My new rescue dog won't eat. How to give medication without food?

It depends what type of pain killers she is taking, as it is every 8 hours i assume it is an opioid which is fine to give even on an empty stomach. antibiotics can also be given on an empty stomach, although not ideal as this can cause nausea. try giving her some boiled chicken, treats or a canned food called a/d from Hills.

If it is temporary (a week or less), its ok for your dog to eat primarily chicken breast or tuna. Try to feed her a little bit of rice mixed with it as well. If she needs to be on medication long term, it would be better to try to formulate a well balanced long term diet that she will eat. Should that be the case, check out this site: www.balanceit.com Thanks for asking PetCoach!

If you just rescued him, he is probably confused and scared. I would have him checked by a vet first, to be sure there is nothing physical that is causing him to be reluctant to eat. If he checks out okay, you need a little "tough love." Put his food in a bowl on the floor without fuss and leave it for 15 minutes. After that time, pick it up whether he has eaten or not. Do not give him anything--no treats, snacks or human food--until his next scheduled mealtime. Then repeat the process. It may take several times for him to realize that there will be no more entertainment from you, and that he must eat his food. Remember that you are not starving nim--he is choosing not to eat. When he is hungry enough, he will. Do not give in or "feel sorry" for him. It will only make it harder to correct. If you need additional help with this, click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

It sounds like there could be a potential problem. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian soon. In the meantime I would try blending her food into an oatmeal type consistency to see if she is able to eat more comfortably if she doesnt have to chew. Jaw pain, tooth pain, or swallowing difficulties could all be possible. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

If you cannot get her to eat then you will need to actually shove the medication down her throat. I know that sounds harsh but that is the best way to explain it. She must take that Microlone or she will not get better. There are plenty of YouTube videos you can watch on how to do this. Here is one, for example (go to :45 on the video) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3yHgItqGmo ) After a few doses of the microlone she should start eating as that drug will often make them more hungry and more thirsty. If you are still having trouble getting the medication in her, you can ask your vet if they can have the medications compounded into a liquid form which may be easier for you to give. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is certainly not that unusual in puppies and really in some adults as well as they adjust to a new environment. If she seems fine otherwise with a good activity level, I recommend you try a highly palatable diet such as the Purina Pro Plan shredded blends or potentially consider adding pieces of boiled chicken or dog grade gravy to make her current diet more palatable. This is likely going to work for you. If at some point, she appears to not be doing well, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. Good luck!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Peggy has a large worm burden (lots of worms) then she likely feels sick and doesn't want to eat, and likely won't want to eat until the worms are gone. If the medication that your vet gave is a dewormer (typically a liquid called Panacur/Fenbendazole), then you can give it without food. This might clear out the worms and get Peggy eating again. If the medication is an antibiotic (Metronidazole, Amoxyclav), then this needs to be given with food. You can also talk to your vet about trying an anti-nausea medication to see if this helps with the appetite. If Peggy has abdominal pain, or is vomiting, please have her seen right away as high worm burdens can lead to a very life-threatening condition called intussusception. Best of luck with Peggy, I hope she feels better soon!