How to give your dog tablets and pills easily and safely

With some of us humans not exactly keen on taking pills, it’s no surprise that our canine family members may be equally reluctant, particularly when they don’t even understand what the medication is for!

However, administering oral medications to your pet is often necessary for the maintenance of their health and comfort, whether it’s regular parasite prevention, a course of treatment for unwellness, or long-term support for chronic conditions such as arthritis.

To reduce stress for all involved, we’d love to provide a dose of information on how to administer oral medications to your dog, including tips on technique, sneaky ways of hiding tablets, using pill-giving tools, and what not to do.

The following is general guidance only. Techniques may not be suitable for all dogs, particularly those that are anxious, aggressive, or unwell. If you are unsure, consult your veterinarian before attempting to administer medication.

Here’s how to give your dog a chill pill about taking tablets.

Why giving medication to dogs can be challenging

When it comes to pills or capsules for pets, some owners worry that they’ll struggle to get their pet to take the medication, resulting in inadequate treatment, excessive stress for both parties, or even injuries to the pet or the pet parent! Unfortunately, even a friendly dog can panic and get distressed if they have developed negative associations with taking pills.

Additionally, even if it seems as though you’ve successfully administered the medication to your pet, some dogs are masters at hiding the pill in their mouth without swallowing, and then sneakily spitting it out later, or even seeming to “eject” the pill back out of their throat!

How to give a tablet directly: A step-by-step safe method

If your dog won’t take a tablet hidden in food, you may need to give it to them directly. Don’t worry – with a calm approach and the right technique, it can be quick and safe.

To directly administer a tablet to your dog, you may follow the following steps:

1. Stay calm – if you keep anxiously looking at your pet while you’re getting ready, they are likely to mirror your nervous energy and become anxious too
2. Get the medication ready, plus a syringe of water (1-3ml) to help your pet swallow the tablet more comfortably
3. Consider whether you need a second person to hold your pet still with a nice calm cuddle, or place your pet with their bottom wedged into a corner so they can’t back up
4. Place your non-dominant hand on top of your pets’ upper jaw area (keeping your fingers out from between their teeth), so you can gently use their nose as a lever to have them look up towards the ceiling – this will encourage their lower jaw to open slightly
5. Holding the pill in between the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand, use your remaining fingers to gently open your pet’s lower jaw
6. Drop/place the pill gently over the back of your pet’s tongue, so it goes down into their throat, but take care to avoid pushing deep enough to trigger their gag response with your fingers
7. Promptly but gently shut your pet’s mouth, and hold it closed momentarily until they swallow
8. You can encourage your pet to swallow by blowing on their nose, or gently working the end of the water-filled syringe between their teeth at one side of their mouth (while still holding their jaws mostly closed to prevent them spitting out the tablet), and trickling water onto their tongue
9. Give your pet a few tasty treats or lots of praise, and then wash your hands

Tricks for hiding pills in food or treats

A bitter pill to swallow? Unfortunately, some can be, so it can help to coat the pill in a small amount of something yummy to mask the taste. Good options include:

• Peanut butter
• Tinned food
• Roast chicken breast
• A portion of sliced cheese partially melted and wrapped around the tablet
• “Pill pockets” (special soft treats with openings for inserting pills)

It can help to prepare a few decoy pill-free treats alongside the medication-spiked treat, so you can excitedly feed your pet a decoy treat, then offer the spiked treat while also holding up the next decoy treat for them to see. In most cases, the pet will eagerly swallow the spiked-treat without too much suspicious chewing, because they want to get to their next treat ASAP!

Just ensure you avoid tempting your pet with potentially dangerous foods, such as fatty meats that could trigger pancreatitis, or toxic foods such as those containing the artificial sweetener xylitol.

Remember: Always check whether your pet’s medication can be given with food

Using pill tools or alternative medication formulations

Still having trouble? If giving tablets is causing your pet distress or requires force, it’s best to pause and speak with your veterinarian about other options. Depending on the medication involved and how your pet is likely to react, suitable alternative options may include:

• The use of a “pill-popper”: Also known as a rubber-ended pill administration tool that delivers the pill into your pet’s mouth without you having to insert your fingers
• Crushing tablets or opening capsules: Doing this and sprinkling the medication into a small portion of your pet’s favourite food when they’re hungry, so they’re likely to eat it all in one go – note that some pills cannot be crushed into food without it affecting their effectiveness, so it’s always best to check
• Switching to an alternative form of medication:
  • Commercially available options: Some parasite prevention medications can be administered by an annual injection, or are available as topical liquids or palatable chews
  • Compounded formulations: If there is no commercially available alternative, you may be able to pay an additional cost to have your pet’s medication reformulated by a compounding pharmacy, e.g. into a palatable liquid

When to contact your vet

Remember: your veterinary team is there to help. If you are struggling with administering your pet’s medication to the point where you or they are becoming very stressed or they’re not getting all their doses, consult your veterinarian for advice.

Discover more articles and insights on The Dish.

26 May 2026