Pills and medications are an unavoidable part of owning a pet dog. There are many reasons why even healthy dogs who are active and happy might need pills, and getting them to take their medications is not easy at all.

Healthy and domesticated puppies need specific medication for preventive care, for instance, they might need pills for intestinal parasites, or to prevent ticks of fleas. Furthermore, active dogs get themselves injured sometimes, which may also require them to take antibiotics to prevent infections.

Unlike humans, dogs don't know that the medication is necessary for them, and if it doesn't taste good, they will probably spit it out or refuse to take it in the first place. Since your dog isn't going to take the pill as it is, you need to get a little creative.

So, keep reading to learn five ways to get your pet to take their medication, that I know work, because I use them.

Hide the pill in a snack:

Forced pilling should be an absolute last resort, and if there is any way to get your dog to take medicine cooperatively, you should try it first. One of the simplest and easiest ways to get your dog to take its medication is to hide in their food.

Now, choosing the right food for this job is also very important. Even if your pet dog loves foods like cream cheese or ice cream, the mild taste and smell of these foods might not be enough to mask the scent of the pill. Remember, the dog's sense of smell is way stronger than yours.

Therefore, how about choosing a more smelly and more abundant food, for instance, a liver pate, is a great option. You can also get some pill pockets from your local pet store, which can make things a lot easier if your dog needs multiple pills throughout the day.

Get flavoured medications:

These days many typical dog medications are available in flavoured forms, which dogs can't eat as treats on their own. For instance, Deramaxx (deracoxib) is a common flavoured pill that is prescribed for arthritis in dogs

If you want a natural treatment for problems like arthritis or separation anxiety, you can also use CBD for dogs. CBD oil doesn't taste bad, and you can even get some delicious cannabis treats for your dog.

You can also have your vet for pharmacy custom-prepare flavoured pills for your dogs, but that isn't possible for all medications, and it can be expensive as well. Therefore, learning some pill hiding and disguising tips can be quite beneficial.

Play a game of treat catching:

Another sneaky and creative way to get your dog to take its medication is to play a game of treat catch with them. Just make some small treat balls of tasty and smelly food, and toss them to your dog so that it can catch them.

Most dogs get so excited when playing such games that they won't even try and taste the food and swallow it quickly. Therefore, sneaking a pill in one of the treats is a great way to get your pet to take it willingly.

You should play catch with your pet regularly; even if they don't have to take any pills, this will establish a habit in the pet and get them super excited every time you play the game. In all the excitement, the dog will eat the treat with the pill without even acknowledging that it tastes a bit different.  

Some dogs have poor eye-mouth coordination; therefore, instead of throwing the treats for catching, you should toss them on the ground. Make the treat bounce a little so that the dog has fun chasing it down.

Pick the right time for pilling:

Choosing the right time to give your pet dog, it's medication also plays an important role. For instance, if you are giving your dog its medication while it is on a walk, or playing in the backyard, it is significantly more likely to swallow the pill

Many veterinary behaviourists also suggest this method, and it can be quite useful.

Make your dog earn its pill:

Now this one might feel a little mean, but it is a lot better than having to force-feed the medication, and at the end of the day, it is for the better health of your pet.

You should trick your pet into thinking that they have earned the treat with the pill inside it, and they will be significantly less likely to reject it. It is quite simple, all you have to do is ask your dog to do the trick, and when they do, give them a treat, and for one trick, slip in the treat with the pill in it.

To sum it up, pilling might be a tricky part of caring for your pet, but it is essential, and by following the tips in this post, you can make things quite easier for your dog and yourself. So, I hope that the post was helpful.

Author’s bio:

Currently a student of English Literature, in her final years, Carolina Martel is passionate about writing her thoughts in words. She takes up writing projects in her leisure time to accompany her studies. Generally, she understands the essence of writing on every topic but especially those that relate to her field. She regularly writes at https://shadedco.com/.