If your Border Collie gets sick, medication is often unavoidable. Giving medicine to a dog is a real skill, especially with a large and lively breed like the Border Collie. It is rarely easy to make one take medicine willingly, so it is useful to learn several practical methods.
Forced Oral Medication for Border Collies
You can use a controlled method to make a Border Collie swallow capsules or tablets. Gently hold the dog in place with your legs so it cannot struggle too much. Open the mouth with one hand, place the pill at the back of the tongue with the other hand, then close the mouth and lightly massage the throat up and down so the dog swallows. After doing this, comfort the dog so it does not become more resistant to medication next time.
Using Food or Liquid Tricks
Powdered medicine can sometimes be mixed into water, but if the medicine is very bitter, the Border Collie may stop drinking after a single sip. In that case, it is often better to mix the powder into dog food or a homemade meal. Another option is to dissolve the powder in water and use a syringe without a needle to slowly squirt it into the sides of the mouth along the teeth. Do not inject too quickly, or the dog may choke.
Eye Medication for a Border Collie
If the dog has an eye problem, eye drops may be needed. Many dogs feel uncomfortable after eye drops and may paw at the eye, so they often become wary by the second or third treatment. Try not to warn the dog in advance. Instead, be calm and quick, and place the drops into the eye before the dog has time to resist.
Experience teaches the lesson well. Once you have given medicine to a Border Collie even once, you will understand how hard it can be. In a way, giving medicine is similar to training. It works best with a balance of firmness and reward. After the dog swallows the medicine, immediately offer a small treat or play briefly with the dog. This helps reduce resistance to future dosing.