11 Best Foods to Hide Dog Pills In: A Vet’s Recommendations

If you have to give your dog medication, you may be wondering about the best foods to hide dog pills in. Help is here! Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby lists 11 foods that she thinks work best for concealing pills. Plus, she discusses the pros and cons for each of the foods and provides some useful tips.

Is your dog a magician when it comes to making pills reappear—even after you’d carefully disguised them? I get it! It can be challenging to give a dog a pill. As a practicing veterinarian for 25+ years, I’ve learned that one of the best tricks for giving medication is to start with the most tempting foods to hide dog pills in.

But what’s both safe and tasty? Here are my 11 veterinarian-recommended foods for disguising dog medications.

Before we get started, I do want to mention the importance of working with your veterinarian to find what your dog likes and won’t negatively impact his or her medical conditions. Not every food on this list is right for every dog.

11 best foods to hide dog pills in

1. Pill pockets

Many of my clients have asked me whether there are dog treats designed for hiding pills. You may have the same question. I’m happy to share that the answer is, yes!

Greenies Pill pockets® are one of several brands of small dog treats that are specifically designed to make medication administration easier. They are a soft playdough consistency and have a hole in the center for inserting the pill. Depending on the size of the pills, you may even be able to fit more than one in the pill pocket.

Here’s why Pill Pockets are on my list of best foods for hiding dog pills:

• Pills are unlikely to fall out—Once you insert the medication into the pocket, you simply squeeze the opening on the pill pocket closed. This seals the hole over, which means the pill is completely enclosed and unlikely to fall out.
• Many flavorful choices—Pill pockets come in many flavors like chicken, peanut butter, cheese, and hickory smoke. So many dogs will readily eat them (and the medication inside).
• Variety of sizes—You can buy pill pockets sized for capsules or for tablets.

2. Peanut butter

If you want to hide pills in human foods that you have in your kitchen, peanut butter is a popular choice.

Here’s why peanut butter is on my list of best foods for hiding dog pills:

• Stickiness—The gooey consistency of peanut butter makes it difficult for your dog to spit out the pill because the peanut butter and the pill sticks to the roof of the dog’s mouth.
• Strong flavor—The flavor of peanut butter is strong enough to mask the bad taste of some medications.
• Tasty—Most dogs love the taste of peanut butter.

If you choose peanut butter for disguising your dog’s pill, please remember:

• Always check the label for xylitol—Before giving your dog peanut butter, check the label for xylitol (i.e. birch sugar), a sugar substitute found in some sugar-free peanut butter. Xylitol is toxic to dogs. So it is best to avoid sugar-free or low-sugar peanut butter entirely.
• Peanut butter is higher in fat—This means it is not the best choice for pups who are prone to pancreatitis in dogs.
• Peanut butter can be high in sodium—Peanut butter may contain too much sodium for dogs with conditions like heart disease or kidney disease who need a low-sodium diet.

Unsure about a specific type of peanut butter? Please talk to your veterinarian! He or she can help make sure the peanut butter (or any food) you choose is safe.

3. Marshmallows

Like peanut butter, marshmallows are another popular choice for hiding pills. Here’s why I like using marshmallows for pilling a dog…

• Gooey consistency—The stickiness of the marshmallow is ideal for concealing the medication and keeping it hidden inside.
• Low fat—Because marshmallows are low in fat, they are a safer option for dogs who are at risk for pancreatitis.
• Multiple sizes – Generally mini marshmallows are a sufficient amount for hiding a dog’s pills. However, marshmallows are available in other sizes should your dog’s pill be too large to fit inside a mini marshmallow.

Here are some cautions about choosing marshmallows for giving your dog a pill:

• High sugar content—Marshmallows are very rich and have a higher sugar content. This means they may not be the best choice for dogs with certain conditions like diabetes in dogs.
• Avoid sugar-free marshmallows—They may contain xylitol (birch sugar), a sugar substitute toxic to dogs.

4. Turkey or chicken

Sliced cooked turkey (not deli turkey), a cube of cooked chicken breast, or a cooked ground turkey meatball or ground chicken meatball can be useful for encouraging dogs to take their medications.

Here’s why plain cooked turkey and chicken breast are on my list of best foods for hiding dog pills:

• Easy to administer—The strong flavor and smell is enticing to dogs. Many dogs won’t even notice the pill tucked inside.
• Lean meat—Compared to other meats like ham and roast beef (which I do not recommend), cooked turkey and chicken are leaner. This makes them less likely to cause pancreatitis.

