PetHealth

Does My Dog or Cat Have an Infected Wound?

“What are the symptoms of an infection in a pet’s wound?”

“My dog’s wound smells bad and has discharge. Is it infected?”

“Why is my cat’s wound red and swollen? Does this mean the wound is infected?”

At some point, your cat, dog or other pet will suffer a wound from a fall, bump, or even from a dog fight or cat fight.

So while cleaning a pet’s wound properly is vital to promote healing, infections do still occur from time to time. Do you know the symptoms of infection in a cat’s or dog’s wound?

Signs and Symptoms of an Infected Wound in a Dog or Cat

There are several symptoms that you may see if your pet’s wound, cut or even an incision gets infected. Signs of infection include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Discharge (often thick, yellow or green in color)
• Odor
• Pain

Is Your Pet’s Wound Healing?

It’s important to note that some redness, swelling, discharge and pain is normal, but these symptoms will usually reach their worst point within 24 hours of the pet’s injury. After that point, the injury should be healing and improving; if the redness, swelling, discharge and pain associated with the pet’s injury seem to get worse, this is a sign of infection.

In addition, a wound should never have an odor. If the wound smells bad, this is a sure sign of infection.

Tip: Photograph the Wound Daily to Monitor Healing

Photographing a cat’s or dog’s wound with a digital camera is a great way to monitor healing.

It can be difficult to monitor healing by relying on memory when changes occur slowly. Comparing photographs gives you a way to monitor the progression of healing without having to rely on potentially flawed memories.

Photographs of a pet’s wound or injury can also be helpful to show a veterinarian if follow up care is required due to an infected wound or other injury.

Related Reading for Pet Owners

For more information on how to clean a pet’s cut or surgical incision, read this related blog entry titled How Do I Clean My Pet’s Wound?

Also read How Do I Clean a Dog Bite Wound? and Why Do Dog Bite Wounds Get Infected? for more information on how to treat these difficult-to-heal injuries in your pet.

How Can I Tell if My Dog Has an Ear Infection?

“My dog’s ear is red. Does he have an ear infection?”

“Are dogs with floppy ears more prone to developing ear infections?”

“My dog has discharge coming out of his ear. Is discharge a symptom of an ear infection?”

“Why do dogs with floppy ears get chronic ear infections?”

Virtually every dog will develop an ear infection at some point in his lifetime. Unfortunately, some dogs are more prone to ear infections.

Is My Dog Prone to Ear Infections?

Dogs with floppy ears or long ears are most likely to get an ear infection. Why?  A floppy eared dog or a long-eared dog’s ear canals are covered by the ears. This makes the ear canals a warm, dark, moist area with little air flow - perfect conditions for trapping and growing bacteria inside the dog’s ears.

That’s not to say that dogs with erect ears are immune to ear infections; every dog can develop an ear infection. Floppy-eared and long-eared dogs are just more prone to developing ear infections.

What are the Symptoms of an Ear Infection in a Dog?

Symptoms of an ear infection in a dog include:

• Redness
• Discharge
• Odor From the Dog’s Ears
• Swelling of the Dog’s Ear Canal
• Scratching at the Ear
• Head Shaking

If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, it’s important to keep his ears clean. Clean the dog’s ears with an ear cleaning solution twice a day will help to eliminate some of the skin irritation that can occur as a result of the dog’s ear discharge.

Cleaning the dog’s ears twice a day is important to allow for healing. A dog’s ear infection will not heal on its own; you will need to visit the veterinarian for antibiotics and ear drops or ear ointment. It’s important to clean the dog’s ears before applying the ear drops or ointment, a procedure that’s usually done twice a day for 10 to 14 days.

Learn the Signs and Symptoms of Salmonella in Cats and Dogs

“What are the symptoms of salmonella in a dog or cat?”

“Can I get salmonella from my dog or cat?”

“Will my dog die from salmonella?”

“Has the peanut butter salmonella recall affected pet foods?”

Salmonella has been in the news lately as a result of the peanut butter recall due to salmonella contamination. The salmonella tainted peanut butter was used to manufacture pet treats, among other food products, spurring new cases of salmonella in dogs and cats.

What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella in a Dog or Cat?

In a pet, salmonella signs and symptoms include:

• Vomiting (often with blood present)
• Diarrhea (often with blood present)
• Dehydration
• Refusal to Eat
• Refusal to Drink
• Stomach Gurgling
• Lethargy
• Fever

Unlike less dangerous stomach upsets that are commonly seen in dogs and cats, salmonella will not go away within a day or two. In a dog or cat, a case of salmonella typically lasts a week or longer.

