As a veterinarian, prescribing the appropriate medication for your dog is only half the battle. The real challenge often lies with you—the loving pet parent—standing ready, holding a pill, while your dog looks back, both wondering who will win. The answer, my friend, is YOU! You can absolutely succeed in Getting Dogs To Take Pills effectively and without stress.
As an integrative veterinarian and a mom of three dogs, I’ve seen it all. I understand the frustration and concern when your beloved companion needs their medicine but stubbornly refuses to cooperate. Whether it’s for routine parasite prevention or a course of essential treatment, ensuring your dog takes their medication is crucial for their health and well-being. This guide offers five of my favorite tips, tricks, and techniques to help you master the art of pilling your pooch, turning a daunting task into a manageable one.
Dog looking at a marshmallow, illustrating a method for hiding pills for canine medication.
1. The Bribe: For the Food-Motivated Dog
If your dog is food motivated, using a delicious treat to hide the pill is often the most straightforward and foolproof method for getting dogs to take pills. Here are some excellent choices:
- Marshmallows: My personal favorite for hiding pills is marshmallows, especially mini-marshmallows for smaller dogs. They are inexpensive, low-calorie, and I’ve found them to be less likely to cause digestive upset. Their soft, pliable texture makes it easy to completely conceal a pill.
- A Dab of Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a classic choice. Opt for chunky varieties, as the varied texture helps mask the pill. Crucially, always check the ingredient list to ensure it does not contain xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs.
- Plain Yogurt or Plain Greek Yogurt: Yogurt can be an effective disguise. However, be mindful that some dogs are lactose intolerant and may experience gastrointestinal upset. Additionally, avoid giving antibiotics with calcium-rich foods like yogurt, as it can reduce the medication’s effectiveness.
- A Cube of Cooked Boneless Chicken Breast or Sliced Turkey: Lean, cooked meats are often irresistible. Be sure to use plain, cooked chicken or turkey, not deli meats, which are typically high in sodium and preservatives.
- Liverwurst: A small amount of liverwurst can be very effective due to its strong scent and rich flavor, but use sparingly as it’s quite rich.
- Hot Dog Pieces: If using hot dogs, always cut the discs into halves or quarters to minimize the risk of your dog choking.
- Pill Pockets (or similar products): These brilliant inventions are chewy dog treats with a pre-formed hole designed for medication. Simply insert the pill, pinch the treat around it to seal, and offer it to your dog. Dogs generally love them, but they can be more expensive and aren’t always readily available in every household. You can find them at veterinarians’ offices and pet supply stores.
Above all, do no harm.
While these options are generally safe, it’s vital to consider your dog’s individual health. I intentionally exclude cheese, cream cheese, and ice cream from my recommended list due to the risk of triggering pancreatitis. Pancreatitis in dogs is a painful and serious inflammatory condition of the pancreas, often caused by high-fat foods.
If your dog is prone to pancreatitis, exercise caution with peanut butter or even meats like turkey, chicken, hot dogs, or liverwurst, as these can also be higher in fat. While less concerning than cheese, it’s still important to be judicious.
Furthermore, always keep your dog’s specific medical conditions in mind. High-sodium foods can be problematic for dogs with kidney disease or heart disease. Dogs on prescription diets for allergies or other conditions may benefit most from having their pills hidden in a small amount of the canned version of their specific diet, ensuring consistency with their dietary requirements.
When in doubt, always consult your veterinarian. They can provide the ultimate guidance on which foods and treats are safe and appropriate for your dog, especially when combined with their dog itching medication or other prescriptions.
2. The Bait and Switch: Outsmarting the Clever Canine
For dogs who are tempted by “The Bribe” but are too smart for their own good, I employ “The Bait and Switch” method. This technique often becomes second nature to veterinarians who have learned the hard way that success on the first try is paramount. Trust me, round two is ten times harder because of the pill’s condition and your dog’s heightened suspicion.
Unless I know a dog will eat anything, I always administer pills this way:
- Hide the pill in one piece of food or treat (e.g., a small hot dog piece or a marshmallow).
- Wash your hands. Seriously. It’s astonishing how the faint scent of medication on your hands can ruin the entire process. Remember, a dog’s sense of smell is far superior to ours.
- Prepare two more identical treats without pills. For example, if you’re using hot dog pieces, approach your dog with three pieces and an innocent demeanor.
- Give the first treat without a pill in it. This is THE BAIT! Your dog enjoys it, lowering their guard.
- Immediately give the second treat, which contains the pill. This is THE SWITCH! Your dog is often still focused on the first treat and swallows the second without much thought.
- Quickly give the third treat without a pill in it. This is THE HAPPY ENDING! It reinforces the positive experience and distracts from any lingering taste or texture.
3. The Trick and Treat: Playful Pilling
Occasionally, we need to up the ante. “The Bait and Switch” might have run its course, or your dog never fell for it in the first place. For these astute dogs, we must employ a bit of mind games.
- Maintain the Element of Surprise: Do not let your dog see you preparing the medication. Put the pills into the treats while your dog is occupied elsewhere. Avoid letting them see the medication bottle or hear it being handled.
