So, you’ve started your furry friend on a CBD oil treatment plan. We hope it helps you both! But how do you intend to make the dear critter actually ingest their medicine? It’s oil. It’s slick and smells weird. Not the tastiest stuff! We compiled some tricks that you might want to try out.
Just put it in their mouth outright
This is the simplest approach and also one of the best. This way, the doggy will get the exact dose of medicine exactly where it needs to go – supposing it doesn’t spit it out. Most CBD oils and dog supplements for pain you can buy come in predetermined doses, or with dosing equipment like droppers. You can see some examples of that at Holistapet. Doses are typically determined based on your dog’s size, weight, age, overall health, and how severe their problem is.
How do you do this? Take the required dose and approach your pet’s snout. Open it up gently and get a good aiming angle. Be careful here! If your aim is off, the critter will get their gag reflex going, which might make them turn aggressive, and they will definitely mistrust you for days afterwards.
So, don’t squirt the stuff. Squeeze it out into their mouth slowly. A dropper is the best option here. After that, give them some kind of treat to nom: this will reward them for being a good boy or girl, as well as make sure that they swallow up any residue that might be left on their tongues.
Mix it up with their food
Another popular option, slightly less confrontational than direct administration, is sneaking the oil into food. To make sure that it will all be gobbled up, it would be a good idea to prepare your animal’s favourite dish, whatever that might be. If they love the food, they are less likely to avoid or ignore it.
The idea here is for the scent and flavor of the meal to mask the smell and taste of the oil, not to mention its awkward slick texture. To ensure this, there are a few tricks you might want to follow. First off, don’t add the oil all in one spot: spread it equally, and then stir well. This will prevent it being all concentrated in one spot in the bowl, which would make it more noticeable. You might also want to try some of the tricks provided on this page.
Also, consider using dry food for this little stratagem. Wet ones might not mix so well (think oil & water scenario) whereas the dry ones will soak the oil up and make it more manageable. This might not work if the regular menu doesn’t feature dry foods, though. The whole point is to be stealthy about the change.
Start off with the minimal dose, and then gradually increase it over time with your vet’s consent and instructions. Important tip: give it a few minutes to soak in nicely, then stir again, and only then serve. You want the textures and aromas to blend as well as possible.
Mask or mix the stuff with treats
Dogs are like kids; they love their candies! Soak the oil into your pooch’s favourite biscuit and treat that as a regular treat. This is an excellent way to teach them that the new substance on the menu is a good and happy thing. Treats are rewards, so have your doggo form good associations. You can even try and have fun making your own! Homemade dog treats are easy and fun, and your four-footed friend will certainly appreciate the effort. You can find some recipes to get you started in this awesome article: https://www.puppyleaks.com/simple-dog-treat-recipes/
Biscuits and cookies are an ideal medium here. Again, the dry textures are your allies. Drip the drops onto the biscuits or cookies and let them sit for a few minutes to make sure that they are thoroughly soaked in. Don’t worry if your puppy is initially suspicious. Their noses are much more sensitive than ours! Just be patient and encourage them. Instead of being sneaky, the goal here is tot each them that the “new” treats are a good thing.
Thank you for clearing all this up!