Can My Dog or Cat Die From Salmonella? Is There a Treatment for Salmonella?

Yes! Pets like dogs and cats can and will die from a case of salmonella.

Most dogs and cats who die from salmonella don’t die from the actual illness; most often, pets die from dehydration and other complications resulting from salmonella. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of a pet with salmonella is key.

Salmonella is diagnosed in dogs and cats by testing a stool sample.

There is no treatment to cure salmonella. If a dog or cat gets salmonella, the pet will require supportive care like IV fluids and nutritional supplements to treat dehydration and low blood sugar.

In addition, pet owners must be especially careful if a pet or human family member gets salmonella. Salmonella is one of the few illnesses that can be transmitted between pets and humans.

More Information on Pet Food Recalls That Are Linked to Salmonella in Dogs and Cats

As a result of the peanut butter salmonella contamination, several dog treats were recalled in January 2009.

To learn more about these pet food recalls due to salmonella, and how to learn about pet food recalls, visit the Pet Food Recall Page on The Pet Health Blog.

 The ASPCA’s Poison Control Hotline for Pets…..Call 888-426-4435

“How much chocolate is poisonous to dogs?”

“What medications are toxic for dogs and cats?”

“What foods are toxic to pets?”

“How do I know if my dog or cat has been poisoned?”

 Pets have a way of getting into mischief from time to time and no matter how conscientious you are as a pet owner, there’s always a chance that your dog could ingest a poison or toxin.

So what happens if your dog eats a pill? Wondering how much chocolate is toxic for a dog? Do you need to know if a certain drug or food is toxic to pets? The ASPCA’s Pet Poison Control Hotline can help!

How Does the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline Work?

Dog owners, cat owners and other pet parents can call the ASPCA’s Poison Control Hotline for pets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’ll need to tell the hotline about your dog’s symptoms, what type of toxin or poison the pet ingested and other similar information.

Experienced veterinarians and pet toxicologists will give you information on whether the dog, cat or other pet ate a toxic dose and whether or not the pet should be brought to the vet. In some cases, pet owners may learn that the food, medication, vitamin, gum or other substance that the animal ate is not toxic!

In other cases, the pet poison control hotline staff may tell an owner that the pet is in danger and they may recommend a trip to the veterinarian’s emergency room.

Callers to the ASPCA’s Pet Poison Control Hotline will also receive directions on how and if to induce vomiting in your dog or cat, along with any other tips to help your pet after the poisoning incident.

How Much Does it Cost to Use the ASPCA Pet Poison Control Hotline?

There is a $60 fee for using the hotline. And it’s $60 may very well save your pet’s life.

The $60 fee is per incident, which means that there is no additional calls for follow-up calls to the hotline concerning the same case.

Remember that the funds will benefit a great non-profit organization and the $50 spent on the Poison Control Hotline could save you a $200 on an unnecessary visit to the 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic in cases where the pet does not require emergency treatment.

Call the ASPCA’s Pet Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435.

More Resources on Pet Poisoning and Toxic Items for Pets

• What Foods are Toxic to Dogs?
• What Items in the Kitchen are Toxic to Dogs?
• Xylitol Poisoning in Pets
• Chocolate Poisoning in Dogs
• How to Tell if a Pet Ate Rat Poison
• What Plants are Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
• The Most Common Pet Poisons of 2008
• The Pet Poisoning Page

Learn How to Treat a Dog’s Bite Wounds and Other Injuries After a Dog Fight

“My dog got in a fight. Should I take him to the vet?”

“How do I clean my dog’s bite wound? Will it get infected?”

“My dog was attacked by another dog. How can I tell if my dog is seriously injured?”

It’s possible that at some point in your dog’s life, he’ll be involved in a fight with another dog. Even a dog who is friendly with other dogs can be involved in a fight if a bad situation arises. You, as an owner, will need to know how to help your dog and administer first aid after a dog fight.

Dog Fights - A Fight Can Start In the Blink of An Eye

Case in point: A couple years ago, my pit bull (Sasha-Simone) was attacked by another unleashed dog while we were out for a walk. The dog fight started before I could even process what was occurring - before I knew it, this dog had run up and blitzed Sasha-Simone; he started biting her neck, legs and ears. It gives me chills to recall the sounds of my girl screaming in pain as she was attacked.

