How To Give Your Dog a Pill

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Convincing your dog to swallow a pill can be tricky. Some pups are very good at sniffing them out—and spitting them out—with you none the wiser.

Fortunately, veterinarians have developed some good methods you can try, like hiding the pill in food, giving it by hand, or offering it in a different form.

For this guide, we spoke with Dr. Jordyn Zoul, a veterinarian and vet advisor at Spot & Tango, to learn the best ways to give a dog a pill.

Hide the Pill in Food

Hiding pills in food is a popular way to give your dog their medications. Try one (or more) of these methods to see which works best with your pup:

• Hide whole pills in high-value foods like cheese slices, peanut butter, or yogurt. Select a tasty treat your pet likes that doesn’t require much chewing.
• Use pill pockets. These soft, moldable, smelly treats make it easy to hide pills so your dog doesn’t detect them.
• Use the “decoy” three-treat technique. First, give your pet a pill-free treat. Then, give the treat with the pill. Finally, reward your pet with another pill-free treat. Dr. Zoul says these extra bites of treats help prevent your dog from thinking every treat is “poisoned.”
• Hide it in wet food and serve with meals. Dr. Zoul says mixing pills with food is the easiest method if you have a food-motivated dog.

After giving your dog a pill with food, watch them closely to see if they spit it out. If they do, try again with another treat or type of food that’s more enticing. If that also fails, you’ll most likely need to give them the pill by hand.

Deciding which foods to use

Common foods Dr. Zoul’s patients use to give their dogs pills include:

• cheese slices
• cheese spread (like Cheese Whiz)
• deli meat slices
• dog-safe peanut butter
• cottage cheese
• pumpkin puree
• pieces of chicken

Which food you use should depend on what your dog finds exciting. “We want them to be so focused on the yummy treat that they aren’t even considering the possibility that there could be a pill hidden within it,” says Dr. Zoul.

You’ll also want to avoid human foods toxic to dogs, including sugary treats containing xylitol, grapes or grape-flavored items, raisins, and foods with onion or garlic.

Give the Pill to Your Dog Directly

Popping a pill directly into your pet’s mouth can be a little daunting. Here’s what to do.

• Step 1: Choose an enclosed area, such as a gated section of your kitchen, to reduce the risk of your dog escaping.
• Step 2: Place the pill where it’s easily accessible. Consider covering it with a small amount of butter, peanut butter, or chicken broth to make it easier to swallow.
• Step 3: Position your dog comfortably. For small dogs, set them in your lap. Larger dogs can be gently backed into a corner or restrained by a partner. (If your dog knows a “middle” cue, you can also position them between your legs. A “chin” cue is also handy here to have your dog place their head on your lap.)
• Step 4: Hold the pill between the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand. Use your non-dominant hand to grasp your dog’s muzzle from the top, placing your thumb near the canine teeth and your fingers on the other side.
• Step 5: Tilt your dog’s head back toward the ceiling. If their lower jaw does not automatically drop, use the ring and pinky finger of your pill-holding hand to apply gentle, steady pressure to the lower front teeth and lips, without pressing directly on them.
• Step 6: Quickly place the pill behind the “hump” of your dog’s tongue.
• Step 7: Close your dog’s mouth, return their head to the normal position, and stroke their throat to encourage swallowing. Zoul also says you can try gently blowing into your dog’s nostrils to encourage them to swallow.
• Step 8: Watch your dog to make sure they don’t spit out the pill. Once they’ve successfully swallowed their medicine, release them.
• Step 9: Make sure to reward your dog immediately with positive praise and/or with a treat.

It may take a few tries before you and your dog get the hang of it, and that’s okay. “This can be very difficult, even for veterinary professionals, so don’t get discouraged if this takes time to master,” says Zoul.

Using a pilling gun

Pilling guns protect your fingers by placing the pill far enough back on the tongue to trigger a swallow. If you’re wary of putting your fingers in your pet’s mouth to give a pill, ask your veterinarian to demonstrate how to use one of these devices.

Consider Alternatives

If your dog refuses to take their pill with food or by hand, you still have a few other options—such as compounding the pills or reformulating them into liquids or chewable tablets.

Reformulating pills

One option is to have your dog’s medication reformulated into a type that’s easier for them to ingest, such as a powder, chewable tablet, or liquid.

“Liquid suspensions are often administered more easily because the liquid can be ‘shot’ into the back of the mouth or corner of the jowl and cannot be fully spit out,” notes Zoul.

It’s worth noting, however, that these alternatives can be expensive and can sometimes affect a drug’s effectiveness, so check with your veterinarian to see if it’s an option for your dog’s medications.

Compounding pills

If your dog’s pills aren’t readily available in another form, ask your veterinarian about using a compound pharmacy to change the taste or type. While compound pharmacies are in many communities, you can also find them online. Going this route, however, will also be more expensive than using the original prescription.

Additional Tips

Whichever method you choose to give your dog a pill, always watch their body language and respect what they’re communicating. If your dog is growling or showing fearful behavior, stop trying to administer the medication. If you ever feel unsure about how to give the pills, your veterinarian or veterinary technician can demonstrate how to do so safely and quickly.

“My best advice is to remain positive, compassionate, and determined to make it happen,” concludes Zoul. “Remember, your dog doesn’t know that the little white pill is actually designed to make her happier, healthier, and live longer so that she can keep doing the things she actually wants to do.”