How to give your dog tablets

From worming pills to medication, discover how to give your dog tablets.

vet health checking labrador on floor 3

Reviewed by:

Veterinary team

Whether it’s a regular worming tablet or pills for when they’re ill, it’s a relief to know that medicine is there for your dog when they need it. But how do you give pills to a dog?

It would be fantastic if it was as easy as popping a pill in your dog’s dinner for them to eat without realising, but many owners know that this just isn’t the case!

Here’s our guide to giving your dog tablets. 
 

Top tableting tips 

  • Read all the instructions before giving any medicine to your dog. If you’re not sure about how much to give, or how to prepare it, check with your vet.  Ask your vet whether you need to wear gloves when giving your dog their medicine. You may need to protect your skin when handling certain medications, like steroids. 
     
  • Try using food to hide medicine. It’s always worth trying this first as you won’t need to handle your dog’s mouth, which might be uncomfortable for you both. Use a treat your dog usually enjoys. You could try some sausage, cold meats, cubed cheese, squeezy cheese or cream, apple cubes or carrot slices. If your dog has any allergies or food intolerances, ask your vet which food might be best to use. Remember that there are some foods that are dangerous to dogs.
     
  • Check if your dog can eat with or after their medicine. Some medicine should be given when your dog’s stomach is empty, but one small treat should be fine if this helps to ensure that they receive the treatment. Ask your vet if you’re not sure. 
     
  • Check if you can crush it. Crushing tablets into a powder to mix with their normal food might help to hide it better but there are some medicines which must not be crushed or split and should be given whole. Ask your vet if you’re not sure. 
     
  • Try using a gadget like a pill-splitter or a crusher to help you prepare your dog's medicine correctly. Sometimes dogs need half or even a quarter of a tablet, which can be fiddly.
     
  • Watch your dog as you go, stopping right away if you see any signs that they are becoming uncomfortable, worried, or frustrated. An understanding of a dog’s body language is essential in helping you and your dog work together. 

How to train your dog to take tablets or pills straight into their mouth

Start this training when your dog is naturally relaxed. Keep sessions short; you don’t need to do all the steps during each session. It can be tempting to rush ahead, especially if your dog appears to be doing well.  Teach your dog that having their mouth opened is nothing to worry about and it means that something good is going to happen. Going slowly and taking things gently means that you and your dog can feel confident all the way. If your dog is struggling, go back to a stage when they were comfortable – even the beginning – and practise for a bit longer before moving on again. 

  1. 1

    Treats on hand

    Before you get started, make sure you have plenty of tasty treats that your dog really enjoys but rarely gets. This way, they'll be extra special and exciting. 

    Show details

    Before you get started, make sure you have plenty of tasty treats that your dog really enjoys but rarely gets. This way, they'll be extra special and exciting. 

    Illustration of how to hide pills in food like cheese, sausage and pill givers.
  2. 2

    Stroke the top of your dog's head 

    Stroke your dog on the top of their head with one hand then give them a treat straight away from your other hand. Repeat this several times, gradually holding your hand still on top of their head before giving them a treat. This teaches your dog that having their head...
    Show details

    Stroke your dog on the top of their head with one hand then give them a treat straight away from your other hand. Repeat this several times, gradually holding your hand still on top of their head before giving them a treat.

    This teaches your dog that having their head touched, and perhaps being leaned towards, means a delicious treat is coming right away.

    Illustration of woman giving treat close to mouth with hand on head.
  3. 3

    Add a cue 

    Start to add in a word or phrase to signal what is about to happen. For example, if you say “tablet time” each time, your dog should soon associate these words with you giving them a treat directly into their mouth. The order is important: you need to say the words, then...
    Show details

    Start to add in a word or phrase to signal what is about to happen. For example, if you say “tablet time” each time, your dog should soon associate these words with you giving them a treat directly into their mouth.

    The order is important: you need to say the words, then touch your dog, so they learn that one thing always happens after the other.  

  4. 4

    Touch their snout

    Just after saying “tablet time”, place your hand over the top of your dog’s snout with your thumb to one side of their snout and your fingers on the other, as if you’re gently holding a computer mouse. The palm of your hand is likely to cover their eyes and/or face,...
    Show details

    Just after saying “tablet time”, place your hand over the top of your dog’s snout with your thumb to one side of their snout and your fingers on the other, as if you’re gently holding a computer mouse.

    The palm of your hand is likely to cover their eyes and/or face, especially with flatter-faced dogs. This might worry them, so tell them how clever they are and give them a treat or two straight away.