Apparently, nobody ever told Sasha-Simone that pit bulls are supposed to be mean and tough because my poor girl lost the fight in a bad way. It took three people to stop the Lab mix from attacking my dog.

When the fight was over, I walked the three blocks to my home, carrying my bloodied, injured and very heavy dog home.

What To Do After a Dog Fight

After a dog fight occurs, you will need to examine your dog to determine the extent of his/her injuries.

I must note that you will need to take the dog to the veterinarian, though not all cases require an expensive trip to the emergency room (though if you have the money, I say absolutely visit 24-hour veterinary clinic if your normal vet is closed for the day.) Dog bite wounds are extremely prone to infection so your dog will likely require oral antibiotics to prevent the bite wounds from becoming infected.

In some cases - as long as the injuries are fairly minor and as long as the dog’s bite wounds are properly disinfected - a dog owner can safely wait until morning to take the dog to the veterinarian.

In other cases, you will need to take your injured dog to the veterinarian immediately if the injuries are severe or life threatening. I will explain how to examine a dog after a dog fight and how to determine if a visit to the veterinarian’s emergency room may be necessary.

Examining and Treating a Dog’s Injuries After a Dog Fight

Here are the things you will need to do if your dog is attacked:

* Stop heavy bleeding. If any heavy bleeding is present, apply pressure with a clean paper towel or cloth. If bleeding is severe and heavy, get your dog to the veterinarian ASAP. If more minor bleeding is present, allow the wounds to bleed for about 10 minutes - this will flush the bacteria from the bite wound.

* Check your dog’s eyes. A dog’s eyes are often injured during a dog fight. A dog’s eye can even pop out of the socket - called ocular protrusion - if the dog suffers a bite to the face. Look for any obvious damage, protrusion, swelling, bleeding or scratches on the eye. If any eye injuries are present, this is cause for a trip to the veterinarian’s emergency room.

* Check for wounds. Bite wounds can be hard to detect, even on a short-haired dog. And many dog bite wounds do not bleed a whole lot. This can make it very easy for an owner to miss a dog bite wound. And when a bite wound is not cleaned and disinfected, infection will set in. So check your dog over very thoroughly immediately after the fight and then again a few hours later. Swelling often occurs around the bite wound within a few hours, so you may be able to detect a bite wound by feeling or looking for areas of swelling.

If your dog has any full thickness “tearing” injuries where the skin is torn, creating a flap, this will require a trip to the veterinarian’s emergency room.

* Disinfect dog bite wounds. This is perhaps the single most important  aspect of post-dog fight first aid. Immediately wash and disinfect the dog bite wound. Read this article to learn how to properly clean a bite wound.

* Monitor for bruising and hematomas. Sasha-Simone required a trip to the emergency room because the pressure from a dog bite to her leg severed a large blood vessel, but the skin was not broken. This caused the blood to pool beneath the skin, creating a massive hematoma (bruise). A dog can die from this type of bleeding, so you must monitor for any areas of severe bruising, especially if the bruise feels fluid-filled. Apply pressure to the leg (or firmly wrap the leg with an ace bandage) until you get the dog to the veterinarian.

* Monitor for swelling. Swelling is common following a dog fight. This can cause limping when the swelling affects the legs. The face is another common location for serious swelling. Swelling can become dangerous and life-threatening for the dog bite victim if the inflammation affects the neck and windpipe or if the swelling gets severe, as this can impede blood flow. If swelling is present, apply an ice pack compress to the area for 20 minutes at a time (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) several times a day.  It’s important to note that swelling and redness around a wound indicates infection.

More Help for Owners of a Dog Bite Victim

After a dog fight, many owners are tempted to give their dog pet-safe over-the-counter medications like aspirin. You should never do this unless explicitly directed to do so by a veterinarian. Aspirin thins the dog’s blood, which means areas of bruising (bleeding under the skin), internal bleeding sites or flesh wounds can start bleeding uncontrollably.  Instead, apply ice compresses. This will help to relieve the pain and the swelling.

I should also note that if you suspect that your dog may need stitches for any large bite wound injuries, you must take your dog to the veterinarian immediately for treatment. Generally speaking, only large bite wounds are sutured, as stitches impede drainage which is vital for preventing infection in a bite wound.

It’s vital to get a dog to a veterinarian for stitches within a few hours after the injury occurred - the sooner, the better, as this lessens the chance of infection. Veterinarians will not typically suture a wound if more than 12 hours has passed since the injury occurred.

More helpful articles include Why Do Bite Wounds Get Infected? and How to Clean a Pet’s Wound.

