MODE OF GIVING A BOLUS OR PILL. 363 



MODE OF GIVING A BOLUS OR PILL. 



If the dog is small, take him on the lap, without harshness, and 

 if inclined to use his claws tie a coarse towel round his neck, 

 letting it fall down in front, which will muffle them eifectually ; 

 then with the finger and thumb of the left hand press open the 

 mouth by insinuating them between the teeth, far enough back 

 to take in the cheeks, and so to compel the mouth to open from 

 the pain given by the pressure against the teeth, while it also 

 prevents the dog from biting the fingers. Then raising the nose, 

 drop the pill as far back as possible, and push it well down the 

 throat with the forefinger of the right hand. Let go with the left, 

 still hold the nose up, keeping the mouth shut, and the pill is 

 sure to go down. A large dog requires two persons to give a 

 pill, if he is at all inclined to resist. First, back him into a 

 corner, then stride over him, and putting a thick cloth into his 

 mouth, bring it together over the nose, where it is held by the 

 left hand ; the right can then generally lay hold of the lower 

 jaw. But if the dog is very obstinate and inclined to resist, another 

 cloth must also be placed over that, and then drawing them apart 

 an assistant can push the pill down. Very often a piece of meat 

 may be used to wrap the pill up in, and the dog will readily bolt 

 it ; but sometimes it is desirable to avoid this, as it may be neces- 

 sary to give the medicine by itself. Even large dogs, however, 

 are seldom so troublesome as to require the above precautions in 

 giving pills, though they almost always obstinately refuse liquid 

 medicine when they have tasted it once or twice. 