However, if you choose meat for hiding your dog’s pills, there are a few important caveats. Please heed the follow cautions:

• In general, deli meats are a “no”—Due to the high sodium content of deli meats, it is better to use regular cooked chicken or turkey meat. This is especially important if you plan to hide medications in turkey or chicken long-term. And dogs who need a low-sodium diet, such as those with heart disease in dogs or kidney disease in dogs, should avoid deli meat entirely.
• Avoid turkey and chicken if your dog is at-risk for pancreatitis—If your dog has been diagnosed with pancreatitis in the past, you should avoid using turkey or chicken to give pills. Even lean meats have a higher chance of causing pancreatitis in at-risk dogs when compared to some of the other options.
• Don’t use raw meats—Avoid using raw meats of any kind due to the risk of food-borne illness.

5. Hot dogs

Hot dogs are another meat option that many dog parents use to give their dog pills. Hot dogs are great for hiding the medication. But hot dogs can be a choking hazard if the dog swallows them too fast.

Here’s why hot dogs are on my list of best foods for hiding dog pills:

• Tasty—Most dogs love the smell and taste of hot dogs.
• Easy for hiding—The consistency of the hot dog makes it easy for inserting dog medications.

However, if you choose hot dogs for hiding your dog’s pills, please take the following precautions:

• Cut the hot dog into small pieces and do not use hot dog discs—Hot dog discs may pose a dog choking hazard. Instead, for your dog’s safety, slice the hot dog into discs and then cut the discs into halves or quarters.
• Do not use hot dogs continuously—If you’re giving your dog daily medications for an extended period of time, do not use hot dogs. There are safer and healthier options.
• Use caution (or avoid) for dogs with chronic diseases—Due to a higher sodium and preservative contents, hot dogs aren’t a good choice for dogs with chronic diseases such as heart disease or kidney disease.
• Avoid in pancreatitis-prone dogs—If your dog has had pancreatitis or is at risk for pancreatitis, do not use hot dogs.

6. Liverwurst

Another popular meat option for giving dogs pills is liverwurst (i.e. braunschweiger). It has a strong smell which dogs seem to like and which disguises the pill well. Plus, you can mold it around the pills, making it less likely your dog will spit the pill out.

If you read the label of the liverwurst, you may notice that many varieties contain onions. While onions are toxic for dogs, the quantity of onion in the small amount of liverwurst you would use to give your dog a pill is unlikely to be a problem according to a veterinary toxicologist. However, if you want to play it safe, consider finding a liverwurst product that does not contain onions or other spices.

The other word of caution is that liverwurst is richer than some of the other meat options. This means it could potentially be risky for dogs who are prone to pancreatitis. Thus, it is better to select a different food for giving those pups pills.

7. Plain yogurt or plain Greek yogurt

Plain yogurt is another one of my favorite foods to use to hide dog medications.

Here’s why plain or plain greek yogurt are on my list of best foods for hiding dog pills:

• A good mix-in choice for liquid medications—Yogurt can be helpful for mixing with liquid medications (if it is ok to give the medication with food).
• May provide nutritional benefits—Yogurt contains probiotics.
• A safer option for pancreatitis prone dogs—It is less likely to cause pancreatitis compared to some of the other options discussed above.

If you choose yogurt for disguising your dog’s pill, please know:

• Use plain yogurt or plain greek yogurt—Dogs don’t tend to like flavored yogurt and sugar-free yogurt could potentially contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
• Some dogs will find the pill—Keep in mind that dogs don’t swallow yogurt as quickly as other options. It’s not sticky and does not conceal the texture change of a pill as well. So, if a dog licks the yogurt slowly, he or she might be more likely to pick out the pill and avoid swallowing it.
• Avoid yogurt if your dog is taking antibiotics—You should not give your dog antibiotic pills or liquids with dairy products like yogurt. Doing so may make the antibiotic less effective.
• Avoid yogurt if your dog is sensitive to lactose—Some dogs may experience mild GI upset.

8. Bananas

Bananas are a sweet fruit that you can also use to hide dog medications. They are flavorful and strong-smelling to help mask a pill. However, just like yogurt, dogs may be able to pick the pill out of the banana and avoid swallowing it.

9. Bread

Some dog parents like to use small pieces of bread to hide pills. Bread is easy to use to disguise pills because you can break it into different sized pieces or add peanut butter to help hide the pill.

However, keep in mind that if you give your dog bread for extended periods of time, your dog may gain excess weight. Therefore, you should try to avoid using bread for dogs with diabetes or overweight dogs. Also, never give your dog bread dough (which is dangerous for dogs when consumed), raisin bread (raisins are toxic to dogs), or chocolate chip bread (chocolate is toxic to dogs). Plain old white or brown bread or buns is best.

10. Canned dog food

If your dog is used to eating dry kibble, canned dog food can be a very special and appealing treat. This makes canned dog food an excellent food to hide dog pills in. If your dog’s kibble comes in a canned formula, that would be ideal. However, using a small amount of a different type of canned dog food should not be problematic for most dogs.

