For Those Who Have A Dog Who Hates To Take Medication

[Guest cashie]

Same problem with Cash. We tried everything and it would work for a few days until he figured it out. He would literally eat the pill pocket/meatball/turkey cheese roll-up and spit the pill out. Our current method is I feed him a chunk of raw hamburger without a pill. He sniffs it suspiciously for about 30 seconds before eating it. He eats the second one a little faster and the third one (the one with the secret pill:) he gobbles right up. This has worked for about 2 weeks now. We will have to try marshmallows next! (Probably cheaper too!)

[juliemac]

Yeah ... these pups who chew their food well are always the hardest to pill ...

 

I'm sorry Jilly is having issues ... prayers that she heals well & soon!

 

my boy needs to be force-served his daily chewable glucosamine (he's not buying the 'it takes delicious' advertisement). I found that a light coating of peanut butter (or liversausage) would help the pill down his throat more easily (and I'm assuming it would eliminate any possible bad taste residue). So you might want to add that to the cat pill shooter option (it can be a little messy for the deliverer, though ... but worth it)

 

good luck!

[silverfish]

I know how difficult this can be, from having a hound who would not eat anything he found a pill in (and yes, he chews everything) and bucked like a mustang if you tried to poke it down his throat. I was honestly afraid he'd break something throwing himself about, and neither of us could hold him still. Prosciutto crudo worked for a while. It really sticks to the pill and itself!

 

Now, he's more used to us and he'll let me put pills down his throat but I still prefer to wrap them in something. What consistently works for us is making a cheese ball with finely grated cheese.

 

Depends on the dog. I've used pill pockets, I've used meat past, liver pate, cheese, raw meat, etc. A long time ago we had a senior hound on daily medication and the best solution for him was to crush his pills with a little pestle and mortar and mix them into his food. He ALWAYS ate his dinner.

[Feisty49]

Annie Bella is not on any regular meds, other than heart worm, but if she were, I'd switch out the "bait" to get a pill into her. PB for a day or two then marshmallows for a day or two. I'd use pill pockets and cream cheese. Switching around keeps up interest and also if one doesn't work one day, there are the others to fall back on.

[Guest sirsmom]

Thanks for the marshmallow tip. I use hot dog pieces but will try this next time

[Guest HHHounds]

We have used marshmallows for years and they work great... Hope Jilly stops bleeding out of all ends!

[galgrey]

Feel better soon Jilly Bean.

 

I'm struggling with the whole pill thing with my boy, Cruz, right now. I've hidden pills in everything I can think of. He's so suspicious right now I'm using the "pill gun" most of the time. Hope the marshmallows continue to work.

[IndyandHollyluv]

This is a long story. Jilly Bean is 13, she'll be 14 in December. Back in April she snuck out while I had Bandita in the yard and she was running full tilt and clocked Jilly Bean right up side the nose. Jilly of course got a bloody nose from it. Well she continued to dribble blood from her nose for a couple of days and I got concerned so we took her in, they did x-rays to make sure she didn't have a skull fracture or something and she didn't so they put her on some antibiotics in case the bloody nose was a sinus infection that just happened to coincide with the bump on the nose. We also started her on some antihistamines because she was having some trouble with allergies. Well after 10 days she was still having a little discharge from her nose so we waited to see if it was going to get worse or not. The next step was to take her in and scope her nose and throat to see if they could see where the blood was coming from and they didn't find anything. Fast forward to two months ago and we took her in again and she apparently had a UTI and was showing no symptoms so she received a steroid shot and some antibiotics. Three days after being given the shot the nose bleed stopped. No dripping at all. She was given a long acting antihistamine and antibiotics for the UTI. We took her back 10 days later and she still had a little of the UTI and the nose started leaking again so more antibiotics for the UTI and the vet told me if the nose got worse to call and she would put her on oral steroids to see if that worked. Monday the nose got a little worse so I called and Mike picked up the steroids on Monday night and by Wednesday no more blood coming from to nose. Last night however she started peeing in the house and it was very bloody. It's either a continuation of the original UTI or another one. So as I said a different antibiotic for the UTI and a urine culture.