Dog owners should also monitor a dog’s vital signs after any serious injury. Learn how to check a dog’s gums, temperature and other vital signs in Is My Dog Sick?

Why is a Bite Wound More Likely to Get Infected?

“Will my dog’s bite wound get infected?”

“My cat got in a fight. How do I prevent the wound from getting infected?”

“I cleaned and disinfected my dog’s bite wound. Why did he get an infection?”

There’s several reasons why an animal bite wound is more likely to get infected. The following factors are the most common reasons for an infection in a pet’s bite wound.

* There’s lots of bacteria in the mouth. When a dog bite, cat bite or other animal bite occurs, the teeth essentially “inject” bacteria below the skin’s surface. The mouth has a very high population of bacteria so these wounds are contaminated with more bacteria than most other cuts, scrapes and wounds.

* There’s poor air flow in a bite wound. In addition, a bite wound is likely to have poor drainage and air flow. The bacteria is deep inside the skin where it’s warm, dark and it’s not exposed to air - perfect conditions to allow for more rapid bacteria growth.

* Swelling causes the wound to close up. The cat’s or dog’s bite wound is also more likely to be associated with swelling as a result of the pressure from the actual animal bite (which can involve hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch.) This can cause a bite wound to swell shut, trapping bacteria inside the wound.

* Bite wounds can be hard to see. There’s many cases where a cat or dog will suffer a bite wound and the owner may not even notice the small wound until a day or two after the fact, even on a short haired dog or cat. By this time, the bite wound is likely to be infected.

How Do I Help a Wounded Dog?

In order to help a cat or dog with a bite wound or if you need to to administer first aid in the case of another pet injury or illness, you’ll need a pet first aid kit. Check out First Aid Kits for Pets to learn what items should be included in a pet’s emergency kit.

Also check out How to Clean a Pet’s Wound for directions on how to clean and treat a pet’s cut, gash or scrape, and read How Do I Clean a Bite Wound? for tips to reduce the chance of infection in your pet’s bite wound injury.

Learn How to Prevent Infection in a Bite Wound on Your Dog

“My dog got in a fight. How do I prevent the wound from getting infected?”

“My dog was bitten by another dog. Will he need stitches?”

“Should I put a bandage on my dog’s bite wound?”

There’s a good chance that at some point in your dog’s life, he’ll get into a fight with another dog, a cat or another pet, leading to a dog with a bite wound injury.

Bite wounds are notoriously difficult to heal. Learn how to minimize the chances of infection in a bite wound and learn how first aid is different for a dog’s bite wound.

How Do I Treat My Dog’s Bite Wound?

Treating a bite wound is a bit different from treating most other wounds. In addition to following the directions for cleaning a pet’s wound , dog owners will want to take the following additional measures when treating an animal bite or other puncture wound.

* Allow the bite wound to bleed. Blood will flush the bacteria from the bite wound in the moments after the injury occurs. So providing that blood loss is not serious, allow the wound to bleed for about 10 minutes after the bite occurs.

* Apply ice compresses. Before cleaning the bite wound, you’ll want to apply an ice compress for 30-40 minutes to bring down the swelling. This will reduce the swelling around the bite wound, allowing water and disinfectant to flow into the wound more effectively.

* Flush and disinfect the wound three times a day. In the case of most wounds, twice daily cleanings are sufficient to prevent infection. But in a bite wound, you must clean and disinfect the wound at least three times a day.

* Rinse out the wound. Allowing water to flow over the wound will not flush away bacteria. You must direct water inside the bite wound. You can do this using a powerful shower head or a bottle of wound wash saline. You’ll want to flush the wound for three full minutes during each washing.

* Get your dog on antibiotics. In many cases, meticulous washing, flushing and disinfecting will still not prevent infection. Most dogs’ bite wounds or puncture wounds will become at least mildly infected. You’ll want to put your dog on oral antibiotics to treat this infection. Oral antibiotics are only available by prescription from a veterinarian.

More Help for a Dog With a Bite Wound

Unless the bite wound involves full-thickness tearing of the skin, your dog’s bite wound will not be sutured closed. Veterinarians will avoid using stitches on a dog’s bite wound when possible, as this will trap the bacteria beneath the skin. In cases where stitches are necessary, a drain will be inserted to promote drainage of the bacteria that accumulates in the bite wound.

In addition, bite wounds should never be bandaged. This will reduce air flow, increasing the chances for infection. Check out Why Did My Pet’s Bite Wound Get Infected? to learn about why these injuries are so prone to developing an infection.

