Horse Pill How-To

Because Melody hasn't been doing too well lately and possibly has lyme disease, she's had to take 110 doxycycline pills a day—55 at each meal. How do I give a horse so many pills? Here's how:

Melody eats a one-pound coffee can of Triple Crown Low Starch pellets. First, I dump the pellets in a bowl.

Then I add water, so they get a little mushy. I want everything to stick together.

After the pellets get mushy enough, I put a dollop of apple sauce in the center and count out 55 pills. (Actually, I have the pills counted in advance.)

I dump the pills into the middle of the applesauce blob.

Then I add another dollop of applesauce on top . . . 

. . . and pull up the mushy pellets to cover the blob.

By the time I carry the dish of pill-laced pellets to the barn, they're ready to serve to a hungry mare who's waiting at the gate.

I empty the softened pellets into her feed pan. Everything sticks together nicely.

I serve it to her . . . 

. . . and watch her wolf it down. Melody has a hearty appetite. In the 17 years I've owned her, she's never missed a meal.

She's already eaten some of the pills, but she sniffs the remaining ones. 

Smells like applesauce—Yum! She keeps eating . . . 

 . . .  and finishes her dinner . . .

 . . . and licks the pan clean.

That was easy enough, wasn't it?

The pills are making a difference. Melody, who was very ill a couple of weeks ago, is almost her old self again.

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