 

As far as her nose, it could be a polyp or it could be cancer. The only way to know is an MRI but since we've agreed that the treatment for nasal cancer is surgery and then several rounds of radiation and we don't want to put an almost 14 year old dog through the trauma of having all of that done for a disease that only has a 20% survival rate and then it's usually no more than a year, we're just playing a wait and see game. Right now she has no other symptoms but the bloody nose. Her eyes track normally and on physical examination she shows no outward signs of cancer so she will have monthly check ups.

 

I looked at her last night and told her what a shame it was that we've at least temporarily stopped her from bleeding at one end and now she's bleeding out of the other end.

 

Judy - Hugs to you and Jilly Bean. Two comments: I know Jilly Bean isn't a hound but I lost my angel Indy to nasal cancer in 2010 (several posts about it). Different circumstances. Initially, he had blood dripping from his right nostril only (he was approx 10-1/2 at the time). During a dental I asked the vet to x-ray, scope, and biopsy tissue. X-rays negative. Pathology rpt - negative or inconclusive.

 

I suspected it was nasal cancer but could not get a definitive diagnosis. Indy had periodic nose bleeding over the next year - and truly did remarkably well overall. Shortly after his 12th b'day he began to decline in earnest. I took him for a CT scan (not sure you need an MRI??) -- which revealed a mass in his right nostril.

 

While palliative care was an option and the specialist said I could consult with their oncologist -- after mulling it over, I opted to euthanize Indy about two weeks later. In time, the mass would have grown and pressed into his eye or brain. Nasal cancer is ugly. The nasal turbinates are extremely delicate and the destruction from radiation and subsequent problems suffered (from what I have read online) may be worse than euthanasia.

 

I opted for the "better a day too soon than a day too late" route. I let Indy go while his dignity was intact.

 

I hope this is not Jilly Bean's fate.

 

As for the pill thing -- Indy also could smell meds a mile away - epecially Tramadol. The only combo that I could trick him with was to roll a pill in a gob of liverwurst (or similar) and then wrap that in a soft, squishy piece of bread or roll. Indy was smart as a whip and on to every other trick in the book.

 

Good luck to you. Happy to answer any Qs you may have.

[TheFullHouse]

This is a long story. Jilly Bean is 13, she'll be 14 in December. Back in April she snuck out while I had Bandita in the yard and she was running full tilt and clocked Jilly Bean right up side the nose. Jilly of course got a bloody nose from it. Well she continued to dribble blood from her nose for a couple of days and I got concerned so we took her in, they did x-rays to make sure she didn't have a skull fracture or something and she didn't so they put her on some antibiotics in case the bloody nose was a sinus infection that just happened to coincide with the bump on the nose. We also started her on some antihistamines because she was having some trouble with allergies. Well after 10 days she was still having a little discharge from her nose so we waited to see if it was going to get worse or not. The next step was to take her in and scope her nose and throat to see if they could see where the blood was coming from and they didn't find anything. Fast forward to two months ago and we took her in again and she apparently had a UTI and was showing no symptoms so she received a steroid shot and some antibiotics. Three days after being given the shot the nose bleed stopped. No dripping at all. She was given a long acting antihistamine and antibiotics for the UTI. We took her back 10 days later and she still had a little of the UTI and the nose started leaking again so more antibiotics for the UTI and the vet told me if the nose got worse to call and she would put her on oral steroids to see if that worked. Monday the nose got a little worse so I called and Mike picked up the steroids on Monday night and by Wednesday no more blood coming from to nose. Last night however she started peeing in the house and it was very bloody. It's either a continuation of the original UTI or another one. So as I said a different antibiotic for the UTI and a urine culture.

