Giving Staffies Medication

by **Steve** Fri Jun 22 2012, 20:07

Frequently Asked Questions

Giving Staffies Medication

Giving Staffies Medication

Giving tablets

Some tablets are palatable so its always worth seeing if your pet will take them when offered. Making it a game sometimes helps such as tossing them in the air or rolling them along the ground. If they can be given with food try wrapping them in cheese or making a slit in a morsal of chicken and sliding them inside. If they can be crushed (some tablets must be given whole) then try mixing them in with food. If they have to be given whole and your pet does't like them then you will need to give them as follows.

If right handed stand to the right side of your pet (but you may have to straddle him or her). You may need help to hold them and your assistant should stand to the left with their right arm over the patient and in the case of cats holdint the front legs.
For dogs open the mouth by placing your left hand over the top of the head and muzzle and pushing the upper lips inward over the upper teeth. Lift the head to point skywards. For cats open the mouth by placing your left hand over the head and gripping the cheek bones.
Hold the tablet in the thumb and index finger of your right hand. Use the middle finger of this hand to pull down the lower jaw by the incisor (front) teeth.
Quickly throw the tablet towards the back of the tongue, as far back as you can, aiming to make sure it is placed centrally. Don't stick your finger/hand right in their mouth as that could trigger the gag reflex, which is obviously not a good idea in this case, and he may also instinctively close his mouth around your fingers.
Close the mouth and stroke the throat. A spoonfull of water helps to ensure the tablet doesn't stick in the gullet.

Giving liquids

For right handed people stand to the right of your pet and hold their head pointing upwards with your left hand.
Hold the syringe of liquid in your right hand
Place the nozzle of the syringe into the side of the mouth between the canines and the large cheek teeth.
Slowly squirt the liquid in giving time for your pet to swallow.
Keep the head raised and stroke the neck to encourage swallowing.

Using ear medication

The appearance of ears varies greatly amongst breeds. This is mainly due to variation in the ear flap or pinna. The ear canal is more uniform. The canal is much longer than in humans and is L shaped. Imagine your own ear canal and adding a further tube that runs towards the top of your head.
Applying medication or ear cleaner

Only use medications prescribed for your pet. Incorrect medications can make problems worse or result in deafness.
If right handed hold the ear flap up in your left hand to expose the entrance to the ear canal.
Use your left hand to instil the recommended amount of drops into the ear canal. It is usually better not to insert the nozzle but to use sufficient drops for the medication or cleaner to run down the inside of the canal.
While still holding the ear flap, gently massage the canal. You should be able to feel the tube as it runs down the side of the head
The final part of the ear canal is often missed and is best massaged by pushing the canal from behind against the jawbone. Try it on your own ear canal to better understand what to do.
Your pet will almost certainly try to shake their heads, so be prepared. Any excess wax or debris from the ear can be cleaned with a small piece of cotton wool on the finger.
Do not use cotton buds.

Using eye medication

Topical eye drops or ointments are used to medicate the front part of the eye and the conjunctiva lining the inside of the eyelids. When applying the medication it is important to ensure that it doesn't just end up on the outside of the eyelids!

If the medication needs to be given several times a day make sure these are as evenly spaced as possible.
When using ointments make sure they are at room temperature as they will be more liquid and easier to apply.
Tilt your pets head upwards and use one hand to open the eyelids while dropping the medication onto the eyeball
With your pets head horizontal pull the top eyelid back to reveal the white of the eye and place the medication here or
With your pets head horizontal pull the bottom eyelid down and place the medication on the inside of the eyelid
Liquid medications generally require only one drop as any excess will just overflow.

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Thank you.
Forum Administrator
Steve

A Staffy-bull-terrier Frequently Asked Questions