Your dog won’t take pills? As I pried my dog’s jaws open to give him his medicine, I realized that, as a veterinarian, prescribing the appropriate medication for your dog is only half of the battle! What about YOU—standing ready, holding a pill, looking at your dog while your dog looks back at you, both wondering who’s going to win?
The answer, my friend, is YOU! As an integrative veterinarian and mom of three dogs, here are five of my favorite tips, tricks, and techniques for how to get your dog to take a pill.
1. The Bribe: For the food-motivated dog who won’t take pills
If your dog is food motivated, this technique is the obvious choice—and hopefully a foolproof way to get your dog to take pills. You can simply hide the pill in:
- Marshmallows: My personal favorite “bribe” in which to hide pills is marshmallows (or mini-marshmallows, depending on your dog’s size). I don’t worry about them causing pancreatitis (more on this soon), and it’s an inexpensive, low-calorie treat.
- A dab of peanut butter: Please make sure that xylitol is not on the ingredient list! It has become a common sweetener in peanut butter, but xylitol is highly toxic to dogs. Also, I prefer “chunky” peanut butter because it’s easier to disguise the texture of a pill among the chunks.
- Plain yogurt or plain greek yogurt: But please keep in mind that yogurt can cause GI upset in dogs who don’t handle lactose well. Plus, it is important to know that giving antibiotics with calcium-rich foods is a “no no” as it may make the antibiotics less effective.
- A cube of cooked boneless chicken breast or sliced turkey (NOT deli turkey or deli chicken as they are too high in sodium).
- Liverwurst: A small amount will do as it is very rich.
- Hot dog pieces: Always cut hot dog discs into halves or quarters to reduce the chances of your dog choking.
- Greenies Pill Pockets®(or similar products): This brilliant invention is a chewy dog treat with a hole inside for the pill or capsule. You insert the medication into the pocket, and then press the malleable treat around the pill to hide the evidence. Dogs generally love them! The downside is that they are not cheap, nor something you would normally have handy in your kitchen. Pill Pockets are sold through veterinarians and pet supply stores.
Above all do no harm.
The reason I left cheese, cream cheese, and ice cream off my “recommended” list is because I don’t want to take the risk of triggering pancreatitis through rich foods. Pancreatitis in dogs is a painful, serious inflammatory condition of the pancreas which can be caused by a dog eating high-fat foods.
If you have a pancreatitis-prone pup, you should also be cautious about using peanut butter or meat (turkey, chicken, hot dogs, or liverwurst) when trying to figure out how to give a dog a pill. These foods can also be higher in fat. They are less of a concern in my mind than cheese, cream cheese, and ice cream, but it is still important to be judicious about which dogs you give them to.
Additionally, when picking a food to put your dog’s pills in, keep your dog’s medical conditions in mind. Higher sodium foods can be problematic for dogs with kidney disease in dogs or heart disease in dogs. And dogs who are on prescription diets (for allergies or other conditions) may be better served to take their pills in a small amount of the canned version of their prescription diet. That way you know that the food you are hiding pills in meets your dog’s specific dietary aims.
If you are trying to figure out if a food or treat is right for your dog, check out my post on the 11 best foods to hide dog pills in. And also talk to your veterinarian! He or she has the ultimate say in which foods are, or are not, safe or appropriate for your dog.
2. How to get your dog to take a pill using “the bait and switch” method
For dogs who are tempted by “The Bribe,” but too smart for their own good, I employ “The Bait and Switch” method of getting dogs to take pills. This technique becomes second nature to most veterinarians who have learned the hard way—after scraping saliva-covered, mostly dissolved pills off the floor after a dog has spit them out—that it’s very important to have success on the first try.
Trust me, round two is ten times harder than round one, because of the state of the pill and the heightened state of the dog’s radar.
So unless I know the dog will basically eat anything, I always administer pills in this fashion:
1. Hide the pill in food or treats
2. Wash hands. (Yes, seriously. It’s amazing how you can ruin the whole process by having the smell of medication on your hands. Remember, a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 times better than yours.)
3. Get two more of the same treats used to hide the pill in. For example, if I’m using hot dog pieces, when I’m ready to give the pill, I approach the dog with three hot dog pieces—and an innocent look.
