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.
Hi- Was just given a prescription for Sucralfate for my 17-year-old Maltese Shih Tzu mix. He hasn’t been feeling well lately. I thought we should try this med in case he has an ulcer. I tried using the pill and creating a paste but he won’t eat it. And he will not let me give it to him. He would bite. Is it OK to put it in a little piece of cheese? They told me to give it to him on an empty stomach but I’m finding this impossible! Do you think it will hurt if he has a tiny bit of food to go with it.? Thank you!
Hi Jenny,
I am sorry your dog is making things difficult. Ideally, you wouldn’t want to wrap the pill in cheese but this may be your only option. Sucralfate is supposed to coat the stomach and make a “barrier” to help prevent ulceration. If food is present, the effectiveness of the medication is decreased. Talk to your vet to see if making the pill into a slurry and administering it via an oral syringe or medicine dropper is an option. Your vet may also have other medications they would like to try instead of the Sucralfate. I hope you can find a solution that works for you and your senior boy. Good luck!
Hi, I enjoy the tips BUT nothing seems to work for very long for my 14 year old Chihuahua. He isn’t food motivated and the Jaws approach is near impossible. He thrashes around before I even put my hand near him mouth. He takes 5 pills morning and 5 pills in the evening. I have tried EVERYTHING. Finally the vet contacted a compound pharmacy and he can have 4 of his medications made into a transdermal gel. I rub it in the inside of his ear. But the fifth pill cannot be made into a transdermal gel. So I’m still on the look for a technique. The transdermal gel is not as effective as taking pills but something is better than nothing in his difficult case. The 5th pill is for his coughing. If he doesn’t take it, he coughs 24 hours a day. Very frustrating and annoying. I’ve tried everything! I’ve been using the gelatin capsules but he smells that pill no matter what I do. He would rather not eat at all then take that pill. Any other suggestions for the dog that is not food motivated? The cramming it down his throat does not work either. If I manage to somehow get it down the back of this throat with his thrashing then he’ll end up throwing it up a few minutes later. He’s so small and I don’t want to hurt him trying to put it down his throat. It usually just makes him cough more. Help!
Hi Joan,
Sorry your Chihuahua is giving you so much trouble with his medications. I am glad you were able to get most of them compounded into transdermal gels! If you have tried all the tips in the article and still aren’t successful, I recommend you read through the comments section and see if any of the hints or recommendations shared by our readers will help. Keep giving it your best and enjoy these senior years with your little guy. Good luck!
Pyoderma. It’s a bumpty skin thing treatable with antibiotics…twice a day for 21 days. Pill-hiding for my son,Rufus, should be a breeze. His weakness, like most pit-bulls (maybe) is…of course…Fettuccini Alfredo! Not the kind with broccoli in it though – Rufus hates broccoli. On the other hand, if there IS brocolli in it, Rufus will eat around it and leave it on his plate for his brother Zorro, the chihuahua, Zorro LOVES broccoli!
Hi Tom,
Thanks for sharing with us these stories of Rufus and Zorro, the pasta and broccoli eating duo! While broccoli is so healthy for dogs to eat in the right amount for there size, Fettuccini Alfredo can sometimes be problematic. Cheese and heavy creams are very high in fats and sodium and could pancreatitis or other issues for some dogs. If you need some other ideas of where to hide pills, the comments on this blog are a wealth of information! I hope the pill-hiding goes well and Rufus’ skin is back to normal soon!
I have a 17 year old Bichon. Super smart about the pill thing. He has been on pills for a few years now. He takes 6 pills each morning and at night. 4 of them arent so bad but 2 of them are very bitter. We started with cheese, then turkey slices etc… We are currently on bacon and chicken but if he gets a hint of the bitter pills, it is game over. SO frustrating!!! My wife and I go round and round with him. In the mornings it is a timing thing too. We dont have all morning to play these little games. We have kids to get ready for school and we have to get to work etc… We are about at our wits end with it. We tried pill pockets but he is aware of that ploy. It is stupid… the pills save his life but he wont take them. I am about ready to give up.
Hi Lee,
Sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble getting your Bichon to take his pills. It is so frustrating when you know that he needs the pills but he refuses to take them. Have you asked your vet about having some of them compounded into a flavored liquid? Sometimes, but not always, that can make it a bit easier to give the medications without a fight. There are also a lot of good hints in the comment section that you might find helpful. Have you tried putting the pills (especially the bitter ones) in a gelatin capsule? Sometimes that will mask the taste and smell well enough to be able to hide it in food. I hope you are able to find a solution that works for him!
