The three Cs of pet medication

Giving pet medication

The three Cs of pet medication

We love our pet pals, and we want them to live long and healthy lives. Sometimes, that means that they need medication. While it can be a challenging process for both pets and pet parents, it is necessary.

The three Cs of pet medication will help you get through. Just remember calm, confidence, and a little compassion go a long way when administering medication for a pet pal.

Here are some tips to help you safely get your pet to have the medication they need.

  • Educate yourself:Take time to understand the medication required for your pet. Clarify with your vet the dosage, how often to administer medication, and any side effects.
  • Hide the evidence:The simplest way to make sure your pet swallows their medication is to hide it in food. Mix pills and liquid medication with canned foods. Hand-feeding your fur kid can also ensure the medication is swallowed.
  • Get the technique right:If your vet advises that medication be taken on an empty stomach, you’ll need to practice your technique. In a recent article, Dr Catherine Tiplady suggests: ‘gently open your dog’s mouth by holding one hand above their muzzle. Tilt their nose upwards and place the tablet toward the back of the mouth, then close their mouth and gently rub or blow on their nose.’ You can also purchase pill dispensers to help the process along.
  • Remain calm and confident:Pets can sense when their owners are nervous or anxious, which could make them more resistant to taking medication. Make sure your pet is in a safe and comfortable place. Stay calm and confident during the process, and speak to your pet in a soothing, familiar voice to help keep them relaxed.
  • Take responsibility:Ensure one person in the household takes responsibility for administering your pet’s medication. This will avoid double-ups and can be monitored.
  • Praise your pet:Make sure to reward your pet for good behaviour and praise them for their cooperation. Positive reinforcement will make the process easier next time.
  • Be consistent:Follow the instructions provided to you by your vet. Remain consistent in administering the medication at the same time, and in the same manner to help establish a routine for your pet. Consistency can help reduce stress and make the process more manageable.
  • Show compassion:You know your pet better than anyone else. Consider how you can engage with your pet to ensure the process isn’t too stressful. Consider how they may be feeling, if they are in pain, or if they simply need a break.

If you’re having trouble administering medication for your pet pal, contact your vet for advice. They may be able to provide additional tips or alternative medications that are easier to administer.

 

Top tricks to teach your dog

pet sitting

Spending time with your canine companion can be a learning experience as well. Here are some basic tricks to teach your dog that will encourage good behaviour and also strengthen your bond.

Trick: Sit

  • Teaching your dog to sit is probably the most important trick for them to learn.
  • Get a treat in your hand and show it to your dog; without giving it to them.
  • Hold the treat above your dog’s head so they must raise their head upwards – making the action of sitting the only way to reach the treat.
  • As soon as your pet-pal sits, reward them with the treat and praise them for doing the correct action.
  • Introduce the word “sit” when you give the treat to your dog for performing the correct action.
  • Continue to practice, so your doggo understands how to respond when they hear the word “sit”.

Purina gives their tips about introducing hand gestures instead of treats once your pet has ‘sit’ down pat.

Trick: Shake Hands

  • Make sure your dog is in a sitting position to start this lesson.
  • Have some dog treats in your hand and hold the treat in front of them so they know the treats are there.
  • Some trainers recommend trying to put your dog off balance by holding their treats to one side so they raise their paw. At the point they raise their paw, use a cue or word to signal that they have done the right action, and give them a treat. For instance, the cue could be “shake hands”, “yes”, “good boy/girl”.
  • Repeat these steps until your doggo will raise their paw for a shake simply by hearing your cue/word.

Here are the Gentle Modern School of Dog Training’s tips for teaching your dog to shake hands.

Trick: Playing Fetch

According to Petbarn, the first two most important words that your doggo has to know before they learn to fetch are “come” and “drop it”.

  • Teach them to “come” by using the word with your pooch’s name, speaking in an upbeat, positive tone. Praise them when they come.
  • To teach them “drop it”, start in a contained area such as the laundry and have your pet’s favourite toy in one hand and treats in the other. Give your pet their favourite toy, then with the treat close to their nose, say “drop it”. They will soon realise that they need to drop the toy to receive the treat.
  • Now move to a larger area, such as the backyard, and throw your dog’s favourite toy a few metres. Say “come” and make it more enticing with a treat.
  • Repeat “drop it” when your pet returns, and provide a reward when they do. Once you pet gets the hang of the game, increase the distance you throw the toy and practice, practice, practice to ensure your pet-pal understands how to play.