I like canned dog food for pill hiding because it is specifically designed for dogs. And it is usually safe for most dogs. Also, if your dog needs a specific diet (such as a low-fat or hypoallergenic diet), you can often find a canned version of the diet. By hiding pills in the canned version of your dog’s prescription diet, you don’t have to risk the potential consequences of feeding your dog a different food.

11. Your dog’s normal diet

In addition to the canned version of your dog’s diet, some dogs enjoy eating their regular food so much that you can hide a pill in the middle of the kibble. If your dog loves his or her normal food, this can be one of the easiest ways to give a medication.

However, this doesn’t work for all dogs. Many will pick out the pill and separate it from the kibble pieces. And some dogs may fall for this trick initially, but then could learn that dinner equals medication. This could lead to a dog not eating or not taking his or her medication.

So, you should only use this option for dogs who are highly motivated by their regular food and are not picky eaters.

What about cheese, cream cheese, or ice cream?

If you are looking in the refrigerator for a food to hide dog medications in, it might be tempting to reach for cream cheese, other cheeses, or ice cream. However, my personal opinion is that it is safest to avoid these rich foods. The main reason I feel this way is that they could potentially trigger pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening in some cases.

Additionally, dogs who can’t digest lactose well can experience GI upset from cheeses or ice cream. And you should not give antibiotics with dairy products. The calcium can interfere with the efficacy of the antibiotic.

So all in all, there are better and safer foods to hide pills in than cheeses and ice cream.

Precautions for giving pills in food

We have discussed 11 different options of foods to hide pills in. But before you head to the pantry or refrigerator to grab a food to try, keep these tips in mind:

1. Speak with your vet to ensure the food is right for your dog

Before you decide which food to hide your dog’s pills in, please check with your vet. It is important to avoid using certain foods for dogs with specific diseases. For example, fatty foods are a “no no” for dogs with conditions like pancreatitis. And dogs with kidney disease or heart disease may have very specific dietary requirements that make some foods unsafe.

It’s worth mentioning, if your dog is on a hypoallergenic prescription diet for food allergies, some of the items on this list above could potentially contain allergens, which may cause a flare up of his or her allergies. Your vet can help you determine which foods would be safe for your food allergic dog.

Also, as mentioned earlier, you should not use calcium rich foods with antibiotics.

2. Check the label to ensure you can give the medication with food

Additionally, before you use food to give your dog his or her prescription, it is important to read the label on the new medication. Some medications cannot be given with food or need to be given one hour before or after food. In these cases, you will need a different method to give your dog medication.

3. Don’t crush tablets or open capsules unless directed to do so by your vet

It is also important to avoid crushing tablets or opening capsules to hide them in the food unless your veterinarian specifically tells you that it is safe to do so. Crushing tablets and opening capsules can change how effective the medication is for your dog, or in some cases pose a risk to your health.

4. Know some other methods to get your dog to take his or her medication

Even though special foods are motivating enough to entice most dogs to take a pill, some dogs won’t fall for this trick. Or they might fall for it initially and learn over time that certain foods mean medication is hidden inside. In that case, you might need to try some of my other tips for dogs who won’t take pills.

Additionally, it may be helpful to talk to your veterinarian about other options. Sometimes you can have the medication compounded into a liquid you can squirt into your dog’s mouth. Or there may be other ways to treat your dog’s condition.

5. Pay attention to the directions on the medication label

Even if your dog has taken the same medication in the past, it is always best to look at the instructions on the label. Sometimes the vet may change the instructions based on your dog’s situation. Giving the wrong amount or giving the medication at the wrong frequency can have negative consequences. So it is safest to just take a minute to double check how the vet wants you to give the medication.

6. Make the pieces of food small enough to swallow whole

In order to have the best chances of the pill going undetected, you want your dog to swallow the piece of food containing the pill whole. Otherwise, if the dog chews the food, he or she might accidentally bite into the pill. And then it is game over.

Generally speaking, the smaller the pieces of food the better because the dog is more likely to swallow it in one gulp. However, every dog is a bit different in this regard.

You can do it!

I know the idea of having to give your dog pills can seem daunting. But I’m here to say that you can do it! It might take trying a few of the different foods on the list. But most of the time, you can find something that works. And the good news is that once you and your dog have a routine developed, it usually becomes easier and easier to give your dog his or her medications.

However, if you feel like you have tried all the foods, tips, and tricks and you are still struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet. He or she is there to help. Your vet wants you to be successful in giving pills just as much as you do. Together, you can hopefully find a solution that works for your dog.

Which of the foods listed above is your go-to for hiding your dog’s pills?

Please comment below.