    Let go right away and throw another treat out for them to chase and enjoy – this will distract them in a fun way. It also shows them that you’re only holding them for a moment before they can go and enjoy themselves. Repeat this step several times to give your dog confidence about having you place your hand over their snout.

    Illustration of hand cupping down on dogs snout.
  5. 5

    Start to massage their mouth gently 

    Say “tablet time”, then with your hand in position over their upper jaw, start to massage the outside of their mouth gently, just for a second, but don’t try to open their mouth at this point. Give them a treat straight away from your other hand, then throw another treat out for...
    Show details

    Say “tablet time”, then with your hand in position over their upper jaw, start to massage the outside of their mouth gently, just for a second, but don’t try to open their mouth at this point. Give them a treat straight away from your other hand, then throw another treat out for them to chase and enjoy. Repeat this stage several times.

    Once your dog realises what’s going to happen and starts to open their mouth readily to receive the treat each time, you’re ready to move on.  

    hand on dogs chin, showing proper technique to hold a dogs mouth
  6. 6

    Hold and massage together while giving a treat 

    Say “tablet time”, then hold your dog’s top jaw and massage as before while bringing a treat towards their mouth. As soon as they open their mouth, pop a treat just inside, rather than waiting for them to take it from you themselves. Immediately let go so they can enjoy their...
    Show details

    Say “tablet time”, then hold your dog’s top jaw and massage as before while bringing a treat towards their mouth.

    As soon as they open their mouth, pop a treat just inside, rather than waiting for them to take it from you themselves. Immediately let go so they can enjoy their treat, then throw another out as usual. Repeat this stage several times.  

  7. 7

    Place the treat further back into your dog's mouth 

    Next, start to place the treat a little further back in your dog’s mouth. This will help ensure they do eat the pill when you come to give it. The further back it is, the easier it will be to swallow. The hand across the top of your dog’s upper jaw helps to stabilise their head...
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    Next, start to place the treat a little further back in your dog’s mouth. This will help ensure they do eat the pill when you come to give it. The further back it is, the easier it will be to swallow. The hand across the top of your dog’s upper jaw helps to stabilise their head and jaw while your other hand can help to open their mouth and rub their throat, if necessary.

     

    Owner holding dogs snout whilst giving pill with other hand
  8. 8

    Now for real

    Once your dog has completed this training, you should be able to give them a pill hidden in a treat. Some dogs will even readily accept a pill on its own if they’re given a treat to chase and eat straight away afterwards.   A top tip if your dog is backing away, is...
    Show details

    Once your dog has completed this training, you should be able to give them a pill hidden in a treat. Some dogs will even readily accept a pill on its own if they’re given a treat to chase and eat straight away afterwards.  

    A top tip if your dog is backing away, is to sit behind your dog so if they try to back away - they back into you. The hand cupping the snout will need to come from above, and the other hand ready with the pill once the mouth opens. Once you have put the pill disguised as a treat right into the back of their mouth, shut their mouth close for a few seconds and massage their throat gently to encourage swallowing. 

    Always tell your dog how amazing they are for letting you do this and follow up by throwing a treat or two for them to chase. 

Are there other ways to feed tablets to my dog? 

If your dog is showing signs of being very uncomfortable being handled around their head and mouth, for example, growling, squealing, snapping, biting or running away, talk to your vet. They can examine your dog’s mouth and refer you to a behaviourist for help if necessary.    

If your dog isn’t keen on being fed tablets directly into their mouth, you could try one of the following:  

Make it into a game

Take a few tasty treats/pieces of food – one containing the tablet or pill – and give them in quick succession, so your dog enjoys each one and doesn’t suspect any hidden pills. For example: 

  • Throw a treat out for your dog to chase and eat, then throw another out, and then another, and so on until they’ve eaten all the treats, including the one with the pill inside. 
     
  • If your dog is good at catching, toss them the treats, including the one with the pill hidden inside, one at a time.  
     
  • Ask your dog to do tricks they normally do for a treat, such as “sit” and “give your paw”. Use the treats, including the one with the pill hidden inside, to reward them. 

Try placing the pill straight into your dog’s food bowl, mixed into their normal meal

However, with their incredible sense of smell, your dog might detect the medicine and eat around it, or leave their food altogether. 

Try pretending to accidentally drop a piece of food with a tablet hidden inside

If your dog often waits to see if you’ll drop food when you’re eating, they might well rush to gobble it up without realising it has medicine inside. 

Consider talking to your vet

There might be an alternative medicine, such as in liquid form, which can be given by syringe instead and inserted into food.

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