Giving tablets remains a problem for dog owners
More than half of dog owners have struggled to give their dog tablets, according to a survey carried out by YouGov on behalf of Zoetis.
Of the 1001 dog owners to take part, 52 per cent reported problems with administering tablets. Further, 47 per cent said they preferred their dog, or dogs, to be given a single treatment by a vet.
The survey was commissioned by Zoetis to find out how diligent owners are when it comes to administering antibiotics, as part of the company's "Respect Antibiotics" campaign.
Despite many owners admitting to difficulties with giving pills, 88 per cent of respondents claimed to have never missed a dose of their dog's antibiotics. In contrast, only 51 per cent of those to respond were as diligent with their own medication.
Similarly, 87 per cent of those to have administered antibiotics to their dog claimed not to have had any medication left over at the end of the course, and 89 per cent said they gave pills at the same time each day.
Findings suggest that owners were a little less meticulous when it comes to osteoarthritis medication. Of the 41 per cent of dog owners who said they had administered pain relief at some point, 79 per cent claimed not to have missed a dose, while 62 per cent said they finished the course and 87 per cent administered medication at the same time each day.
Convenience was found to be an important factor, with 48 per cent preferring a monthly treatment option. This figure rose to 57 per cent for those whose dogs had long-term conditions, with only 17 per cent choosing daily medication.
Zoetis' product manager, Andrew Page, commented: "It is surprising that dog owners appear to be so compliant in administering their pet’s medicine, however the majority still find daily tablets to be a struggle."
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
