Ideas for Giving Horses Oral Medications

Horses are not always willing patients when it comes to giving them medication.
They seem to know when it is coming and  are masters at avoiding it or eating around it.  All of their antics can make your daily routine miserable.
HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL TIPS:

1. 1.  Powder medications are easy to pour over a horse's feed.  If they are flavored it is more palatable.
2. 2.  Pills can be crushed - just check with your vet to be certain they can be crushed.
   
3. 3.  Try adding water, apple juice or molasses to make a mash and add the medication to that.  Again check with your vet to make certain it is ok first.
4. Add a fa​vorite horse treat to the mix like alfalfa pellets, beet pulp or carrot/apple slices.
   
5. Make sure you feed your horse by itself to eliminate another horse from eating the medicated ration.

If all else fails try using a syringe to dispense the medicine into the horse's mouth.  You can use applesauce to mask the flavor or water to dissolve the medicine in, again asking your vet regarding water solubility.  Halter your horse and slide the syringe up one side of the horse's mouth inside the cheek and try to dispense the liquid onto the tongue.  Hold your horse's head up until he swallows.  2 oz. is a good rule of thumb for filling the syringe.
Good Luck and Enjoy the final dog days of summer!  Fall is just around the bend.
Best,
​Kelly

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