Does anyone have any tips for applying medication, ear wash or drops to a non-compliant Newf? My husband took McGee into the Vet today. I could smell his ears yesterday so I new he had to go in. Both ears have bacterial infections - two different bacteria. They had to sedate him to get him to cooperate. One bacteria can be treated with some meds they will insert that last for a week. The other needs a different med and the Vet is sending home some pills to relax him so we can administer it daily. My husband went to the Vet so I didn't get to hear about these "relaxing" pills and I am skeptical and worried.
Have you tried warming the meds gently, like you would a baby's bottle?
Also, if you can get one person to hold onto a treat while you medicate, that sometimes helps. Has to be a very high value treat and the person doing the treating has to hang onto it, so the dog is trying to get it out of their hand, but can't quite get the whole thing in one quick bite. The person medicating needs to be fast, so have everything ready to go.
Don't forget to make it as "fun" as possible. Be happy, relaxed and praise the snot out of him. Play with him and make this part of the game. When the deed is done, go immediately back to playing so he doesn't have time to sulk.
