In addition to bathing time and nail cutting, administering drugs to pets and their owners can be the most terrifying chore. If you try to feed them pills without a game plan, even a well-trained cat or dog may twist and crawl out of your arm. In order for both of you to be less painful in this process, it is helpful to develop strategies.

According to ASPCA, combining drugs with more attractive drugs is effective for both dogs and cats. For dogs, try wrapping the pill in a piece of luncheon meat or cheese, or burying it under a spoonful of wet food or peanut butter. If they like this snack, they should inhale the entire package without paying attention to hidden components.

Cats are often more picky than dogs, but in some cases, you can still use food to induce them to take medicine. The easiest way is to mix the pills with their daily meals and hope they eat them at dinner time. If this doesn't work, try inserting the tablet into the gummies. Some snacks, such as medicine bags, have a cavity specially designed for this purpose in the middle.

However, these techniques do not apply to every pet. Feeding drugs to particularly stubborn animals may require more direct methods. Whether you are dealing with cats or dogs, use your non-dominant hand to lift their upper jaws until they open their mouths. Use your other hand to place the pill as far as possible in your mouth, not to stimulate their vomiting reflex. Close their mouths and gently massage their throats to encourage them to swallow. Dogs or cats usually lick their noses or lips after swallowing. Even if you think the pill is gone, keep an eye on your pet for a few minutes to make sure it is really gone.

Rewarding your pet with snacks and praise in the process can help them associate it with pleasant feelings the next time they must take the medicine. For cats, you may need to wrap them in a blanket before opening their mouths to prevent them from scratching you or slipping away. If the cat you are caring for does not let you approach, try these tips to make the cat like you and protect yourself from cats.