I have a Maltese and the same problem she know it is the pill and she spill it . Tried all your tips and other she even bite me twice , there no options for flavor it . I do not know what else to try
Hi Kelly,
Sorry your dog is giving you trouble with her medication. If you have tried all the suggestions in the article and still haven’t been successful, I think you should contact your vet. They may be able to switch her to a different medication that is easier to administer, or discontinue it altogether. I know how frustrating this can be, but you can win this battle! Best wishes to you and your girl.
My Pug will gladly take any food or pill pocket we hide his medication in, but he always chews the food and then spits the pills out. I even tried the shoving the pills to the back of his throat tip, but he pushes it out with his tounge and spits it to the front of his mouth every time. it’s so frustrating.
Hi Herbert,
It’s amazing how good at spitting pills out these guys can be! Make sure you are washing your hands after wrapping the pill in the pill pocket or treat. They can smell the residue of the medications on our hands and treats even if we think our hands are clean. Have you tried the “bait and switch” or the “trick and treat” methods that are mentioned in the article? Also, you could try adding a bit of chunky peanut butter in the pill pocket with the medication to help hide the texture or chunks of the pill. If nothing is working, please reach out to your vet. They may want to try a liquid form of the same medication or discontinue it altogether. Good luck with your Pug’s medicine and best wishes!
I’m having the same issue with my lab mix. She had major stomach surgery less than 48 hours ago and is doing well except she won’t take her pills. The carprofen (sp.) is fine because it’s tiny and can easily be hidden in food. The gabapentin (sp.) I can just dump the powder and easily mix it into food. It’s the acetaminophen! She tastes it as soon as I try to trick her. I’ve tried hiding it in pill pockets, weenies, beef, cheese, peanut butter. Everything! Her surgery wiped my account out so I can’t ask for it to be flavored. I’ve called the vet and asked for tips but unfortunately, she’s too dang smart!
mine is a Chihuahua and he just know if i put it in a hot, piece of chicken or anything that he like
Hey there! I recommend buying empty capsules from Amazon and putting the dogs medication inside the capsule. There are some medications, like my dogs Trazodone that he hates because it’s so bitter tasting. So, I snap the pill in half and the two halves fit inside the capsule. We used to battle like you did, every day. I will say, he’s definitely better at taking his pills than he was, but he loves variety. Once he’s figured out that I’m giving him his pills in a certain thing, he will refuse them until I find another food item that’s more tasty or different. Good luck
Thanks for the great idea, Courtney! I’m glad you have figured out some good solutions to get your pup to take his meds!
I love that this post has lasted so long…as this is such a common issue for so many! My Lucy (11 yrs. young boxer), has just begun her battle against cancer and a heart arrhythmia ~ needless to say, getting pills down (for her heart), is my new daily challenge. It’s been a challenge over the years with random medications she’s needed (grateful nothing major until now)…so 5 pills a day now is more like a war!!
GAME CHANGER ~ freeze dried chicken hearts! They’re gross (so dogs love them)…they are naturally a little soft in the middle/tougher on the outside, and the hollow valve acts as a perfect hiding spot for a pill. I trim off the larger end, use a chopstick to poke/open up the valve a bit more…and stuff the pill in. It’s not foolproof (what is, when disguising a pill), but a solid 7-8 times out of 10 it works for me (and she hasn’t turned completely against them, after the few times she’s discovered the pill and turned away). I buy them from Stella & Chewy’s ~ which is the brand I’ve trusted giving her for her raw diet, treats, etc. for at least 8 years.
When Lucy was little, and I was trying to figure out allergies and food tolerance, she suffered from pancreatitis ~ since then (after allergy testing and adjusting to her low tolerance for rich/fatty foods), she’s been on a strict raw chicken/veggie diet (frozen patties from Stella & Chewy’s) and treats that she can have (no beef, duck, etc.). The chicken heart treats haven’t caused any issues (despite how disgusting/rich they appear).
