Advantage Multi can be used on a heartworm positive dog, according to vets, it kills the baby heartworms while letting the adults live. This prevents the dog from suffering a heart attack if the vets give too much of the medicine that kills all heartworms. Heartworms, I believe, have a life cycle of 3 years. The slow treatment of heartworms is a viable option for dogs, especially dogs who are heavily burdenedby heartworms. My sister, who works at a top vet in my area, is the one who informed me of this option. We used it on a pug, who was heavily burdened. The pug was cleared of all heartworms last year. The damage to her heart is irreversible, but it was the vets opinion that the pug would have died if we had gone the injection route to kill all the worms. When adult heartworms are killed, their bodies break down and are full of bacteria that cause secondary infections that can lead to death. There are other heartworm medicines that can be used on heartworm positive dogs, but I prefer the Advantage because it also does intestinal parasites. Since I will rescue a dog straight off the street, I like a medicine that immediately starts killing all parasites the dog my carry. It's my 1 stop shop for beginning treatment on a dog. And I use it on my other dogs to keep them parasite free.

I am currently using this slow kill method on a rottwieller I rescued this past December. The Rottie was lightly heartworm burdened, but had no muscle tone, was severely obese, and has some type of injury to her right rear leg. So far all I know is that the rottie's leg issue is not a torn CCL, and her hip appears good, it only hurts her when I press on the muscles of her thigh, I have asked my sister to schedule an appointment at her vet to have it checked out, see what we can do to help. Because of these issues, I opted to use the slow heartworm treatment on her as well. She is doing very well. It is my hope to have the rottwieller well enough to be adopted soon. She would then be my 4th rescue and re-home dog success. (I have rescued and re-homed 9 kittens, and ended up keeping 7 in the family, lol. I also have 4 rescued dogs in my home, including the Rottie, and 2 AKC registered pure bloods, purchased from reputable breeders.) I do this on my own time and out of my own pocket, not affiliated with any rescue group or organization.