4. Give the first treat without a pill in it. THE BAIT!
5. Give the second treat with the pill in it. THE SWITCH!
6. Give the third treat without a pill in it. THE HAPPY ENDING!
3. How to get your dog to take a pill using the “trick and treat” method
Occasionally, we have to up the ante. The “Bait and Switch” may have run its course and your dog has become wise to your antics, or your dog never fell for it in the first place. To have success giving medicine to these dogs, we must employ mind games.
- I do not recommend letting these astute dogs see you preparing the medication prior to administration. You will have to put the pills in the treats while your dog is occupied elsewhere. Do not let your dog see the medication bottle or hear it being handled. Remember the advantage of the element of surprise!
- Wash your hands after working with the pills. This step is critical.
- The Goal: Make your dog feel that the treat is an earned reward or special treat and there is nothing to be suspicious about. There are a few ways to do this:
- Have your dog perform a trick or two, for which he typically earns a treat. We’ve now put him in the mindset to expect/ask for a medication-laced treat. Give the spiked treats (ideally in the “Bait and Switch” sequence) as his reward.
- It’s key for the dog to swallow the treat rapidly, without taking time to chew. If your dog bites into the pill, certain medications like tramadol for dogs and metronidazole are so bitter tasting that your dog might even foam at the mouth. To avoid this, you can toss the treats to the dog and have him catch them. Speak to your dog in a happy, excited voice and build anticipation for the treats you are about to toss, so that he eagerly snaps them up and looks for more.
- Just like us, dogs are tempted by the forbidden. Feeding your dog his disguised medication off of a fork or spoon, or off of your own plate (strategically placed on the floor immediately after a meal) can yield uncanny success.
- Have your dog perform a trick or two, for which he typically earns a treat. We’ve now put him in the mindset to expect/ask for a medication-laced treat. Give the spiked treats (ideally in the “Bait and Switch” sequence) as his reward.
- Let’s face it. Dogs read us like an open book. If you approach getting your dog to take a pill with a guilty look or even feeling guilty, your dog will be suspicious. Project confidence, joy, and fun in the “pilling” process and your dog will be more likely to be cooperative.
4. How to get your dog to take a pill using the “JAWS” method
Disclaimer—Do not attempt this technique if you cannot utter these words with confidence: “Under no circumstances would my dog attempt to bite me.”
The technique I used on my dog was the “Jaws” method. It is a good option when the prescription label says not to give the medication with food or when your dog has become wise to the first three methods. Here’s the technique:
- I grasped the upper jaw just behind the canine teeth (the big fang teeth) with my thumb and first two fingers on either side, while my hand rested on the top of his nose.
- I did the same for the lower jaw just behind the lower canine teeth.
- Once I had my fingers safely in place, I gently (but firmly) pulled the jaws open. (My dog is a Pit Bull mix with exceptionally strong jaws, so this took some coaxing.)
- As soon as the jaws were open two to three inches wide, I took the pill between my pointer finger and thumb in my dominant hand and swiftly pushed it down the tongue until I deposited it at the very base (back) of the tongue. In fact, I pushed it over a decisive edge, down the hatch.
- As I pulled out my hand, I felt my dog swallowing a pill. He then licked his lips. At that point, I knew the mission had been successful.
Bonus Tips
The most common mistake people make in this technique is putting the pill ON the tongue. Unless the pill is very pleasantly flavored, the typical dog is going to spit out the pill. Success depends upon getting the pill as deep as possible in the throat as quickly as possible.
If it is challenging to get the pill in the right spot with your fingers, using a pet piller might help. This device looks like a straw with a plunger and allows you to get the pill further back in your dog’s throat.
Also, because certain pills can cause damage to the esophagus if left to sit in the throat, I always follow the “Jaws” technique with either administration of a few treats or syringing some water into the dog’s mouth.
5. Your dog still won’t take pills? Enlist an accomplice—the pharmacist
If all else fails and your dog will not take pills, while you’re at the vet, ask about getting your dog’s medication compounded and flavored. Specialty pharmacies (not the kind at grocery stores and big box stores) can pulverize your dog’s medication, mix it with a potent flavoring, and provide it to you in liquid form, which you can give orally via syringe or add to your dog’s food.
And you can have a say in that flavoring. Does your dog LOVE the smell of bacon? Mention it to your vet. There are several flavoring options, so you should stack the odds in your favor by expressing your dog’s preference if you know it.
