Ge hunden rätt dos enligt ordinationen.

Ge is the imperative form of ge (to give).

The imperative is used for:

• commands
• instructions
• directions on labels or medical advice

So Ge hunden rätt dos enligt ordinationen means something like Give the dog the correct dose according to the prescription/instructions.

In Swedish imperatives, the subject you is usually omitted, just like in English:

• Sit down.
• Ge hunden...

The understood subject is you.

Because Swedish, like English, normally leaves out you in the imperative.

Compare:

• English: Give the dog the right dose.
• Swedish: Ge hunden rätt dos.

You could add a subject in special cases, but in normal instructions you do not.

Hunden is the definite form of hund, so it means the dog.

• en hund = a dog
• hunden = the dog

In this sentence, we are talking about a specific dog, not dogs in general, so Swedish uses the definite form.

Because the verb ge can take a recipient directly, just like English give someone something.

So:

• Ge hunden rätt dos = Give the dog the correct dose

Here:

• hunden = the recipient (the dog)
• rätt dos = the thing being given (the correct dose)

Swedish can also use a prepositional phrase in some cases, for example:

• Ge rätt dos till hunden

But Ge hunden rätt dos is very natural and common.

Here rätt means correct or proper.

So rätt dos means:

• the correct dose
• the proper dose
• the right dose

This is not the direction right (as opposed to left). It is the adjective meaning correct.

Both are possible in Swedish, but they are used a bit differently.

In this sentence, rätt dos is a natural, concise instruction meaning:

• the correct dose
• the proper dose

It sounds like standard instruction language.

Den rätta dosen is more specific and more strongly definite, and can sound more emphatic, like:

• the exact right dose
• the one correct dose

So:

• Ge hunden rätt dos enligt ordinationen = natural instruction wording
• Ge hunden den rätta dosen enligt ordinationen = possible, but more marked/emphatic

Enligt means according to.

It is a preposition used before a noun phrase:

• enligt reglerna = according to the rules
• enligt lagen = according to the law
• enligt ordinationen = according to the prescription/instructions

So in this sentence, it tells you that the dose should match what has been prescribed or ordered.

No, it is not the same as English ordination in the religious sense.

In Swedish medical language, ordination means:

• a medical order
• prescribed instructions
• directions from a doctor or veterinarian

So enligt ordinationen means:

• according to the prescribed instructions
• according to the prescription
• as directed by the doctor/vet

This is a classic false friend for English speakers.

Because it refers to a specific set of instructions or a specific prescription that is already understood in the situation.

• en ordination = a prescription / medical instruction
• ordinationen = the prescription / the instruction

Using the definite form here is natural because the sentence assumes there is a known prescription or dosing instruction being followed.

Yes. It is very normal.

The structure is:

• Ge = verb, imperative
• hunden = recipient
• rätt dos = object being given
• enligt ordinationen = adverbial phrase explaining how/according to what

So the pattern is basically:

Verb + recipient + thing + extra information

This is a very common Swedish pattern with ge:

• Ge barnet medicinen.
• Ge katten mat.
• Ge hunden rätt dos enligt ordinationen.

No. In Swedish, the imperative is very common in instructions, labels, recipes, manuals, and medical directions.

So in this kind of context, Ge hunden rätt dos enligt ordinationen does not sound rude. It sounds like clear, standard instruction language.

English works similarly:

• Take with food
• Store in a cool place
• Give the dog the correct dose