Sunday, December 1, 2013

Teeny Tiny Pills

It's Sunday already! Guess we are well on our way to the Christmas season. I'm not even going to decorate this year. I'll get my holiday cheer from the television...lol. This morning I had a little scare. As part of Charlie's medical regimen, he takes Lasix. He only weighs 16 pounds so his Lasix pill is about the size of the head of a glass pin.Well, this morning, as I was trying to shove it down his throat (the only way I can get pills in him), he spit it out on the floor...or somewhere. Because Lola is such an eager eater, I HAD to find that darn pill. I had my magnifying glass, my flashlight app on my phone going and I must have spent 45 minutes looking for that pill! Finally I looked down onto my lap and there it was...stuck to my pants. I've tried everything to get Charlie to take his pills without a fight and nothing has worked. I've used all kinds of food bribery, hiding the pills in that. I've tried dipping the pills in butter even. For a tiny, sick dog, he has iron jaws that have to be pried open. Then half the time, the big pill (which is, ironically chewable) gets projectile ejected. I also have to check his beard for pills that he may have cleverly dribbled out the side of his mouth. This is a twice a day struggle for the rest of his life. I'm glad to have him though...he's worth every bit of angst I go through.

I did sew up another Oklahoma Beauty block last night. I'm getting deeper into my stash and to older and older fabric.
 Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday. I have to work to pay for the "pill popper". XO and cheery wave from Bev

12 comments:

Lisa said...

Our fur babies sure are stubborn. We take a tiny bit of peanut butter on our finger and put the pill in it, usually works. Peanut butter is just hard to resist...

Barbara said...

I had a cat who was the same way about pills. I'd check to make sure he's swallowed it, but he was somehow able to hide it in his cheek somewhere and then go spit it out in a corner. I was still finding them long after he died. I was showing a quilt at guild one night and, right there, in the middle of the quilt was one of his pills. How embarrassing!

Barbara in MD
www.stashoverflow.wordpress.com

Sheri said...

My vet sells a product called Flavor Dough. It's about 10 dollars, but works like a charm. You just take a pinch of dough and wrap the pill inside. My dogs think it is wonderful! You can also try hiding the pill in a dab of peanut butter.

20 North Ora said...

Love the colors in that square! Gorgeous!

Judy

Karen said...

Have you tried "pill pockets"? I get them at my vet's office, but I have also seen that at Tractor Supply. My son's dog loves them and I have only seen him lose a pill once and he's a pill popper too. They are a little pricey, but worth every cent. They are a hollow treat. You put the pill inside and them smush them into a ball. Fantastic! Good luck!

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Oh my gosh what a little stinker! LOL I can't even imagine the tricks you've tried. Love the block!!

Jan Baker said...

My hubby wraps it in cheese.. Our dog will take it about 80% of the time.

Nan V. said...

We used to have the same problem. We ended up putting the pill into a piece of liver sausage. The dog would just about lose his mind trying to snap up the liver sausage, and the pill went down with no problems.

margaret said...

and he looks a s though butter would not melt in his mouth.

Anonymous said...

Hi Bev:
There are things called "Pill Pouches" at Petsmart, PetCo type stores. I struggled the same way you did until I found these. Worth every penny. Now my dog gobbles them up :)

Unknown said...

My golden retriever got used to the pill pockets, etc and would spit them out. So I started buying breakfast sausage, cooking them up and chopping them into inch-long bits. You push the pill into the centre and the meat closes up around it and my dog never refused them. I also would give her a couple of extra pill-free pieces before, to lull her into a fals sens of security. Worked like a charm!

The blocks are AMAZING!

Unknown said...

Hi Bev: I tried Pill Pockets and all kinds of tricks with my golden retriever, who had to take pills daily. He caught on to all of them and would spit them out. I started buying breakfast sausage and would boil them up a package at a time and freeze them. Then I would take one out daily, thaw it and chop it into inch-long pieces. Push the pill into the body of the sausage piece and voila! Trojan sausage! I used to give him a piece or two without sausage and when offered the 3rd piece he snapped them up! He never caught on. With your smaller dog you might want to cut the pill in half and give it to him in one or two pieces. Best of luck, they are smart creatures!!

Love the blocks - I am SO impressed!