Tips for Giving Your Dog Pills

Inevitably at some point in your time as a pet owner, you will be faced with the task of administering medication. Even the most agreeable of dogs will not enjoy having to take a pill or having one shoved down their throat. You can even spend time meticulously hiding the pills within your dog’s favorite treats and they will still find them and spit them out.

New medications have come out with dog-friendly flavors to turn despised medicines into tasty treats. However, these can be more costly than the regular medications and it is not guaranteed that your pooch will enjoy them. So what do you do when your methods are not working?

Here are a few of our best tips for giving your dog pills:

Pill Pockets

Pill pockets make giving your pet pills super easy. They come in a few different favorite dog flavors and are shaped like small cups that allow the pill to fit right inside. Once you put the pill in the hole, you can easily pinch the opening closed to fully enclose the pill inside the pockets.

Your dog will think they are getting a super delicious treat and will hardly even notice the pill inside.

Pill Cutter

There’s a chance that your dog might not enjoy taking its pill because the pill is simply too big. If you think that might be the case, try using a pill cutter. It is a safe way to easily cut the pill in half making it easier for your dog to swallow

Cheese

Most cheeses are safe for dogs and they love it! If you don’t want to worry about having to go out and buy more Pill Pockets, pick up a few slices of cheese next time you head to the grocery store. Cheese makes the perfect hiding place for pills because of how easy it is to shape and the delicious taste.

If your dog doesn’t like cheese, check out this list of dog-friendly fruits and vegetables that you can use to find a replacement!

Hide it in Food

Another classic way to give your dog a pill is to hide it in a bowl of food. When you go to feed your dog, put the pill in with the food, and as your dog chows down, they will most likely eat the pill without even realizing it was there.

Pill Gun

If your dog needs to take a medication that cannot be taken with food, you may have tried sticking your hand in your dog’s mouth to push it to the back of their throat. However, these can lead to accidental bites and is no fun for you or your dog.

Pill guns solve this problem by reducing the risk of being bitten. These work by putting the pill into the tube and then sticking it as far into your dog’s mouth as possible and dispensing. It will release the pill into the back of your dog’s throat for them to easily swallow.

Any solution for taking pills that reduces the amount of wrestling and the risk of biting is a good solution. Find the one that works best for your dog and you both will be much happier and stress-free.