To help a dog with a bite wound or to administer first aid in the case of another pet injury or illness, you’ll need a pet first aid kit. Check out First Aid Kits for Pets to learn what items you’ll need for your pet’s emergency kit.

Also check out How to Clean a Pet’s Wound for directions on how to clean and treat a pet’s cut, gash or scrape. And read Does My Dog’s Wound Need Stitches to learn when stitches may be required for better healing of a pet’s injury.

Learn the Proper Way to Clean a Cat’s or Dog’s Wound

“My dog got a cut. How do I clean the wound?”

“Is there a way to prevent infection in my dog’s wound?”

“How do I know if my dog needs stitches?”

“How do I get my dog to stop licking his wound?”

“My cat got in a fight! What should I do?”

No matter how careful you are as a pet owner, accidents can and do happen. So there’s a very good chance that someday, your pet will suffer a wound, cut, scrape, bite or other wound. It’s important that you, as a pet owner, know how to clean a pet’s wound in a way that minimizes chances of infection.

How to Clean a Wound on Your Pet - The Right Way!

Apply Pressure to Stop the Bleeding - Apply firm pressure to the wound with a clean paper towel to stop the bleeding. In the case of bite wounds, it’s best to allow these to bleed (providing blood loss is not excessive), as the blood will flush out bacteria. I’ll have more in tomorrow’s blog entry about treating bite wounds.

Remove the Fur - Begin by trimming or shaving the fur from around the wound. Clear a 1-inch diameter around the wound to allow for better visibility of the wound site and for better air flow, which will help prevent infection.

Flush the Wound - Next, flush the wound with water to remove debris and bacteria. Flush the wound with water for 2 full minutes. It may seem like a long time, but it’s exactly what you need to remove the debris and bacteria.

 Wash the Wound - Using an anti-bacterial soap like Dial, wash the wound site thoroughly. Rinse the wound thoroughly too.

Disinfect the Wound - Disinfect the wound by pouring a disinfecting solution into the wound. Betadine is preferred, but if you don’t have it on-hand, hydrogen peroxide is a good second choice. Hydrogen peroxide can damage tissue, preventing healing so you can only use this full strength on the first two cleanings.  After that, you need to dilute the hydrogen peroxide 50-50 with water or better yet, switch to betadine.

Wipe Up the Excess Betadine/Hydrogen Peroxide - You can use a clean paper towel or gauze pads (avoid towels - they harbor bacteria) to wipe up any drips. But you must not directly contact the hairless 1-inch perimeter around the wound. This area must remain sterile to prevent infection.

Apply Antibiotic Ointment - Apply a generous amount of antibiotic ointment to the wound to help prevent infection. You really only need this for a couple of days.

Leave the Wound Unbandaged - You should leave the wound uncovered. One exception is if the wound involves the foot, which is prone to contamination. The other exception is if there is a large flap of skin hanging - this will require stitches, but you should clean the wound before going to the vet and you’ll want to bandage the wound to hold the skin in place and to prevent tearing of the skin.

Repeat This Process Every 8-12 Hours - You must regularly clean the wound 2-3 times per day to prevent infection.

Does My Cat or Dog Need Stitches?

Generally speaking, if a pet’s wound is less than 1 inch in length, then stitches will not be necessary. Larger wounds typically do require stitches.

If there is a flap of skin that was created by the injury, this is a case where stitches may be likely. Bite wounds are almost never sutured due to the extremely high chance of infection in bite wounds - stitching a bite wound will trap bacteria inside.

In addition, if a wound is more than 8 to 12 hours old,  most veterinarians will not put in stitches. After 8-12 hours, the chance of infection and wound contamination rises dramatically, so old wounds will typically be left without stitches.

Other Tips for Treating a Pet’s Wound at Home

Many dogs and cats will lick their wounds. You need to prevent this, as this will increase the likelihood of infection. So purchase a “lampshade” for your pet, also known as an “Elizabethan Collar” or “e-collar.” They’re available at your veterinarian’s office and at most larger pet supply stores like Petco and PetSmart.

Next time your dog or cat has a surgery, they may be sent home with a lampshade. Keep it! You never know when you may need it!

For more information on helping a pet with a wound, check out Bite Wound Treatments in Animals , along with How to Clean Bite Wounds and Does My Pet’s Wound Need Stitches?

How Can I Help a Hypoglycemic Cat or Dog?

“How can I help my dog if he gets hypoglycemic?”

“Is there anything I can give my hypoglycemic cat?”

