How to Give a Cat or Dog a Pill (Without the Fight)

Your vet prescribes something, you get home, and your pet clamps their mouth shut. It's one of the most common problems we hear about. The good news: with the right technique and a little practice, most pets can be given their medication calmly. If that still doesn't work, there are often other options.

Before you start

  • Read the label. Check whether the medication should be given with food or on an empty stomach.
  • Don't crush, split or open capsules unless your vet or pharmacist says it's OK. Some tablets are coated or long-acting, and breaking them can change how they work or make them taste bitter.
  • Have everything ready. The pill, a treat, and (for cats) a towel and a syringe of water. Moving fast and calmly matters more than strength.
  • Stay relaxed. Pets pick up on your stress. Try to give medication at a quiet time, not right after something exciting.

How to give a cat a pill

  1. Wrap your cat in a towel (the "kitty burrito") with just the head out, if they tend to scratch or wriggle.
  2. Hold the head from above with one hand, thumb and finger on either side of the cheekbones, and gently tilt the head back so the nose points up. The lower jaw usually drops a little on its own.
  3. Open the mouth by pressing gently down on the front teeth of the lower jaw with a finger of your other hand.
  4. Drop the pill as far back on the tongue as you can, in the middle. A pet piller (a plastic plunger tool) helps if you're worried about fingers.
  5. Close the mouth, hold it shut gently, and stroke the throat or blow lightly on the nose to make your cat swallow.
  6. Follow with water. Give a small amount of water with a syringe (about a teaspoon) or a treat right after. A dry pill can stick in a cat's throat and cause irritation.
  7. Reward. A favourite treat or some play makes next time easier.

How to give a cat liquid medicine

  • Shake the bottle if the label says to, and measure the exact dose with the syringe that came with it. Kitchen spoons aren't accurate.
  • Hold your cat as above, but don't tilt the head as far back.
  • Slide the tip of the syringe into the corner of the mouth, behind the long canine tooth, into the cheek pouch.
  • Push the plunger slowly, a little at a time, and let your cat swallow between squirts. Squirting it all at once can make them choke or spit it out.

How to give a dog a pill

Many dogs will take a pill hidden in food:

  • Wrap it in a small piece of soft food your dog loves, like a bit of cheese, plain cooked chicken or a soft treat. Check with your vet first if your dog is on a special diet.
  • Use the three-treat trick: give a plain treat, then the one with the pill, then another plain treat right away. Dogs that gulp the first one usually gulp the second without checking.
  • If you use peanut butter, make sure it doesn't contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
  • Only hide the pill in food if the label allows it with food. Check that it was actually swallowed and not spat out in a corner.

If your dog finds the pill every time, give it by hand: tilt the head up slightly, open the mouth by pressing behind the upper canine teeth, place the pill at the back of the tongue, close the mouth and stroke the throat until they swallow. Follow with a treat or water.

When your pet still won't take it

Don't give up on the treatment, and don't stop early because your pet seems better. Finishing the full course as prescribed matters. Instead, talk to your vet or to us. Depending on the medication, there may be another option, such as a different form, a different size, or another way of giving it.

In some cases, with your veterinarian's approval, a pharmacy can compound a medication into a different form when the standard one doesn't work for your pet.

Quick answers

What if I miss a dose? Don't double up. Check the instructions or call your vet or pharmacist and ask what to do for that specific medication.

What if my pet spits it out or vomits after? Don't automatically give another one. Call your vet or pharmacist first.

Can I mix it into the whole meal? It's better to use a small amount of food your pet will finish right away. If they leave half the bowl, you won't know how much they got.

How should I store pet medication? In its original container, away from heat and moisture (a bathroom cabinet isn't ideal), and out of reach of children and other pets. Some medications need the fridge, and the label will say so.

Questions? Ask a pharmacist

A licensed pharmacist is on site at The Pet Pharmacist during all business hours. If you're having trouble giving your pet their medication, contact us or call (905) 669-0763. We're happy to help you find a way that works.

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