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 the capsules to add to food yourself, I want to stop you right there. Don’t do it.
The pharmacist who compounds your dog’s medication into a flavored liquid knows how to do so in a way that allows the medication to remain safe and effective. But crushing tablets or opening capsules at home can over or under dose your dog, make the medication less effective, and/or expose you to the medication.
So unless your vet expressly gives you the ok, you need to keep the tablets and capsules intact when giving them to your dog.
You + Your Dog+ Pills = Success
I hope that these five tips have given you the tools you need to confidently and successfully figure out how to give a dog a pill. But if you are still having trouble, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet. He or she is there to help! In the end, when your dog gets the medication he or she needs, everyone wins!
Do you have a tip on how to get your dog to take a pill?
Please comment below! May we always learn from each other!
Looking for more practical ways to help your dog live the happiest, healthiest life possible?
With 25+ years of experience helping my veterinary clients tackle everything from giving a dog a pill to keeping an aging dog’s mind fit, I’m passionate about helping you help your dog have the happiest life possible. Please check out these additional 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
First published March 7, 2016
©Julie Buzby, DVM. All rights reserved.
I really appreciate all the tips and tricks to get a dog to swaloow a pill. I’ve never had this problem until I rescued Gio, a handsome cocker spaniel.. He doesn’t eat any treats, pill pockets, peanut butter etc. Every bite that goes in his mouth he puts on the floor/carpet and inspects it before eating it. We had to change the flea medcation to the liquid on his back because I was traumatized after 6 months. He, now needs anti itch medication and I am dreading it. I’m using organic coconut oil and applying it on his skin. If I try to put some drops, he won’t eat the food. I’m going to try the chewable with the cat food because he will eat it without inspection. I honestly think is something mental. Ant suggestions on a really hard core problem.
Hello Martha, I’m so sorry for this challenge that you and Gio are facing. I think you might have to take it on a case-by-case basis, meaning do what you can with each medication he needs. Changing to the topical flea and tick treatment is an example of a very practical adaptation. If he’s itching because of seasonal allergies, talk to your vet about an injection he could get every 1-2 months that tends to work quite well. It’s called Cytopoint and you can read more here: https://toegrips.com/allergy-medicine-for-dogs/ Hopefully he stays super healthy and doesn’t need any more medications! Thank you for rescuing him! 🙂
Cytopoint shot for itchy allergies worked great for my two Maltipoos…..
Thanks for sharing your experience, Claire! I couldn’t agree with you more. 😉 I discuss the pros and cons of Cytopoint and other allergy treatments for dogs here: https://toegrips.com/allergy-medicine-for-dogs/.
I have a medium sized dog that is a delicate eater and adept at eating around a pill hid in a treat. I can use the jaws method, but her pill is for anxiety and I hate providing anxiety in order to treat it. I have found that a small amount of hard boiled egg yolk smushed around the pill is a great tool. I make sure to not overcook the egg yolk, so it has enough moisture and isn’t crumbly. The less that is covering the pill the better, as it means she is more likely to swallow it whole. Takes a bit to get used to exactly the best ratio, but its one that works for me almost every time.
Sarah, thanks so much for sharing what has worked for you! That’s brilliant. I was just at a veterinary nutrition lecture in April, and the speaker talked about egg being a great food for dogs, so I’m giving you two thumbs up. 🙂 Just watch the total calorie count if your dog is prone to weight gain.
My dog is recovering from neck disc surgery. He immediately turned from being an excellent pill-eating dog (barely coat in hummus or PB or anything, snaps it up) to apparently being suspicious of all pills due to the diminished state they leave him in. I can get a tiny prednisone in, but they have him on a pretty damn big gabapentin, a huge methocarbonol pill and also a small amount of an anti-anxiety. I had them compounded and flavored as liquids and he DESPISES the taste of all, so I had to force them in — 3-4 SQUIRTS, 3 TIMES A DAY. It was a huge, physical struggle, just what he does not need. Now, he’s relapsing with pain (probably due to an ultrasound, but the dosing isn’t a plus!) and when returned to me, he is not just struggling but biting me. So I’ve returned to TRYING to mix this stuff in food, to no avail. I agree with the person above — there must be some dogs who 100% will not eat their medications, and you just have to be resigned to it or pay a vet $$$ x times a day to do it. For me, I have a few more WEEKS of this, so if I do liquids via oral syringe, that’s a minimum of 189 times I have to squirt odious meds into his unwilling mouth. It’s a desperately, uniquely demoralizing situation.