“Can I treat my pet’s hypoglycemia at home?”

The easiest and most effective way to treat a hypoglycemic dog, cat or other pet is to give the animal a substance that’s high in sugar. Maple syrup or honey are two high-sugar substances that can quickly boost a pet’s blood sugar, combating hypoglycemia.

Treating a Pet’s Hypoglycemia at Home

For the first “dose,” give 2 large teaspoons of honey or maple syrup for every 15 pounds of body weight. Then, for every subsequent “dose,” (every 6 hours), give one large teaspoon for every 15 pounds of body weight.

The cat or dog will need supplemental sugar until eating resumes.

If a dog or cat refuses to lick the honey or maple syrup from the spoon, simply rub it onto the pet’s gums; they will lick it off.

Cautions for Owners of a Hypoglycemic Cat or Dog

It’s also important to note that a hypoglycemic pet will usually feel “sick” therefore, many hypoglycemic cats and dogs will refuse to eat, making the situation even worse.

So before offering food, give the cat or dog some maple syrup or honey to raise blood sugar. The pet will be more likely to eat food once the hypoglycemia has been treated.

It’s also important to remember that hypoglycemia in a diabetic pet can be extremely dangerous. So never treat a diabetic pet for hypoglycemia before consulting your veterinarian.

Related Reading for a Pet Owner With a Sick Dog or Cat

Looking to learn more about hypoglycemia in dogs? Check out What is Hypoglycemia?

Is your dog sick? If so, check out the other articles on The Pet Health Blog designed to provide information for owners of sick pets, including, Is My Dog Sick?, along with Why Isn’t My Dog Eating? and Is My Dog Dehydrated?

Tricks to Giving Your Dog Medicine (Pills)

“How do I get my dog to swallow a pill?”

“How do I give my dog a pill?”

“Help! My dog keeps spitting out his pill!”

“What foods can you use to hide a pill for your dog?”

Getting your dog to take a pill can be a difficult task; a task that’s made even more stressful when the dog’s health depends on him taking the pill medication. Fortunately, there are a few ways to get your dog to eat a pill - without a struggle!

How to Give a Dog a Pill - The Most Common Mistake

The biggest mistake that dog owners make is this: they try to hide a pill in the dog’s normal dog food.

This method will not work! A dog’s nose is hundreds of times more powerful than your own human nose. Pair those keen canine olfactory abilities with the fact that the dog is very familiar with how his dog food smells. This means your dog will smell the pill hidden in the dog food from a mile away. Therefore, he won’t eat it!

Also, if you try to hide a pill in your dog’s food, there’s a chance he’ll develop an aversion toward the food, and then, the dog will refuse to eat the dog food, even when there’s no pills present. So don’t waste your time; hiding a pill in your dog’s normal food will not work.

How to Give Your Dog a Pill Medication Without a Struggle

There is one very easy method that can be used to give a pill to a dog: hide the pill in a food that the dog’s not extremely familiar with. If you put your dog’s pill in a food that he rarely eats, he’ll assume that the smell of the pill in the food is just part of the food’s normal aroma.

The best foods for giving a pill include:

• Peanut Butter
• Cream Cheese
• Deli Cheese
• Cold Cuts
• Hot Dog Pieces

The first two options - peanut butter and cream cheese - are the easiest foods to use when giving your dog a pill. You can hide the pill in a glob of peanut butter or cream cheese and feed it to the dog. If your dog decides he doesn’t want to eat the peanut butter or cream cheese, it’s an easy food to “force feed.” You simply put the glob of cream cheese or peanut butter on your finger and wipe it on the roof of his mouth, just behind the front teeth.

You can also hide the dog’s pills in other foods, like a piece of hot dog. Or you can give the dog his medication by wrapping the pill in cold cuts or cheese. The key is to hide the pill in a food that the dog doesn’t normally eat.

These tricks are sure to make giving your dog a pill an easy proposition, and you can avoid worrying about whether your dog cheeked the pill or spit it out - problems that often occur when a dog owner tries to give the dog a pill the “old fashioned” way by attempting to toss the pill down the dog’s throat.

More Tips for Dog Owners and Parents of a Sick Dog

Are you wondering, “Is my dog sick? ” Is your dog dehydrated ? Is your dog refusing to eat and you don’t know why? Do you know the proper dose of aspirin for a dog ?

Check out my other articles on The Pet Health Blog for answers to your most common pet health questions, with new articles added daily!

Also check out Tips for Giving Medicine to Pets.