- Wash Your Hands (Again): This step remains critical to prevent your dog from smelling the medication.
- The Goal: Make your dog feel that the treat is an earned reward or a special indulgence, leaving no room for suspicion. Here are a few ways to achieve this:
- Performance Reward: Have your dog perform a trick or two (e.g., sit, stay, paw) for which they typically earn a treat. This puts them in the mindset of expecting and asking for a reward. Then, offer the medication-laced treat (ideally following “The Bait and Switch” sequence) as their well-deserved prize.
- Forbidden Temptation: Just like us, dogs are often tempted by the “forbidden.” Feeding your dog their disguised medication directly off a fork or spoon, or even strategically placed off your own plate (placed on the floor immediately after a meal), can yield surprisingly successful results. The novelty and perceived “specialness” can bypass their usual caution.
- Project Confidence: Let’s face it, dogs read us like an open book. If you approach the pilling process with a guilty look or a feeling of apprehension, your dog will instantly become suspicious. Project confidence, joy, and a sense of fun throughout the process, and your dog will be far more likely to cooperate.
4. The Jaws Method: When Direct Intervention is Needed
Disclaimer: Do not attempt this technique if you cannot utter these words with absolute confidence: “Under no circumstances would my dog attempt to bite me.” This method is for cooperative dogs and experienced handlers only.
The “Jaws” method is a viable option when the prescription specifies not to give medication with food, or when your dog has become too clever for the previous three methods. Here’s how to do it:
- Secure the Upper Jaw: Gently grasp your dog’s upper jaw just behind the canine teeth (the large fang teeth) with your thumb and first two fingers on either side. Your hand should rest lightly on the top of their nose.
- Secure the Lower Jaw: Do the same for the lower jaw, placing your fingers just behind the lower canine teeth.
- Open the Jaws: Once your fingers are safely in place, gently but firmly pull the jaws open approximately two to three inches wide. (For strong-jawed breeds like my Pit Bull mix, this may require a bit more coaxing.)
- Administer the Pill: With your dominant hand, hold the pill between your pointer finger and thumb. Swiftly push the pill over the tongue and deposit it at the very base (back) of the tongue. The key is to get it past the decisive “hatch” point where the swallowing reflex is triggered.
- Confirm Swallowing: As you withdraw your hand, you should feel your dog swallow. A quick lick of the lips is usually a good indicator that the mission was successful.
Bonus Tips
- Avoid the Tongue Surface: The most common mistake is placing the pill simply on the tongue. Unless the pill is exceptionally palatable, most dogs will immediately spit it out. Success hinges on getting the pill as deep as possible into the throat as quickly as possible.
- Consider a Pet Piller: If it’s challenging to get the pill into the correct spot with your fingers, a pet piller can be a helpful tool. This device resembles a syringe or straw with a plunger, allowing you to accurately place the pill further back in your dog’s throat.
- Follow Up with Treats or Water: Because certain pills can potentially cause damage or irritation to the esophagus if they sit there too long, I always follow the “Jaws” technique with either a few small treats or by syringing a small amount of water into the dog’s mouth. This encourages them to swallow and helps ensure the pill travels down to the stomach.
5. Enlist an Accomplice: The Compounding Pharmacist
If all else fails and your dog simply will not take pills, don’t despair. While at the vet, ask about getting your dog’s medication compounded and flavored. Specialty pharmacies (different from typical grocery store or big box store pharmacies) can pulverize your dog’s medication, mix it with a potent flavoring, and provide it to you in liquid form. This liquid can then be administered orally via a syringe or mixed into a small amount of your dog’s food.
You even have a say in the flavoring! If your dog absolutely loves the smell of bacon, mention it to your vet. There are numerous flavoring options available, so you can stack the odds in your favor by choosing a flavor your dog finds irresistible. This can make administering medication, including something like liquid flea and tick medicine for dogs, much simpler.
Do not crush tablets or open capsules yourself unless directed by a vet
If you’re considering skipping the compounding pharmacy and crushing your dog’s pills or opening capsules to add to food yourself, I strongly advise against it unless explicitly instructed by your veterinarian.
A compounding pharmacist knows how to prepare medication in a way that ensures it remains safe and effective, with proper dosage. Crushing tablets or opening capsules at home can lead to incorrect dosing (over or under), reduce the medication’s effectiveness, and potentially expose you to the medication. Therefore, unless your vet gives you express permission, always keep tablets and capsules intact when administering them to your dog.
You + Your Dog + Pills = Success
I hope these five expert tips have equipped you with the tools and confidence needed for getting dogs to take pills successfully. Remember, patience, a positive attitude, and a little creativity go a long way. If you are still encountering difficulties, please do not hesitate to reach out to your veterinarian. They are there to help! Ultimately, when your dog receives the medication they need, everyone wins, leading to a healthier and happier companion.
Further Resources
- Is My Dog Too Old for Anesthesia?
- Dr. Buzby’s Nail Trimming Without Fear: online, step-by-step video course with reference guides for confident at-home nail trims.
- Why Non-Slip Grips Instead of Traction Socks or Booties
- Are Antlers Good for Dogs To Chew On? Please “CHEWS” No