Oh, Matthew. I’m so sorry to hear of your dog’s disc issues plus the problems medicating him. I can completely understand how that would feel demoralizing. I guess compounding makes the most sense in your situation. There are not reasonable alternatives for those drugs for dogs. Incidentally, I want to commend you for persevering in adversity and I hope your dog recovers uneventfully.
So I just took my dog to the vet and unfortunately, she has a kidney infection. Her doctor prescribed her pills and gave her a shot. But here’s the problem, she doesn’t want to eat anything but drink water. We tried to wrap the pill in food but she still doesn’t want to eat it. What should I do?
Hi Kimberly, Unfortunately lack of appetite may be part of the kidney diagnosis. I would reach out to your vet to ask about injectable treatment options and/or an appetite stimulant. Hopefully your dog will get over this hump quickly and get back to eating normally.
Mix canned dog food with just enough water to make a cake batter consistency. Then get a medicine syringe from PetSmart. Block the nozzle and fill the syringe from the top with the mix (it will be too thick to draw up into the syringe). Then syringe it into the dogs mouth. Using a thicker mixture, the dog can’t spit it out.
Or, make the mix like above. Then use a silicone spatula and put a little of the mix on, then put on the roof of the dogs mouth.
Right now I’m trying to give her meds n I’m not succeeding at it I try chicken breast even treats where u can hide it n nothing she has to get her meds in she has diarrhea n also was throwing up help
Hello Mayra,
I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m sure that not feeling successful in medicating your dog is discouraging. But I think there’s more we must consider. If a dog is vomiting, it’s very difficult, if not contraindicated, to give oral medications. Please call your vet to make sure he/she is aware of the vomiting and diarrhea. It’s possible they will want to have you bring in your dog for injectable medications until the GI signs are under control.
I have tried everything. And I am wondering if there comes a point in time when a dog simply will not take the medication. It breaks my heart to write this, but I am feeling so helpless at this point. I can’t even have my dog live with me most of the time because he has to take so many medications throughout the day, that he has to be with my mom who is retired. She called me crying today because he wouldn’t take his heart medication. How do I know when I am causing more distress to my dog?
Hi Shelbie, I hear the frustration and sadness in your post and I understand. Step One for you is to reach out to your vet to explain what is going on. There may be modifications that can be made in the medications so that they can be dosed less frequently. It’s important for your vet to understand what a critical issue this is for your family’s quality of life. I’m optimistic that a creative solution can be found. And don’t forget about the last option in the article–compounding. Any medication can be put in a liquid or in capsules and flavored to your dog’s liking. Please reach out to your vet to discuss! Thanks!
My dog Jackie Peanut will be 16 years this March. She is a 7 pound Rat terrier with a little chi in her. Her medications are Gabapentin, enalapril & tramadol. I have tried everything you have mentioned and Jackie won’t take her 3 medications in the am. Jackie has Kidney problems so her medication is crucial. She also has 1 pill in the afternoon which I had my vet change to liquid(Gabapentin). I feel really bad giving it to her she acts like it’s poison. The nightly 3 pills she takes easier due to the house smelling of the food and I disguise it in our food.
She needs her medication to walk. I feel my day has become consumed with getting her pills in her. Her
This morning again I tried unsuccessfully cooking sausage to make the house smell like dinner. She had gone back to sleep after not eating her meds this morning.. She didn’t wake for the sausage which sometimes works. She is now going for laser therapy to help her back legs.Hwr right front paw can’t hit the floor without her meds. The problem also is when she doesn’t take her meds when she wakes in the afternoon she can’t walk. I have done massage therapy on her for a long time now but that isn’t working much anymore. This technique was wonderful and I learned it volunteering at
Guiding Eyes For The Blind.
I just ended my Animal Rescue last year. I have worked with many of the animals helping them with medication and trying different techniques have always eventually worked. I feel really badly working with animals such as
dogs, cats, chinchillas, rabbits, birds etc. and now having major issues with my own pet.
