Trick or Treat?
For some dogs, pill pockets may be the answer. These small, moist treats have an opening, or packet, for a pill. Many dogs gobble pill pockets without hesitation, but offer your dog an empty one before you actually need to use it to make sure they’ll find it acceptable.
We also recommend offering pill pockets occasionally prior to placing the pill inside as a treat to lower your chances of your dog associating the pill pocket with medicine. When it’s time to medicate, place the pill inside, pinch the top closed (try not to use the same hand that handled the pill so as not to transfer the smell of the medication to the treat), and offer it to your dog.
Available in several feline-flavors, aromatic pill pockets help mask “medicinal” scents your dog may pick up.
Next Steps
Pill pockets not good enough for your dog? You may need to manually pill your dog.
- Grasp their muzzle with your non-dominant hand, placing your thumb and forefinger over the dog’s upper lips.
- Hold the pill in the fingers of your dominant hand.
- Lift your dog’s head up toward the ceiling. Your dog should slightly open their mouth, and you can see the back of your dog’s mouth.
- Place the pill on your dog’s tongue as far back into the throat as your can reach.
- Quickly withdraw your hand as your close your dog’s jaws.
- Rub your dog’s throat, or gently blow on their nose.
- Look for signs that your dog has swallowed the pill
- Give a small amount of water from a curved tip syringe to help your dog swallow the pill.
If your dog is less tolerant, a “pill popper” can help.
- It looks like a straw with a soft rubbery tip that encases the pill, and it won’t hurt your dog.
- The other end functions like a syringe: push it in, and it ejects the pill into the dog’s mouth.
- Before your use the pill popper, let your dog see, sniff and get familiar with it.
- Once you’re ready, open your dog’s mouth as before, place the popper gently into the back of the mouth, and push on the end.
Occasionally some medicine can be diluted in water and syringe fed, or mixed in with wet food for easy consumption. Only some medicines can be diluted in water or mixed in with food. Please check with your doctor prior to attempting this if your dog prefers consuming medication using these methods.