Sending hugs and patience to every fur-baby parent facing the pill challenge!! xoxo
Hi Kris,
Sorry to hear that your sweet Boxer is facing some new challenges with cancer and a heart arrhythmia. I’m so glad you found a solution that works for her pills and I hope that it continues to grant you victory (most of the time) in the pill-giving war. Thanks so much for sharing this tip with us and sharing a bit of Lucy’s story as well. I hope that she continues to do well in her fight against cancer and with her heart arrhythmia.❤
It sounds like you are well versed in raw diet safety precautions and sourcing but as a word of warning to other readers, I want to mention that anytime you feed your dog a raw diet/raw treats you do need to be aware of the potential for bacterial contamination. Please use a reliable source, wash your hands thoroughly after handling any raw meats (including freeze dried), and speak with your veterinarian about any dietary changes to ensure there are no concerns for your particular dog.
I want to thank you, literally with great enormous gratitude for the chicken heart suggestion. My 14 year old standard Poodle has just recovered from her first bout of pancreatitis (hopefully) I have to give her galliprant for some arthritis, and, she’s a really smart pill detective. I only use freeze dried raw in addition to a homemade diet. A relative slipped her sausage and liverwurst while watching her,….. Thus the pancreatitis.
My 12 yr old Bulldog mix takes carprofen twice a day as well as Zantac, as the prior use of meloxicam caused a bad episode of gastroenteritis. She also gets tramadol on occasion when it appears she is really struggling with her hips. I take plain peanut butter (checked to be sure no xyletol is in it) and I mix it with plain oatmeal (the cheap kind in the round carton) and a few drops of water to make a kind of dough. I can then roll this in little balls to place the pills inside of. She takes them with no issues. We had already run through the american cheese, then turkey slices, and she was flat refusing them. I keep the balls just big enough to cover the pill. It’s inexpensive and I always keep the 2 ingredients on hand .
Hi Catherine,
What a fantastic idea! Thanks for sharing it with us!
OMGoodness! The scent of the pill never occurred to me. I’ve tried everything on my non-food motivated chihuahua. Even her favorite, grilled chicken breast. No dice. She gets tummy sick and the vet has me to give her 1/4 Pepcid, but when her tummy is sick, she doesn’t want to eat anything! Today after shopping for a pill shooter, I came across your blog. Since she so little, I got out a package of Bil Jac Grain Free soft training treats for dogs (she won’t eat the ones you can hide pills in) mashed the pill into it, WASHED MY HANDS, then did the bait and switch! And IT WORKED! Unbelievable! Thank you! It’s so traumatizing for her to try to jam a nasty tasting pill down her poor little throat. So glad I won’t be doing that anymore! Much appreciated!!
Hi Annette,
YAY!!! I am so glad this worked for you! I am happy that medications will no longer be a stress to your or your sweet little pup. Thank you for sharing your success.
Hi.
My Lady girl won’t take her meds at all and we wrestle twice a day to get them down. For a little while I was able to get her to take them with bread and a thin layer of butter. It worked briefly. I just sandwiched the capsules and she ate them. It’s been a long illness so now we just wrestle and the love/cuddle/play after.
Hi Judy,
Sorry to hear that it has been so difficult to get Lady to take her meds. It sounds like you have a system that is working for you, but if you end up wanting to try hiding the meds in anything again, there are a ton of great suggestions in the comments that could be worth a try.
I have a American mastiff. Very large dog and too smart ! I tried all if the sneaky way to give him his meds. Finally I tried freezing peanut butter and coconut oil with his powdered pill. Working so far ! Probably…. not for long !
Hi Kelly,
I’m glad you found a solution that works for your mastiff for now (and hopefully awhile)! It sounds like he is tolerating it well, but just as a word of caution, sometimes rich foods like these can lead to GI upset or pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) in some dogs. If this ends up not working or you decide not to keep doing it, the comments on this article are full of other creative solutions, so it may be worth reading through them too.
Thank you for all of these very helpful tips. I’ve scrolled through all though, and can’t find anything that addresses my current issue of getting a pill into my pup-pup’s cheek, so it will dissolve. He’s been prescribed Zofran for nausea, but swallows it before I can get it secured in his cheek pocket.
Any tips? Fingers crossed 😉
Hi Lee,
You have the opposite problem as most of the people on the page, but it is no less stressful or frustrating I’m sure. Have you tried putting it directly on the front part of your dog’s tongue then holding his mouth shut for a minute or so to try to keep him from working it back to his throat to swallow? Distraction during this time would be key—which could range from vigorous petting to waving a favorite toy.
