Trouble Giving Pills to Your Pets? Try These 3 Easy Tips!

As pet owners ourselves, we know that giving medications to pets can be frustrating for you and your furry friends alike! When it comes to pills, even the best-behaved dogs and sweetest cats can become masters of evasion. Luckily, just like basic obedience, potty training, and advanced tricks, pets can be trained to take their medications. With the right approach, you can turn medication time from a struggle into a simple part of your daily routine. 
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#1: Build A Positive Association
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Instead of washing their pills down with water like a human would, pets can get their favorite treat afterward instead. And the best time to start training your pets is before they actually need medications! 

The concept here is simple: your pet gets a favorite treat for swallowing something you offer them. You don’t have to start this training with pills. In fact, it may be better to start with a low-value treat that you’re sure they’ll eat.

The goal is to teach your pet that eating whatever you offer them leads to a “jackpot” treat. To do this, offer a low-value treat (ex., kibble) and follow it with a high-value treat (ex., chicken, cheese, hot dog). 

Repeat this process a few times every day, changing the low-value treat to less and less exciting things over time. For example, the progression might look like: 

• Week 1: Kibble or other low value treat
• Week 2: A bland vegetable or bread/cracker
• Week 3: An empty pill pocket or pill wrap
• Week 4: An empty gelatin capsule
• Week 5: The actual pill or supplement your dog will be taking regularly

If your pet is less food-motivated or picky about what they eat, this process may take a little more trial and error to find things they’ll reliably eat every time. While this process takes time, patience, and a little bit of creativity, it can give you the best results in the long run! 

#2: Use Gelatin Capsules and/or Pill Pockets

Sometimes, your pet needs medications immediately, and there’s no time for practice. In these situations, empty gelatin capsules can be a game-changer for picky eaters. Most pets will refuse pills because of either the smell or the taste. Not only can gelatin capsules mask the taste and smell, but they can also be used to combine multiple pills in one easy capsule. 

Please note: Be sure to check with your veterinarian about your pet’s specific medications! Not all pills can or should be given together. 

Gelatin capsules come in a variety of sizes and can be bought in most drug stores or online. Some brands even offer flavored capsules to further mask the scent and taste of medications. Pill pockets or pill wraps can also be used with or without gelatin capsules. They come in a variety of flavors and sizes and are soft enough to be molded around pills or capsules of all types. 

 #3: Hide The Pill 

Still having trouble getting your pet to take their medications? Sometimes, hiding the pill and a little bit of trickery are your best bet. Two of our favorite techniques are the “multiple meatball” method and the “rapid fire” method.  

For the multiple meatball method, take your pet’s favorite wet food or other soft snack (ex., cheese, hot dog, chicken) and form three “meatballs.” Put the medication in the middle of one meatball. As quickly as possible, give your dog a plain meatball, then one with the pill inside, and follow it with another plain one. Ideally, your pet will be too focused on their final treat to notice they’ve eaten their pill. This method works best if you’re hand-feeding your pets the meatballs. 

Alternatively, if your pet will catch treats out of the air, you can try the “rapid fire” method. Toss your dog 2-3 treats, then the pill (preferably wrapped in a pill pocket or other tasty food), then 2-3 more treats as a reward. 

Bonus Tip: Timing Matters!

If possible, medicate your pet before mealtime. A hungry pet is less likely to turn their nose up at a pill that’s well-hidden in their favorite food.

Mountainside Veterinary Hospital Is Here To Help

Getting your pets to take their pills shouldn’t be a daily struggle—for you or your furry friends. If you’re having a hard time medicating your pet, the team at Mountainside Veterinary Hospital can help. In addition to behavioral tips and tricks, we can discuss different forms of medication (ex., liquid, gel capsule, powders) that may be more tolerable for your pet. 


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