 

As far as her nose, it could be a polyp or it could be cancer. The only way to know is an MRI but since we've agreed that the treatment for nasal cancer is surgery and then several rounds of radiation and we don't want to put an almost 14 year old dog through the trauma of having all of that done for a disease that only has a 20% survival rate and then it's usually no more than a year, we're just playing a wait and see game. Right now she has no other symptoms but the bloody nose. Her eyes track normally and on physical examination she shows no outward signs of cancer so she will have monthly check ups.

 

I looked at her last night and told her what a shame it was that we've at least temporarily stopped her from bleeding at one end and now she's bleeding out of the other end.

 

Judy - Hugs to you and Jilly Bean. Two comments: I know Jilly Bean isn't a hound but I lost my angel Indy to nasal cancer in 2010 (several posts about it). Different circumstances. Initially, he had blood dripping from his right nostril only (he was approx 10-1/2 at the time). During a dental I asked the vet to x-ray, scope, and biopsy tissue. X-rays negative. Pathology rpt - negative or inconclusive.

 

I suspected it was nasal cancer but could not get a definitive diagnosis. Indy had periodic nose bleeding over the next year - and truly did remarkably well overall. Shortly after his 12th b'day he began to decline in earnest. I took him for a CT scan (not sure you need an MRI??) -- which revealed a mass in his right nostril.

 

While palliative care was an option and the specialist said I could consult with their oncologist -- after mulling it over, I opted to euthanize Indy about two weeks later. In time, the mass would have grown and pressed into his eye or brain. Nasal cancer is ugly. The nasal turbinates are extremely delicate and the destruction from radiation and subsequent problems suffered (from what I have read online) may be worse than euthanasia.

 

I opted for the "better a day too soon than a day too late" route. I let Indy go while his dignity was intact.

 

I hope this is not Jilly Bean's fate.

 

As for the pill thing -- Indy also could smell meds a mile away - epecially Tramadol. The only combo that I could trick him with was to roll a pill in a gob of liverwurst (or similar) and then wrap that in a soft, squishy piece of bread or roll. Indy was smart as a whip and on to every other trick in the book.

 

Good luck to you. Happy to answer any Qs you may have.

 

This is our fear also. Jilly only bleeds from the left nostril also. After doing the research, I realized what a devastating cancer this is to have. I've researched it also and whether or not you have the surgery and radiation, the outcome isn't good. Mike and I have already discussed it and we would choose palliative care also. She will go in monthly to see our vet so she can check for any outward signs as they present themselves. For now the prednisone has stopped the bleeding although she still has a bit of a runny nose on that side. She's eating well and playing at this point so we are just going to enjoy her for as long as we can. I start tonight lowering her dose of prednisone and we will see if once she comes off of it she starts to bleed again.

 

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. Believe it or not it helps.

 

As for the marshmallows, they are still working today so I feel blessed.

Edited July 14, 2012 by JillysFullHouse

[MauCarden]

Raw hamburger or raw turkey has been the only thing to work more than a few days with Atty.

[IndyandHollyluv]

This is a long story. Jilly Bean is 13, she'll be 14 in December. Back in April she snuck out while I had Bandita in the yard and she was running full tilt and clocked Jilly Bean right up side the nose. Jilly of course got a bloody nose from it. Well she continued to dribble blood from her nose for a couple of days and I got concerned so we took her in, they did x-rays to make sure she didn't have a skull fracture or something and she didn't so they put her on some antibiotics in case the bloody nose was a sinus infection that just happened to coincide with the bump on the nose. We also started her on some antihistamines because she was having some trouble with allergies. Well after 10 days she was still having a little discharge from her nose so we waited to see if it was going to get worse or not. The next step was to take her in and scope her nose and throat to see if they could see where the blood was coming from and they didn't find anything. Fast forward to two months ago and we took her in again and she apparently had a UTI and was showing no symptoms so she received a steroid shot and some antibiotics. Three days after being given the shot the nose bleed stopped. No dripping at all. She was given a long acting antihistamine and antibiotics for the UTI. We took her back 10 days later and she still had a little of the UTI and the nose started leaking again so more antibiotics for the UTI and the vet told me if the nose got worse to call and she would put her on oral steroids to see if that worked. Monday the nose got a little worse so I called and Mike picked up the steroids on Monday night and by Wednesday no more blood coming from to nose. Last night however she started peeing in the house and it was very bloody. It's either a continuation of the original UTI or another one. So as I said a different antibiotic for the UTI and a urine culture.

