Getting your pet to take the medication they need can be challenging, but the right approach can make the process manageable. Our Southern Crossing Animal Hospital team provides expert tips to help you medicate your four-legged friend.

#1: Read your pet’s drug label closely

Before medicating your pet, read the label carefully, checking the following information:

  • Name — Ensure you give your pet medication that is labeled for them, because medicating a pet with a drug not specifically prescribed for them can be dangerous.
  • Dose — Ensure you give your pet the correct dose.
  • Frequency — Check on the frequency that your pet needs the medication and space the dosing accordingly.
  • With or without food — Some medications should be taken on an empty stomach, while others specify to give with food. Ensure you medicate your pet appropriately.
  • Storage — Some medications require specific storage, such as refrigeration or being kept out of direct sunlight. Check the label to ensure you store the medication correctly.
  • Side effects — Check on the medication’s potential side effects, so you can monitor your pet for issues.

#2: Prepare your pet’s medication in private

Your pet may anticipate being medicated if they see the preparation and become stressed or anxious. Ensure your pet is occupied in another room, gather the needed supplies for drug administration, and prepare the medication before approaching or calling your four-legged friend.

#3: Hide your pet’s medication

Hide your pet’s medication in their favorite yummy treat. Choose a highly palatable, smelly food to disguise the medication’s flavor, and consider adding a textural element. Options include:

  • Xylitol-free peanut butter
  • Cream cheese
  • Meat ball
  • Deli meats
  • Ice cream
  • Processed soft cheese
  • Hot dogs or Vienna sausages
  • Pate-style canned food
  • Tuna fish

You can use crushed potato chips, pita chips, pet food kibble, or bacon bits to disguise the medication’s texture, or try commercial pill pockets on your pet.

#4: Make medicating your pet a game

Get your pet excited by making medicating them a game. Make several treats but medicate only one. Throw your pet an unmedicated treat first for them to catch and eat, and then throw the other treats, including one that you have sneaked in the medication. Alternatively, you can roll all the treats on the floor, and let your pet devour them at will. 

#5: Use your pet’s competitive nature to medicate them

If you have a multi-pet household, treat time is likely a crazy, competitive time with each pet lobbying to be first. If your pet is worried they will miss out on their treat, they won’t be focused on whether the treat is medicated. Create several treats, medicating one, and give all your pets a treat, ensuring the appropriate pet gets the medication.

#6: Pill your pet

Pets can be suspicious, so you may need to pill them by hand if they get wise to your sneaky medication attempts. Steps for hand pilling include:

  • Wet the pill, or roll it in pet food gravy to help the pill slide down easily.
  • Hold the pill between your dominant hand’s index finger and thumb.
  • Using gentle but firm pressure, grasp your dog’s muzzle with your nondominant hand, placing your thumb and fingers behind their canine teeth on either side of the upper jaw. For cats, grasp the back of their head with your nondominant hand, placing your thumb and fingers along their cheekbones.
  • Tilt your pet’s head back and use your dominant hand’s middle finger to open their lower jaw.
  • Once your pet’s mouth is open, insert the pill as far back over their tongue as possible.
  • Close your pet’s mouth, and gently massage their throat to encourage them to swallow.
  • Give your pet a high-value treat and praise them once they complete the process.

#7: Crush your pet’s medication

Some pets find swallowing a pill difficult, and crushing and then mixing the pill with canned food, xylitol-free peanut butter, or cream cheese may be more successful. However, first ask your veterinarian whether crushing your pet’s medication will affect the drug’s potency.

#8: See if your pet’s medication can be compounded

Some medications can be compounded into a palatable liquid solution that makes administration easier. Ask your veterinarian if this is an option.

If you have difficulty medicating your pet, ask our Southern Crossing Animal Hospital team for advice, so we can ensure your four-legged friend receives the treatment they need.