Wildlife was extremely difficult and yet worked out. My vets have given me suggestions but now are not working.
Once Jackie has eaten dinner & her meds she won’t eat that food again.
I’d love any suggestion you might have.
Thank you!
Hello Louise,
I’m so sorry to hear of your difficulties getting medications into Jackie, particularly because it is so critical for her to have them. Is it possible that part of the problem is that she just doesn’t have much of an appetite in the morning? This is a common issue for dogs with kidney disease, and if this is a part of the picture, talk to your vet about an appetite stimulant that might help her eat and take her pills better (disguised in food). Will she let you just “pill her” and pop the pills down her throat? For dogs that won’t fall for “the tricks”, this method is the most efficient. I would always recommend following up with a water chaser (syringing a little water into her mouth) afterwards to make sure the pills make it all the way down the esophagus to her stomach.
I didn’t read all the comments here and maybe someone post it before but I take a quarter of a slice of low fat cheese, make a little ball and my dog never knows what he is swallowing.
Thanks for the tip, Jose! The low-fat part is key to reduce the risk of causing pancreatitis. It’s great that you and your dog have developed a system that works!
Hi there…I have 2 white peekinesse…my boy bb is almost 12 and my girl Chrystal turned 10 in October….I give them trifectis…flea’s…ticks…heartworm in one…It smells awful…I mean awful…as you said washing hands is very important…I give them a small amount of liverwurst to get them to take the pill..they are very smart…I have to go through a process that takes time…they know…I have to cut bbs in half and Chrystal in quarters…she has a small mouth….I put little pancake like then walk away from it..then I place each piece on top of it…wash hands and go away…then I put a little piece of liverwurst on top of the pieces…wash hands…carefully squish together and then I will start getting them excited about a treat and give a piece of clean treat then slip the one with the piece of pill in it…I know this takes time to do but it works…I also have to give Chrystal a half a pill small apaquil pill to control her skin…I use a small amount of the liverwurst to give it to her each night as a treat…works like a charm…I never give them liverwurst any other time of the day….strictly night between 6/7 PM…did you know that they can tell time??? Well mine do and lets me know when it’s time for this…amazing how this works for my fur babies…
Hi Katrina,
Thanks for sharing your experience! Congratulations on being creative and achieving success in this process with your dogs!
It was suggested to me to get some smelly canned cat food to hide the pill in. Works like a charm. My dog can’t wait to have her car food “treat”.
Hi Lisa, Thanks for sharing your successful idea with us! I would caution you to just use as little cat food as possible, since canned cat food is typically very high protein and calorie dense, but it sounds like you’ve discovered a brilliant solution. Thanks for sharing!
The cat food treat for my dogs 2 which have crossed the rainbow bridge and my current dog. Charlie a mutt, Max a chihuahua and now Sheeba a chihuahua has always been effective. I used to feed the cat a door down from me warmed cat food heated on the oven door. When I wasn’t looking my beloved mutt Charlie would snatch it up and eat it. Ok you’re one up on me Charlie but I’m gonna sit and wait on this next one. Because this is for George the cat. I always wanted George to have a warm meal because he was outside in the cold so much. If the neighbors door was unlocked I would let him in so he could be out of the elements. Just saying. Love ? those fur babies.
I would love it if any of these pill hacks worked for me. he has e coli that has been resistant to 3000mg per day of cephalexin caps, which we are trying again. all my hacks – meatballs (eats around the good stuff and rejecting the pill) mixing it in wet food (sometimes but not always), pill pockets (worked at first then not), marshmallows (texture), peanut butter (doesn’t like it) etc, etc. You can’t touch his mouth to pill (otherwise I would do so), as you can’t even touch his mouth at all. I have avoided all subsequent tests to see if there is another issue bc I can’t get meds into him. I really do not expect any answer, just frustrated and venting. My vet can’t seem to come up with any alternative solutions.
Thanks
Hi Laurie, I’m so sorry for your frustration and all your dog’s health issues. It sounds like you both have been through a lot! In a situation like yours, I do sometimes offer my clients a workaround. Would you be willing to learn how to give injections? If you’d be willing and you think your dog would tolerate it, I’d express all that you shared in your comment to your vet and ask if there is an injectable option that you could do at home. Wishing you and your dog smoother medication sessions in the days to come!