 

As far as her nose, it could be a polyp or it could be cancer. The only way to know is an MRI but since we've agreed that the treatment for nasal cancer is surgery and then several rounds of radiation and we don't want to put an almost 14 year old dog through the trauma of having all of that done for a disease that only has a 20% survival rate and then it's usually no more than a year, we're just playing a wait and see game. Right now she has no other symptoms but the bloody nose. Her eyes track normally and on physical examination she shows no outward signs of cancer so she will have monthly check ups.

 

I looked at her last night and told her what a shame it was that we've at least temporarily stopped her from bleeding at one end and now she's bleeding out of the other end.

 

Judy - Hugs to you and Jilly Bean. Two comments: I know Jilly Bean isn't a hound but I lost my angel Indy to nasal cancer in 2010 (several posts about it). Different circumstances. Initially, he had blood dripping from his right nostril only (he was approx 10-1/2 at the time). During a dental I asked the vet to x-ray, scope, and biopsy tissue. X-rays negative. Pathology rpt - negative or inconclusive.

 

I suspected it was nasal cancer but could not get a definitive diagnosis. Indy had periodic nose bleeding over the next year - and truly did remarkably well overall. Shortly after his 12th b'day he began to decline in earnest. I took him for a CT scan (not sure you need an MRI??) -- which revealed a mass in his right nostril.

 

While palliative care was an option and the specialist said I could consult with their oncologist -- after mulling it over, I opted to euthanize Indy about two weeks later. In time, the mass would have grown and pressed into his eye or brain. Nasal cancer is ugly. The nasal turbinates are extremely delicate and the destruction from radiation and subsequent problems suffered (from what I have read online) may be worse than euthanasia.

 

I opted for the "better a day too soon than a day too late" route. I let Indy go while his dignity was intact.

 

I hope this is not Jilly Bean's fate.

 

As for the pill thing -- Indy also could smell meds a mile away - epecially Tramadol. The only combo that I could trick him with was to roll a pill in a gob of liverwurst (or similar) and then wrap that in a soft, squishy piece of bread or roll. Indy was smart as a whip and on to every other trick in the book.

 

Good luck to you. Happy to answer any Qs you may have.

 

This is our fear also. Jilly only bleeds from the left nostril also. After doing the research, I realized what a devastating cancer this is to have. I've researched it also and whether or not you have the surgery and radiation, the outcome isn't good. Mike and I have already discussed it and we would choose palliative care also. She will go in monthly to see our vet so she can check for any outward signs as they present themselves. For now the prednisone has stopped the bleeding although she still has a bit of a runny nose on that side. She's eating well and playing at this point so we are just going to enjoy her for as long as we can. I start tonight lowering her dose of prednisone and we will see if once she comes off of it she starts to bleed again.

 

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. Believe it or not it helps.

 

As for the marshmallows, they are still working today so I feel blessed.

 

Judy - a few more thoughts to share: I am hopeful that it is not cancer - and it may not be?? I will say my Indy was quite a chowhound and never lost his appetite. But the day came when I could see it in his eyes. He was tired. Also the day came when I noticed he seemed to need to hold his head in a vertical position when laying down. I suspect there were unpleasant or painful sensations due to the mass -- and that's when I took him in for the CT scan -- and subsequently decided that he had had enough. I loved Indy too much to allow him to suffer.

 

I will also say about 15 years ago I must have ruptured a vessel in one nostril and had ongoing problems with nosebleeds. Went to see an ENT doc who cauterized the vessel and I never had any more problems. So tough to say what's going on without further (meaning more expensive) diagnostics.

 

Thinking of you and your pupper.

[Guest PhillyPups]

JillyBean is one smart hound. Remember Judy, its not healthy for anyone to mess with The Bean.