I’ve used this same tablet that you describe with my patients over the years and my feeling was always if they swallow it, that is fine. It should work just as well, though maybe not as quickly. The point of oral disintegration is more rapid absorption into the blood stream. If the medication seems to be working well to help him now, you’re probably doing just fine. Alternatively, Zofran comes in an oral tablet that is meant to be swallowed, so that could be another option. I would recommend talking to your vet to see what they would recommend. Hope your poor guy is feeling better soon!
We have been trying to give our dog her heart worm pill. First I encased it in a steak cube-but she managed to eat the steak around the pill. Then we crushed it up and put in cat food but she would take small bites and walk away. Then my husband mixed some grated cheese in and she took a couple more bites and walked away.. We had chicken for dinner and the baking pan was still sitting on the stove with the drippings. A light bulb went off in my head and I scooped some of the golden brown drippings and mixed it into the mixture. She ate almost all of it then followed my husband out of the room. I picked up the plate and scoop the rest of the mixture to the center of the plate, added more drippings and when she came back she licked the plate clean!
Hi Barbara,
I’m glad you found a method that worked well for your dog. Just as a word of caution, I would be careful about meat drippings as a “regular” plan for this because the richness may cause GI upset or a serious condition called pancreatitis. For this reason I don’t typically recommend them. But there are a variety of ways that heartworm preventative can be administered including injectable, so maybe worth a discussion with your vet. ?
I recently discovered another trick – I think Dr. Busby called it the “bail and switch” tactic. My dog, Mikey, is terrible with pills – all pills but I was always able to get them to the back of his throat and keep his mouth closed until he swallowed. He recently went on tramadol and fought me tooth and nail. It was the king of bad pills! I remember reading that some people cannot swallow pills and they put them into gel capsules and then they go down easily. I started putting Mikey’s tramadol inside a gel cap and inserted the capsule into something yummy (I use mashed potatoes) and POOF, bad pill taste all gone. Just remember to wash you hands everytime you touch the bad pill (per Dr. Busby) because your pup will remember the bad taste/smell.
Hi Mary Ann,
I’m so glad you found a good tactic for getting the tramadol into Mikey. I have heard that it tastes terrible and would believe it based on how some dogs react when we try to give it to them. Thanks for sharing this great idea with us! I hope he continues to take his tramadol well this way.
i have a problem my dog cant chew very well his medication is for his liver and its a big pill the pill says give to him on a empty stomach well i tried peanut better and chopped the pill up in it no way would she eat that the only way i know of is feed her her food and put it in there cant i do that i dont know anything else to put it in that isnt food thank you for any help
Hi Teresa,
I’m sorry to hear your dog is having trouble chewing up his liver medication. The larger pills can definitely be challenging. For some medications, giving them with a small amount of food is still ok, but without knowing which medication it is, I can’t tell you for sure how important giving it on an empty stomach would be. I would suggest contacting your veterinarian and asking him or her if this medication would be ok given with a small meal and/or asking if the medication could be formulated into a flavored liquid. Hope you find a good solution that works for you!
the medication is denamarin i have been chopping it up and putting it in a treat that worked for two days today no way i m going to try a marshmellow it says on a empty stomach but this is one hr before food or two hrs after i tried peanut better she will take that but then i read peanut better isnt good for her thank god its only once a day but is taking me all day to get down her why they cant make soft pills for dogs that cant chew hard ones make life so much easier for us
thank you so much for helping
Denamarin comes in a chewable form and a tablet form, so if you are currently trying to use the chewable form, you could talk to your veterinarian about switching to the comparitively smaller tablet. According to the Denemarin website: “For optimal absorption, tablets should be given on an empty stomach, at least one hour before feeding, as the presence of food decreases the absorption of S-Adenosylmethionine. For those owners who have difficulty administering tablets to their pets, Denamarin tablet(s) may be disguised in a small bite of food. If the pet is to receive more than one tablet daily, the total number of tablets may be divided between morning and evening for ease of administration. For example, a daily administration of three tablets could be divided into two tablets in the morning and one tablet in the evening.” Again, I refer you back to your veterinarian as the authority on what would be best for your dog’s specific situation, but I hope this information from the company is helpful as you talk to your vet about your options.