Best Foods to Hide Dog Pills In – The Ultimate Guide

The best foods to hide dog pills in are small, soft, strong-smelling foods your dog loves, such as xylitol-free peanut butter, plain cooked chicken, a bit of soft cheese or a ball of wet dog food, or a purpose-made pill pocket. Before you start, check with your vet whether the medicine should be given with food, and avoid dairy with antibiotics that bind to calcium.

There’s nothing more heartbreaking to a pet owner than seeing the dog sick and lethargic. One quick visit to the vet, and there you are, with the medication you need to administer. 

And while many dogs don’t pose a problem with pills, others love to play with your nerves.

Pet parents often get desperate and try everything they can for the dog to swallow the pill. But many don’t realize that some foods, when mixed with medication, can affect how well the medicine works.

That’s why we are here to help you understand the best foods to hide dog medicine and other tips on administering the medication yourself. 

6 Best Foods to Disguise Medicine

As tempting as it is, hiding a dog pill inside a food your dog enjoys a bite or two from time to time, like bacon, is not always successful. And yes, it may come as a shock, but some dogs enjoy all things pastry, which is not a safe bet. 

Contrary to popular belief, when your dog refuses to swallow the pill on its own, you cannot just go and give whatever food you have lying on the counter just for the peace of mind that you administered the medicine. 

Different human foods affect the medication’s efficiency differently, and some foods are unsafe for dogs in their own right. 

So, the next time you try to administer medication, check out the best foods to hide dog pills in prior to delivering the medicine.

1Greek yogurt

We’ll start out our list of foods to hide dog pills in with plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt, provided it’s xylitol free. 

Plain yogurt is fine for most dogs in small amounts, and its thick texture makes it easy to coat a pill. Some dogs are sensitive to dairy, though, so start with a small spoonful. 

But don’t mix Greek yogurt with certain antibiotics, such as doxycycline and other tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones, as they bind to the calcium and become far less effective.

2Bananas

Depending on the medication you need to administer, hiding it in a banana bite might do the trick just fine. Bananas are high in fiber, magnesium, and potassium which helps the overall dog’s health.

There is one thing to keep in mind, though. Some heart and blood pressure medications, which are often prescribed to senior dogs, can raise potassium levels in the blood, so potassium-rich foods like banana aren’t ideal alongside them.

So just to be on the safe side, ask your vet before using bananas with heart or blood pressure medication. 

3Peanut butter

Oh, the sweet taste of peanut butter – few dogs can resist it.

Just one taste of it, and a dog can go crazy whenever it hears you open the peanut butter jar. Luckily, this delicious treat is one of the most popular foods to hide pills for dogs. 

Cover the medication in peanut butter and let the dog devour this delightful treat. The thick texture of the butter can make it harder for the dog to spit the pill out.

Just be careful when choosing peanut butter, as some brands contain xylitol, which is toxic for dogs and pets alike. Carefully check the ingredient list (xylitol is sometimes listed as “birch sugar”); if there’s no xylitol or any artificial sweetener, you’re good to go!

Also, choose another alternative (like low-calorie dog treats) if you have an obese dog or a dog that needs to avoid eating high-fat foods.

4Canned tuna

An excellent place to hide a pill would be in canned tuna. Wondering why?

For starters, most dogs love the strong smell, and tuna is a great source of omega 3. Choose tuna packed in water with no added salt, and keep it to a small amount now and then, as tuna can contain mercury.

5Lightly Cooked Chicken Or beef

If you were wondering how to hide pills for dogs, meat is a great option. But, hiding the pill in meat can be a bit tricky. Raw, uncooked meat contains harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes which are dangerous not only to your pet but to you as well. 

So, a small piece of plain chicken or beef, cooked all the way through and without seasoning, can do very well. Many dogs are so excited by the smell of chicken that they gulp the piece down without noticing the pill inside. 

If you decide to hide the dog pill inside a meat-cooked meal, don’t use hot dogs or sausages as they are high in salt and fat and may contain onion or garlic, which are toxic to dogs.

6Dairy products

Cheese is a great human food to help you hide the dog pill in, especially if it’s soft, which means you can mold the piece around the medication so your dog won’t have the slightest idea that there’s an unexpected “treat” inside the treat. 

If you give your dog an antibiotic, ask your vet before using cheese. Some antibiotics, such as doxycycline and fluoroquinolones, bind to the calcium found in cheese and become much less effective. 

