By KRISTEN LEVINE
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA - I never appreciated my beloved Magic’s carefree attitude about pills.

From the time she was a clumsy puppy until she was a creaky old Labrador, she would scoff anything you tossed into the air in her direction, including her daily thyroid pill.

But with Zeke, our arthritic, hyperthyroid Labrador, my husband and I find ourselves resorting these days to tricks and negotiations to administer the pet’s three daily doses of medicine.

If you’re lucky, your dog or cat is cooperative, allowing you to administer the pill manually or simply getting it to gulp the pill down with the rest of its kibble.

“Whenever we give Angel medication, we try putting the pills in her food,” says Margaret Meyers of New Port Richey. “But when we come back to check on the food bowl, it is empty except for the pill.”

If your pet is like Angel, you’re likely looking for a yummy disguise to wrap around the pill. Favorite choices seem to be meat, cheese and gooey stuff such as cheese spreads and peanut butter.

But that practice can add calories may present a sticky wicket if you have multiple pets.

“We have to give peanut butter to all of our dogs to be fair,” says Sean Vickery of Lutz. “Usually, the one that actually gets the medicine will lick all the peanut butter off and leave the pill behind.”

Cats can pose an greater challenge.

Introducing a bitter pill to a finicky feline can be a recipe for frustration - and comedy for any onlookers.

“Cat owners have a much tougher time administering medicine to their cat,” says Belinda Zeh, certified veterinary technician at Largo Veterinary Hospital. “A cat’s teeth can be like needles so owners have to be very careful not to get injured in the process.”

Cats Can Be Tricky

It’s not uncommon for a cat to hide the pill in its mouth until the owner turns away. The animal then spits out the pill, now a pile of soggy mush, and proceeds with a “victory face washing.”

“Pets are typically easier to administer medicine to at the vet’s office because they’re in an unfamiliar environment and they’re more likely to cooperate,” explains Zeh. “About 75 percent of our patients will simply eat a pill, wrapped in a treat.”

But giving pets pills at home can be more difficult.

When pets are prescribed medicine, it’s essential to administer it as directed to ensure good health.

Zeh offers suggestions to help frustrated owners:

• Try disguising the pill, capsule or tablet. Special pill-popping treats are at many veterinary offices. Ask your vet for a recommendation.

One option, Pill Pockets, is made of a soft, pliable substance formed like a little cup. The pill is placed inside the cup, and then the top can be pinched to enclose the medicine. Most pets find these type of treats to be yummy, Zeh says. Pill Pockets come in various sizes and two flavors.

This summer, a new product called Flavor-Doh will be available through veterinary offices. The Play-Doh-like substance comes in a 200-gram container allowing the pet owner to just pinch off the desired portion needed to wrap the capsule or pill until it is completely covered.

Pets with food allergies should not be given pill treats unless approved by your veterinarian, Zeh warns.

• Try rolling a meatball out of your pet’s favorite canned food and place the pill inside.

• Put the pill in your pet’s dinner bowl. To avoid your pet eating around the pill, try crushing the tablet or empty the contents of the capsule into the food and stir.

• Manually administer the capsule or pill.

Secure the pet against your body first. Then, for right-handers, use your left hand to open their mouth. Using the thumb and middle finger of your left hand, insert those fingers in the corners of your pet’s mouth from the top.

With your right hand, hold the pill with thumb and middle or index finger, and use the base of the palm to force the bottom jaw down, and open. Then, put the pill as far back in your pet’s mouth as you can reach. Immediately close their mouth, tilt the head upward and massage the throat to facilitate swallowing. Lefties, reverse the procedure.

Pill-Pusher Method

• Use a pill pusher, a plastic device that resembles a syringe but doesn’t have a needle. Your vet can explain the proper procedure, but it essentially works like this:

First, pull the plunger all the way out, allowing the plastic cylinder to fill with air. Then place the pill in the end of the pusher. Open your pet’s mouth (as directed above), or simply insert the end of the pusher into the corner of the mouth. Quickly press the plunger down. This forces air through the chamber and “shoots” the pill into the back of the pet’s mouth. Again, you may have to tilt its head up and massage the throat to encourage swallowing.

• In rare cases, when nothing seems to work, your vet may need to inject your pet’s medication. Unfortunately, few medications are available in injectable form.

(CHART) CRITTER CALENDAR

PUPPY TRAINING: STOP (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today) will offer a puppy-training seminar from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Dog Gone Positive, 7620 66th St., Pinellas Park. The seminar covers house training and basic manners. Learn to prevent jumping, chewing, biting and barking from Maria Praias, a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant. The seminar costs $5; free for SPOT members. To reserve a space, go to http://www.spotusa.org or call (727) 545-3463.

GREYHOUND REUNION: Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions will host its Spring Picnic and Greyhound Reunion from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa. Meet greyhounds available for adoption and talk with volunteers about keeping greyhounds as pets. More than 100 adopted dogs and their families are expected to attend. Admission is free. For information, call (813) 272-2332 or . More information on adopting or fostering a greyhound can be found at http://www.bayareagreyhounds.org.

Write to pet-lifestyle expert Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs FL 34688; fax at (727) 934-6451 or e-mail .