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Having a dog is one of the most wonderful things in the world. It’s like having a lovely, soft, playful creature that loves you more than life itself.
Taking care of your four-legged friend doesn’t involve just providing them with healthy dog food, walks, and playtimes. It also requires treating them when they are ill and taking them to regular vet checks.
Your vet will tell you if your dog needs a certain medication. If they do, the vet will tell you how it should be given. Most of the time, the vet will recommend you to mix the medicine with food or treats. If it’s a pill, it can be placed in the middle of a small ball of canned dog food or cheese. You should check if the dog is willing to eat this “ball”. Dogs will likely just gulp it. But if they decide to chew it, it will leave a bad taste in their mouth so it would be a challenge to force them to eat it.
Some medications, however, don’t come in the form of pills or capsules. When it comes to liquid medicine, such as Propalin syrup for dogs, there are other ways for administration. Here’s what you need to know about this syrup, when and how to give it, and if your dog can take it.
Why Propalin
Neutered dogs often suffer from urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence and to treat this, vets often recommend Propalin syrup. Propalin contains the active ingredient phenylpropanolamine in the form of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride. This a clear, colourless liquid that comes in bottles of 30ml or 100ml. Your vet will calculate the needed dose of Propalin and you should give it to your dog three times a day by mouth.
What Is Propalin Used for?
As we mentioned before, urinary incontinence in neutered dogs is treated with Propalin syrup if the urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is the underlying cause of incontinence. The syrup contains phenylpropanolamine which stimulates the nerves that regulate the urethra and hold it closed more firmly, which prevents the leaking of urine. This medicine is only effective in neutered dogs and won’t be useful in cases of inappropriate urination with underlying behavioural causes. In most cases, the treatment with Propalin is life-long.
How to Give Liquid Medication to Your Dog
Giving medications to your dog can be a big challenge. Every dog reacts differently, so you have to be sure to follow their reactions and let them calm down before you give them the syrup. Propalin syrup for dogs should be given with a treat. To be sure that the dog swallows the medications, you should hand feed the medicated food or treat, instead of mixing it in a big portion that your dog might not even consume entirely.
Some dogs might refuse to eat medicated so this method might not work. In this case, you will have to administer the medication directly into your dog’s mouth. Before you do that, be sure to read the instructions carefully. Shake or mix the syrup well before drawing it into the syringe. In case you kept the syrup in the fridge, allow it to warm up at room temperature (never microwave the medication). Put your dog in a safe environment where you can easily handle it. If you have another person with you, you could give the medicine to your furry pal much easier.
Hold Your Dog’s Head
Hold the dog’s head from the top with your left hand (if you’re right-handed). If your dog has a long nose, hold the upper jaw between your index and thumb. If your dog has a short nose, hold their head like you’d hold a cat.
Give the Syrup
Put the syringe in the dog’s mouth, just behind one of the canine teeth (the fangs). Advance the tip so it is a bit in the gap between the tooth and the pre-molars behind the canine tooth. Angle the syringe gently to the side so the tip deposits the syrup onto the tongue. Don’t be surprised if your dog spits out the medication. If this happens, don’t re-medicated them unless you’re sure that none of the syrup was swallowed. Your vet calculated a dose keeping in mind that your dog might spit the liquid. Gently squeeze the syringe to dispense the syrup. Be sure to do this slowly so the dog has time to swallow the liquid and breathe normally.
Tilt Their Head Back
Although this is more suitable for giving pills or capsules, you can tilt your dog’s head back to be sure they swallow the medication. Do this gently and then pet them. As usual, give your dogs plenty of treats (as a “thank you for your trouble”). You can also play with them, or take them out for a walk. This will make the whole experience less traumatic and more positive, so it would be much easier for you to give them the medicine next time.
After each use, rinse the syringe or dropper with water and store it in the fridge.
