Giving a dog their medication can be one of the most difficult things. Some dogs become a total pro at eating the goodie and spitting out the pill. Here are different ways to hide your dog’s medication to, hopefully, trick your pup into taking their pills.
Pill Pockets
These yummy treats are recommended by Veterinarians everywhere! Pill Pockets are a tasty treat with a hole in the center. Stick the pills in the hole and pinch closes the top. The yummy flavors masks the pill taste and make pill time enjoyable for pups!
Peanut Butter
I don’t think there is a dog out there that doesn’t like peanut butter! This sticky snack is great for pills because it causes the dog to continuously lick and swallow. Place a pill in the middle of a glob of peanut butter and the doggo will never know they ate their medication.
Chicken
One of the best proteins for dogs! Slice up your chicken in good size pieces then stick your dog’s pill into the center of the pieces. You can either give it to them as a snack or mix it in with their meal. They’ll gobble their medication right up.
Cheese Slice
Cheese slices are amazing because they can be molded into any shape. A Kraft Singles can be divided into two halves and then mushed back together with a pill in between. The seal would be nice and tight to prevent the pill popping out. Also the flavor will mask a strong tasting medication.
Pineapple
This strong favored fruit will hide the nastiness of any medication. Pineapples are so good for dogs and they love them. Push a pill into a cube of Pineapple and they’ll never know what’s in the middle.
Liver
Dog’s love liver and it is rather inexpensive at the grocery store! Placing a pill into the middle of a piece of liver masks the flavor and can easily hide your dog’s medication.
Strawberry
Another yummy fruit for puppos! Cut off the greens of a strawberry and push in a pill right in the center, where the greens used to be. So healthy for dogs and they’ll love ’em!
Ground Beef
What dog doesn’t enjoy ground beef? If you have a long term medication to administer then boil up some ground beef and form meatballs. When it comes to medication time, push the pill into the center of the meatball and watch them enjoy!
Doggie Ice Cream
Ice cream for canines! Not human ice cream. Regular ice cream can make a dog get an upset stomach. Using softened doggie ice cream and place the pill in it. The dog will continuously lick and swallow the medication right up!
Banana
Slice up a banana and use one slice to push a pill into the center. Your dog won’t know what they’re consuming!
Hot Dog
Another yummy protein that masks the taste of any gross pill. Slice ’em up and push a pill into the center for consumption.
Cottage Cheese
One of the best dairy products for dogs. Llike ice cream and peanut butter. Have your dog lap up the goodies with a pill in it. They’ll have no idea it was medication time!
Tuna
The stinkiness from tuna can hide the taste of the worst medication! Open up a can of tuna, rinse it thoroughly, and form little balls. Stick the pill in the center and this yummy treat hider is a hit for your dog!
Marshmallow
Yes marshmallows! The stickiness helps keep pills from being chewed out and the flavor can hide your dog’s medication taste. For an occasional snack, these do wonders!
Cheese Stick
The best snack you can share with your dog. Cut a cheese stick in half and the one for your pup just push the pill into the center. Don’t mix up the halves though!
Sardine
Gross for humans, yummy for doggos. Sardines are another great way to hide nasty medication taste. The strong flavored fish is much preferred over pill flavors.
Yogurt
Plain yogurt is so good for dogs! Have the pup lap it up with a pill hidden in the cup and they’ll never know they took their meds.
Bread
Surprisingly, bread is quite good for dogs! Bread is great for taking pills because you can pinch two halves of bread together to create a seal. This way the medication doesn’t fall out.
Hard-Boiled Egg
If you have a dog that may be taking pills for a few days in a row this is a great trick. Hard boil a half dozen or dozen eggs. After peeling them, stick a pill in the middle and give it to your pup. They’ll eat it right up, pill and all.
Deli Ham/Turkey
Flavorless lean deli meats are a great treat for dogs. These can be easily folded up with a treat hidden inside. Dogs love the flavor so much they usually eat them in a few bites.
Raspberry
Same concept as the strawberry! Take a raspberry and hide your dog’s medication in the middle of the berry. Right where the hole is. The dogs will think it is just a sweet treat.
Salmon
A fish great for hiding medication and for healthy skin in dogs! Salmon is stinky enough to mask pill taste and dogs love it. Just take a small slice and push a pill into the center. They’ll consume the salmon and medications with no issues.
Sometimes you get a dog who won’t be fooled by any of these yummy treats. They will always spit the medication right back out. If you have one of those, you can simply open the dog’s mouth, stick the medication at the back of their throat, close their mouth, and blow air into their nose. This causes swallowing and they will then consume their pill. If you’re having any issues always talk to your Veterinarian.
Hope these tips and tricks are helpful to dog parents out there. If your dog is taking medication on doggie bed rest, check out this post: So Your Dog Is On Vet Ordered Bed Rest! If you have any other suggestions on how to hide your dog’s medication, share them in the comments!