Also, avoid cheese in case your dog needs to avoid fatty food. 

Before giving any treats with a hidden surprise inside, consult your veterinarian about how those foods will react to the medication. 

And before anything else, keep in mind that some medications are best if given on an empty stomach. In contrast, others need to be accompanied by food to minimize the side effects, often the side effects being an upset stomach or nausea. 

How to Give Dog Pills Without Food

If you prefer not to give your dog anything but dog food, or your dog is just one smart creature that detects the pill in every meal, you might need to give them the medications the hard way- using no food.

1Use pill poppers

Pill poppers are specifically designed to be tasty to dogs. They come in various flavors, so choose the one your dog likes the best, place the pill inside and let the dog chew its way to the pill and see as it swallows it without a problem.

With this technique, you can be more confident your dog didn’t spit out the pill. Pill pockets do contain food ingredients, though, so check with your vet if the medicine must be given on an empty stomach.

2Use the pill pusher technique

Use the pill pusher technique as your last resort. This is when things actually become hard. While you’ve seen videos of veterinarians forcing the pill down on dogs, you are not that experienced, and there’s a high chance that your dog will spit out the pill immediately or refuse to open its mouth altogether. However, once mastered, it’s a reliable way to give pills that doesn’t depend on food. Ask your vet or vet nurse to show you how if you’re unsure. 

First, kneel beside or behind your dog. Calmly but with a firm grip, hold your dog’s upper jaw and gently tilt the nose toward the sky. Then open the mouth by pressing down on the lower jaw, place the pill at the back of the tongue, close the mouth, and gently stroke the throat to encourage swallowing while keeping the mouth closed. Follow up with a little water or a treat so the pill doesn’t get stuck on the way down.

After you’ve made sure the dog swallowed the pill, praise them and give them a treat. This way, you’ll reinforce positive behavior and a positive core memory so the dog won’t refuse or run away from you the next time you try the technique.

3Use a wet dog food

Lastly, if you are against giving your pet human food or know that the foods mentioned above will cause a sensitive stomach, diarrhea, or even vomiting, it’s better to stick with wet food.

Make a ball out of the wet food, hide the pill inside, and serve it to your dog with excitement. However, this can easily backfire as dogs have a hidden talent for discovering secret pills.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

You may have a few questions before we wrap things up; here are some of the most frequently asked:

Can You Crush Dog Pills?

We’ve all been there. The moment our furry best friend becomes sick, all we want to do is try to get them on their feet as soon as possible. And one thought that often comes to mind when the dog refuses to eat the pills is to crush them and sprinkle them on top of their food.

But is this at all helpful? Not always. Many pills have a coating or slow-release design that stops working properly when crushed, and some taste so bitter crushed that your dog refuses the whole meal. Some pills can be safely crushed, but always ask your vet or pharmacist before crushing or splitting any medication. 

How to give a dog a pill when he doesn't eat?

You can ask your vet about “palatable” chewable tablets or a flavored liquid version. These have flavoring added to the formulation and are yummier for our four-legged buddies. If that isn’t possible, the pill pusher technique is your fallback. If your dog has stopped eating altogether, let your vet know, as that is a concern in itself. 

How to disguise liquid medicine for dogs?

Often the easiest way is to use an oral syringe and slowly squirt the dose into the pouch between your dog’s cheek and back teeth. If your vet says it can be given with food, you can also mix it into a small amount of wet food or plain yogurt that your dog will finish completely (check about dairy if it’s an antibiotic). If your dog is a picky eater, contact your vet to find a solution.

How much food to give a dog with medicine?

It depends on the medicine. Some medicine shouldn’t be mixed with any food. When you do use food, use a small amount your dog will eat in one or two bites, so you know the full dose was taken. Before giving medicine with food, make sure you carefully follow your vet’s instructions, and call your vet if your dog vomits shortly after a dose rather than giving another one. 

Final Thoughts – Don’t Crush The Pills!

Now that you know which foods are best to hide dog pills in, rest assured that the next time your dog gets sick, you’ll be prepared. 

But don’t crush pills unless your vet or pharmacist has said it’s safe for that medication. Try to find a way for the dog to swallow the pill whole. If none of the tips work, be sure to contact your veterinarian, and they’ll devise an alternative option.