 

Moe, being an old farm gal - bit me when I went to just shove a pill down her throat like I do all the rest of em. I realized later, she was probably never pilled like that, and know it was my fault. She loves a p-butter sandwich, with any pill stuck it in. I use pb sandwiches with all of em,it is just easier.

 

Hoping JillyBean feels better soon.

[a_daerr]

This may be a bit off-topic, but the symptoms of UTIs are really difficult to get rid of- even for people. I had a pretty bad UTI last spring and was prescribed a strong dose of Cipro for ten days. Months after that, I still had UTI-like symptoms. I had to see a specialist, and apparently the bacteria from the infection can irritate the lining on your bladder. Then, depending on the different foods and drinks you ingest, urine continues to irritate the bladder lining, causing it to feel like a UTI even when the infection is gone. It was really painful and annoying.

 

Anyways, I hope everything is okay. I have a soft spot in my heart for Jilly.

 

I thought it was gone but she was peeing about every 10 minutes and had blood in every single pee. They checked her urine last night and it was full of white cells which is why they put her on a different antibiotic this time. She was in a lot of pain last night and the vet said to give her tramadol 3 times a day for a couple of days until the antibiotic starts to work.

 

Keep us posted on her progress. The Bean has a pretty large fan club.

[PatricksMom]

Tramadol tastes really disgusting, have you tried popping the pill in a gel cap and then hiding it? (See if anyone has left-over cosequine gel caps).

[Guest Energy11]

Poor little Jilly! I have had to grind up the pill or open the capsule, mix with chicken broth, and use a syringe to get the meds down their throat. Used this when I worked for Dr. B in Florida.

 

Good Luck! Hope she feels better!

[robinw]

I hope Jilly is feeling better. Great tip bout the marshmallows! I shove Iker's capsules into timbitw. He's a true Canadian now

[fourofem]

When Lewis was taking all kinds and lots of meds with his OS, he got very smart to pills. Earlier on, I could drop anything into his food and he never knew it. I tried a bunch of different things but the one that fooled him was Velveeta cheese (you know...the rubbery one that doesn't need to be refrigerated?!?!?). I think it must have been the consistency or something but after I discovered that, I never found another pill on the floor. Just a thought.

 

I hope Jilly is feeling better. Great tip bout the marshmallows! I shove Iker's capsules into timbitw. He's a true Canadian now

Do tell, what is timbitw?

[GreyPoopon]

Do tell, what is timbitw?

 

I think Robin meant Timbits, Canadian doughnut holes: Timbits

[DaisyDoodle]

Judy, I'm so sorry Jilly isn't feeling well.

 

Regarding pilling her--tramadol tastes awful from what I understand and really needs to be completely encapsulated in something that tastes good. If there's a gap, I can't convince my pup (and formerly Lucky too) to take it.

 

As far as peanut butter is concerned, if you were using conventional peanut butter, it likely contains corn syrup, which may not agree with her system. If you haven't already, I'd try organic peanut butter that is just peanuts.

 

Have the vets looked up Jilly's nose with a scope? Is there any possibility that there's a foreign body up there? I guess I'm grasping at straws, I just feel bad for the little peanut.

 

Please give her a kiss for me.

[Guest OPointyDog]

When Zoe was recovering from her surgery, I gave her what I called "tramadol burritos." Basically I took a piece of deli meat (roast beef works well!) and cut a small section into a long strip. Then I put peanut butter on it, and put the tramadol in the peanut butter. Then I rolled it up and she usually just swallowed it whole! I use organic, all natural peanut butter with no salt added. Tastes terrible to me, but Zoe loves it.

 

Our previous dog, Star, was an absolute pill-phobic freak. She KNEW if her food had been tampered with and would starve rather than eat it. She was also a master at eating the pill pocket and then spitting out the pill. At the end of her battle with cancer and Cushing's Disease, she was taking 20 pills a day, and I hated having to force her mouth open and drop them down her throat, but that was the only way to get them in there.....