Trick: Roll Over

  • Better Homes and Gardens has outlined a technique to get your dog to learn how to roll over, which involves your dog starting on their belly.
  • Put a treat in your hand and move your hand slowly behind your dog’s neck.
  • Aim to encourage your dog to turn their head backwards without standing up.
  • As your dog sniffs/goes for the treat, gently encourage them to roll. As soon as they roll over, give them a treat and praise them for doing the correct action.
  • Continue to practice. When your dog completely rolls over on cue, give them a treat. Again, practice is key to your doggo understanding what the word “roll over” means.

Pet sitters can reinforce any dog training pet parents are undergoing with their fur-kids. Browse the profiles of animal loving pet sitters to find the ideal pet sitter for your pet care needs.

Perth’s dog friendly parks

Dedicated dog parks offer safe and stimulating environments for our pets to develop social skills, enjoy physical exercise and spend time with their much-loved human. Many parks across Perth include equipment and spaces that suit dogs of all breeds and sizes.

Here is a list of just some of the enclosed dog parks that you can visit to entertain both human and canine members of the family.

Annie’s Landing Enclosed Dog Park, Ellenbrook Continue reading “Perth’s dog friendly parks”

Adelaide Dog Parks

 

Dog Parks

Renowned as the ‘City of Churches’, Adelaide also boasts some amazing dog parks that will keep every pooch and their people happy all day long. Here are just some of the dog-friendly parks we’ve found across town that offer open spaces, as well as options for play and exercise.

North Adelaide Dog Park

Open all year round North Adelaide dog park is fenced and offers an abundance of space for your dog to stretch their legs and more. Ideal for small and large dogs, this park has tunnels for pups to run through, and for those that love to play throw and retrieve games, this park offers open areas to run, jump and chase. Continue reading “Adelaide Dog Parks”

Melbourne dog parks for a fun day out

Dog with ball

It’s not uncommon to visit a park in Melbourne and see a doting dog-parent playing with their pooch. Melbourne dog parents certainly are spoilt for choice with the number of dog-friendly parks available. We have listed just some of the parks in Melbourne that you and your dog can visit to run, stretch, search and play for a fun day out.

Brooklyn Reserve Fenced Dog Park

Want a safe place for your furry friend to run around and get some agility training in as well? Well, this park is the one for you. Weave poles, hurdles and logs are ideal for keeping your pooch active and stimulated. Continue reading “Melbourne dog parks for a fun day out”

Love your dog this Valentine’s Day

Dogs Valentines dayThere’s a reason why the saying ‘puppy dog eyes’ brings up feelings of love and adoration. It’s because when we welcome a dog into our family, we can be assured of unconditional, unwavering love and affection every day of the year.

Research has shown that our moods, health and social lives improve when we have a dog by our side. It’s time to give back and show our pets how much they mean to us with some Valentine’s Day inspired treats and surprises Continue reading “Love your dog this Valentine’s Day”

Top Tips: Washing Your Dog

How to wash a dog

Generally speaking, dogs only need to be bathed when necessary. If they have accumulated dirt on their coat or they have an unpleasant odour that won’t go away, then it might be time for a good scrub and clean.

Bathing helps to remove excess hair, scale and debris and improve the shine to your dog’s coat.

RSPCA Pet Insurance has put together a comprehensive Ultimate Guide to Grooming and Bathing Your Dog for a step by step guide and below are few tips to help you get started. Continue reading “Top Tips: Washing Your Dog”

Canine Flu and Your Pet

Canine FluWe’ve turned to Pet Problems Solved to seek advice on how to deal with canine flu. The canine flu is caused by two different viruses that can only be transferred between dogs. Unfortunately, much like the flu that many humans have experienced this winter, our dogs simply need to suffer through the symptoms as well.

The symptoms of the canine flu range from nothing at all, or could be in the form of a cough, fever, lethargy, or refusing food. Once you’ve identified that your canine friend has the flu, you can really only go about managing their symptoms. Continue reading “Canine Flu and Your Pet”