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Toss
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You can trick your dog by teaching it to catch treats, according to the ASPCA. First, give the dog a treat. Next, hold the treat above the dog and drop it for the dog to catch. Soft small treats increase the chance that your dog will catch and swallow without chewing. Once the dog learns to catch and swallow, shape the treat around a pill and toss it to the dog.
Hide
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Make a pill ball by placing the pill into food that sticks to it to help get the dog to take it. Foods that many dogs enjoy that stick to pills include cheese, peanut butter and cream cheese. Give the dog a few treats of the food without the pill; then offer the pill ball as a treat or place it in a food bowl. Adding garlic powder to the food and the pill ball helps hide the pill's flavor and smell. Other options include hiding the pill inside food your dog enjoys such as a piece of hot dog or a chunk of hamburger. Use small pieces to encourage swallowing without chewing.
Mix
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Strong odors, such as tuna, help mask the pill scent. The ASPCA suggests mixing the pill in with the dog's regular food or adding wet food to dry kibble. Dogs that eat quickly often swallow the medication without noticing it. If your dog picks out the pill, crush the pill and mix it with canned dog food or soft food your dog routinely eats. Consult with your veterinarian before crushing pills. You cannot crush time-released pills. Other pills have coatings due to bitter tastes, and crushing may result in your dog's refusal to eat the mixture.
Products
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Purchase commercial treat products designed to hide the pill. Pets 911 recommends giving three treats as a teaser, medication and reward or chaser. Pill guns help administer medications, according to Spadafori and Becker. Coat the pill with cream cheese or canned dog food to trick the dog into opening its mouth.
Considerations
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Some dogs cannot be tricked. Ask your veterinarian to demonstrate pushing the pill down your dog's throat or about options such as liquid, chewable or flavored medication. For dogs that need frequent or long-term medicines, compounding pharmacies make pet medications with flavors that encourage your dog to eat them, according to Spadafori and Becker. Consult with your veterinarian about using a transdermal patch that will stick to the dog while its skin absorbs the medication.
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Tricks to Get a Dog to Take a Pill
Some dogs readily swallow anything you offer them. Pawprints and Purrs states that teaching a puppy to allow you to push a pill down its throat makes medicating easier. However, when your dog refuses to take a pill, different methods help it to swallow the medication. According to Pets 911, most dog owners do not give their dog its medications properly. Finding the right method that works with your dog helps to ensure that it gets the medications it needs. Proper treatment requires giving your pet its medication, according to author and columnist Gina Spadafori and veterinarian and author Marty Becker.