Finding the best medicine for horses is a tricky business, taking under consideration the possible side-effects and for racehorses, making sure that the drugs taken would not affect the horse’s performance in the race. But the challenge definitely does not end there. Getting the drugs into the horse’s mouth (and making it stay in) is a different matter altogether.

Besides having to maneuver the 1,000-pound body to get a tablet inside the horse’s throat, you will have to handle the possibility of having that very same pill spewed back at you in a less distinguishable (and practically unworkable) form. Of course, the prospects of this happening rely on experience at handling horses and in experience at giving discount pet meds.

Seasoned’horsekeepers ‘ have come up with all kinds of ways on administering medicine to their horses. These different techniques are’tested and tried ‘ although not guaranteed. Giving medication to a horse is very similar to teasing a child (only , a much stronger one with a longer mouth). Therefore, the approach that works best for one horse would possibly not be effective at all for another or just to a degree, like only during the first try.

One of the easiest (but most sure to fail) approach would be to mix the medication with the horse’s common food. If this works for your horse, then you're pretty fortunate. But if mixing the tablets with grain, applesauce or molasses does not accomplish the job, one might revert back to the age-old syringe. Actually harking back to coping with an uncontrollable preschooler, pumping the liquid medication into the horse’s mouth and holding it shut till the medicine is swallowed is not a cosy task. It requires strength and patience as the pony will not make it easy.

An alternative choice to the syringe is something more agreeable looking a plastic mustard dispenser. It will not make sure that all the liquid medication would stay inside that equine mouth it would get it all in, after all a seasoning bottle is more interesting rather than threatening.

Some pony owners also testify that tablets melted in strawberry Kool-Aid juice or vanilla yogurt make irresistible mixtures. It would appear that just like us, these medicine-repellent creatures have certain indulgences. When we discover what makes them forget their repulsion to medicine, it's an straightforward ride from there.

It's not only the horse’s health that should be considered when giving it medication. One should use caution in handling drugs that can have adverse effects when ingested by humans. Another methodology in pony medicine is to crush the pill into powder and putting it without delay on the horse’s tongue. Airborne particles that might be breathed while preparing the powder may be dangerous. But (phenylbutazone, equivalent to aspirin), in particular, causes aplastic anemia in humans.

In the final analysis pony medication also involves training and discipline. Irrespective of how uncooperative the horse is, it can ultimately be trained to receive medication with very little fuss. Making the drugs look and taste good needs more time and effort but is fulfilling too!

Jack Phillipi is an animal coach who lives in Southern California. He is extremely well informed about finding deals on heartworm symptoms and pet medications.