Does your pet vanish when they hear the pill bottle rattle? Getting your four-legged friend to take their medication can be challenging, but our Westerville Veterinary Clinic team is here to help. Keep reading to learn our expert tips and tricks to ensure your pet never misses a dose. 

Make your pet’s medication irresistible

Does your pet go bonkers over a favorite treat? If so, use their enthusiasm to your advantage. Hide their medication in the yummy treat and let your pet indulge their taste buds. The smellier the treat the better to help disguise the medication’s smell and taste. Popular options include:

  • Peanut butter—first check the label to ensure the product is xylitol free
  • Cream cheese
  • Hot dogs
  • Processed meat
  • Soft cheese
  • Tuna fish
  • Marshmallow cream

Manufactured pill pockets that hide a pill in a small treat are available at your local pet store. Some pets get wise to this method, but using this technique only occasionally and interspersed with other methods can help reduce their skepticism.

Be stealthy when preparing your pet’s medication

Your pet is pretty smart, and they soon realize that the pill bottle rattle means they are about to get medication. So, prepare your pet’s medication in stealth mode, so they don’t suspect what’s coming. Ensure your pet is occupied in another room and then quietly prepare what you need to medicate your four-legged friend.

Play a trick on your pet

While your pet is intelligent, you’re smarter. Find ways to trick them into taking their medication. Examples include:

  • Clumsy dinner preparation — If your pet sits expectantly at your feet while you prepare dinner, hoping for a dropped morsel, hide their medication in a small piece of food that you “accidentally” drop.
  • Treat time for everyone — Treat time is often chaotic in a multi-pet household. Get everyone excited about a treat, and give your pet a medicated treat while they are competing with their siblings. Ensure the treat goes to the pet who needs the drug.
  • Catch — Some pets enjoy catching treats thrown in the air. Prepare three or four treats, hiding your pet’s medication in one. Throw them an unmedicated treat first and then the other two or three treats. They will be so focused on catching the treats, they won’t notice the medication.

Practice your pet pilling skills

After being fooled by disguised treats a few times, some pets refuse to cooperate. If your four-legged friend can sniff out their medication regardless of the appetizing disguise, consider pilling them. Steps include:

  • Hold your pet’s medication in your dominant hand between your thumb and middle finger.
  • Gently grasp your dog’s upper muzzle with your other hand. If you have a cat, use your other hand to grasp them from the back of the head, placing your thumb and middle finger on their cheekbones. 
  • Use your index finger on your dominant hand to open your pet’s mouth, pressing down on their lower jaw.
  • Place the pill as far back in their mouth as possible.
  • Quickly close their mouth and gently massage their throat to encourage swallowing.
  • Give your pet a high-value treat to reward them for taking their medication.

Ask someone to restrain your pet

Pets can be squirmy, and sometimes medicating them is easier if you have two sets of hands. Ask a friend or family member to help you dose your four-legged friend. One of you can restrain your pet, while the other administers the medication. Some cats will cooperate better if they are rolled in a towel like a burrito, and this technique is definitely easier if you have an assistant.

Change the consistency of your pet’s medication

Some pets refuse to take a pill, but they may take medication in another form. Potential options include:

  • Crush your pet’s pill or remove the powder from the capsule and mix with tuna juice to create a paste.
  • Mix the pill powder with tuna juice or peanut butter that you smear on your pet’s paw.
  • Mix the pill powder with water and syringe feed the fluid to your pet.

Some drugs can’t be crushed or removed from the capsule, so always ask our veterinary team before you try this method. 

Ask for veterinary help

If your pet resists their medication despite these tips and tricks, ask our team about a different form of delivery. In some cases, the medication can be compounded into a flavored liquid, or can be administered as a long-lasting injection. 

If medicating your pet is often a struggle, contact our Westerville Veterinary Clinic team, so we can make a plan that facilitates the process and helps ensure your pet gets the medication they need.