6 Foods to Hide Your Dog’s Medication and What to Avoid
Trying to give your dog its medicine. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
There isn't a one-size-fits-all when you’re trying to give your dog a pill or tablet. Some dogs enjoy the taste that producers try to create, and others simply refuse- leading to an epic battle, trying to convince them to finally swallow it.
Many pet owners choose to disguise pills in their dog’s meals, and usually, this is a good idea. However, some commonly used disguising foods and flavours can be harmful to pets in large doses.
Be sure to check with your vet before giving your pet any medications or human foods.
Before hiding your pet’s medication in foods:
Check your pet’s diet
Before giving your pet any food it doesn’t normally eat, you should check with your vet and your pet’s recommended dietary requirements. Certain foods like cheeses may be safe to eat in small amounts for some pets and harmful to others.
Read the label
Before disguising your pet’s medication in their food, be sure to read the label and packaging carefully.
Some medications can have their effects lessened or even eliminated when mixed with certain foods. For example, some calcium-rich foods can bind to calcium found in antibiotics– affecting the medication's ability to disperse in a pet’s intestines.
Don’t crush it up or break it into smaller pieces
While it seems like a good idea to crush pet medication and hide it in their foods as a powder, it’s actually usually counterproductive.
Grinding pills into powders can lessen or eliminate the effectiveness of medications. That’s because some medicines are specifically designed to have a slow-release effect or release at different parts of your dog’s digestive system, and crushing them could disrupt this process.
Commonly used foods to hide dog pills
You can trick your pet into eating its medication or pills by hiding it in tasty food.
But, if your pet is exceptionally talented at maneuvering around its dog bowl and avoiding its medication, be careful not to overfeed them certain types of foods because some foods are only ok in small amounts.
Canine dietary restrictions and recommendations usually involve ingredients and additives like salt, dairy, and sugars commonly found in human foods, including those in the list below.
Be sure to check with your vet before mixing medications with foods.
Some commonly used foods to hide medications for dogs include:
Lightly cooked or boiled meats, like chicken (Uncured and without oils, fats, and seasonings)
Peanut butter (low-oil and without toxic sugar substitutes like xylitol)
Greek Yogurt (and yogurts without added or artificial flavouring)
Honey
Some soft cheeses
Bananas
If your pet requires its medication to be given to it daily, it’s safer not to mix with human foods at all. Instead, try encouraging them with behavioural training.
The easiest way to give your pet's medication
While the foods listed above are safe to give many dogs in small doses, the safest ways to hide pet medications in meals are in pet-specific foods like wet foods, dog pill packets, and pet treats.
Pet foods are specifically designed to fit our pet’s dietary needs and are usually just as tasty and exciting as human foods are for our dogs.
Book an appointment with your vet
Your pet is an individual with specific dietary needs. And its prescribed medication will come with its own set of requirements. Some of the foods listed above may not be suitable and could cause further problems for your pet.
For specific and detailed advice for your pet, contact us.
Highfields Vet Surgery is open Monday to Friday, 7 am to 6 pm, and 8:30 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.
Book an appointment to talk with your veterinarian about giving your pet its prescribed medication.
