Frustrated dog owner asks for advice on how to get their dog to take pills without a fight, and the comment section turns into a genuinely useful guide

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Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 29, 2026 11:30 AM EDT

How can we communicate to our dogs that what we do is for their own good?

When a person adopts a dog they take on all the responsibilities to care for their well-being, happiness, and environment - but it's especially true when it comes to their health. And just like with our own human health process, when we need to go through unpleasant treatments to get better, dogs need to go through these sometimes-distressing situations - but for a good cause. Because we all know that if your dog is not feeling good, in trouble, or unwell for any reason - you'd do anything for them. Even if it means you put them in an uncomfortable situation.

One such very uncomfortable situation is when you need to give your dogs pills. These little instruments that cause big discomfort. As humans, we know how to deal with it - a glass of water and a deep breath, and we're okay with taking a pill. But a dog? That's a different story. We can't really explain to a dog "Hey, this is for your own good. It'll help you with this unpleasant feeling you've got in your mouth / stomach / leg, etc." Unfortunately, dogs don't speak English (yet). So how do you explain it to your dog?

Well, many explanations can be found down here, and we'll let you go through them by yourself, at a pace that suits you. But the fact that one person asks for dog advice and immediately receives so many useful answers is a great testimony to the pawsome power of the online canine community. Seriously, dog people are the best people on the internet. If there's a fellow dog owner in need, they'll always be there at the ready, writing from their experience and knowledge. We think that dog people just know that if they help a dog owner in need, they actually help the dog by extension. And that's always a thing that dog lovers would want to do.

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  • 01
    Tips to get Dog to take Pills? Advice How do you get your dog to take pills?
    via yrt9610
  • 02
    I've tried everything I can think of, but now she's refusing all kinds of food that I used to hide them in. Today,
    via yrt9610
  • 03
    trying to open her mouth and drop them in has resulted in her chomping down on my finger. That has never happened before. I can't afford Pill Pockets like we used with another dog.
    via yrt9610
  • 04
    I know there are recipes online for DIY Pill Pockets...have any of you used those?
    via yrt9610
  • 05
    She's refusing even things she used to gobble up: Hot dog pieces; cheese wrapped around it; bread; and more.
    via yrt9610
  • 06
    There have been a couple times recently where she found the pill in her mouth and spit it out, even though a disguise was wrapped around it. So it may be just that she's on to me now. ②
    via yrt9610
  • 07
    Brown dog looks suspiciously at a pill held by a person's hand, reached out towards the dog.
    via Daria Kulkova

    Brown dog looks suspiciously at a pill held by a person's hand, reached out towards the dog.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    throwwwwwwalk Top 1% Commenter Literally just peanut butter. Put it on a spoon and wipe it off on her tongue.
    via throwwwwwwalk
  • 09
    Woman holds a spoonful of peanut butter towards a Golden Retriever, who licks it.
    via Aiden-Franklin

    Woman holds a spoonful of peanut butter towards a Golden Retriever, who licks it.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • While we're never against peanut butter (It's just so good! And many dogs think so, too) - you'll see there are many other ways to give your dog a pill. But, yeah, if peanut butter works for you - that's a big win. For your dog, as well - because they got a yummy treat while being treated for an ailment.

  • 10
    SawltSeenlt Or roof of her mouth. When a dog is pill resistant I'll have multiples of tasty food. 3 hot dog pieces, 3 pieces of cheese, even several pieces of scrambled egg. Line the up, put the pill in 2nd treat.
    via SawltSeenlt
  • 11
    Then offer 1st then 2nd then 3 in quick succession. Pill down before dog realizes it. Also it might help to break the pill into smaller pieces. I often used chunky peanut butter. Can't tell the pieces of pill from piece of peanut.
    via SawltSeenlt
  • 12
    Woman holds a spoon of candy with a pill hidden inside, dog sits and looks at the spoon suspiciously.
    via Photoboyko

    Woman holds a spoon of candy with a pill hidden inside, dog sits and looks at the spoon suspiciously. 

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    Sharps06 The only way that we could get one of our pups to take a pill was the rapid fire method.
    via Sharps06
  • 14
    Example - if you have 2 pills your order would be: pepperoni - pepperoni folded over pill-pepperoni folded over pill- pepperoni and you do it pretty fast.
    via Sharps06
  • 15
    That way they don't have time to be a pill detective. Another method is to open their mouth, drop the pill in the back as far as you can and then gently
    via Sharps06
  • 16
    hold their mouth closed. If you have a big burly dog this probably wouldn't work. My mom had to do this with her small dog. Good luck!
    via Sharps06
  • 17
    Brown Labrador on a veterinarian's table looking at the hand of the vet, who holds a pill for the dog to consume.
    via Antonio_Diaz

    Brown Labrador on a veterinarian's table looking at the hand of the vet, who holds a pill for the dog to consume.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    No-Stress-7034 Top 1% Commenter Buy empty gelatin capsules. Put the pills inside the gelatin capsule. Then put a little bit of butter or peanut butter on the
    via No-Stress-7034
  • 19
    outside of the gelatin capsule, and offer them another treat as soon as they have the pill in their mouth to encourage them to swallow it down.
    via No-Stress-7034
  • 20
    This keeps them from having to taste the pill, and it generally gets them to just swallow the pill without chewing.
    via No-Stress-7034
  • 21
    You can buy empty gelatin capsules for cheap from Amazon or various health food/supplement stores.
    via No-Stress-7034
  • 22
    Veterinarian checks a dog on the operating table.
    via Africa images

    Veterinarian checks a dog on the operating table.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 23
    Infinitelris What kind of cheese did you use? I use American cheese and seal it up, my dog is none the wiser.
    via Infinitelris
  • 24
    With a more picky dog in the past, I would I have a handful of chopped up hot dogs.
    via Infinitelris
  • 25
    I'd give her 2 or 3 at a time, repeat, repeat, repeat in quick succession, and sneak a pill into one of them.
    via Infinitelris
  • 26
    She was so excited to eat the hot dogs and with every bite she'd see more coming so she'd barely notice the pill and just gulp it down and open up for more.
    via Infinitelris
  • 27
    Few_Tea_9456 For giving ours their flea med we just grind it up until it's powdered and add it to their food and mix in a little peanut butter
    via Few_Tea_9456

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dog person wholesome dogs important comments dog people interesting pills advice health
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