The Best Pill Pockets For Dogs
Getting your dog to take their monthly heartworm or flea and tick medication can be challenging. But it can be life-threatening if your dog refuses to take medication that could cure a serious health problem. Pill pockets are a genius invention designed to hide medicated pills inside a delicious treat. The idea is that your dog won't be able to see or smell the medicine and will be more willing to eat it in one big chomp. If you have a picky or stubborn pup, you'll want to get your hands on these treats.
What To Look For
In our research, we found that the best pill pockets for dogs are soft enough to shape, can be used with pills of all sizes, and don’t contain any artificial ingredients. Based on these requirements, our top pick is the bag of chicken-flavored pill pockets from Greenies. This treat has a spacious pouch for hiding large and small pills and is easy to mold around a tablet or capsule to cover it up. They are low in fat and contain natural ingredients that your dog will love. Our runner-up is the bag of pill pockets from Milk-Bone since they are free from by-products, meals, and artificial ingredients that could harm your pet. Keep reading to discover pill pockets that you and your furry friend will love.
Greenies Pill Pockets
Fill with ease
If you’ve tried hiding your dog’s medication in their favorite food without success, test out the pill pockets from Greenies. These chicken-flavored treats are large enough to hold capsules and tablets in oversized pockets. Since they are soft and pliable, you can easily squeeze the open end around the pill to completely hide it inside. The pill pocket will mask the smell and taste of the medication to encourage your dog to enjoy their tasty treat.
Pros:
- The pill pockets can be torn into smaller pieces to disguise very small pills and help them last longer.
- They stay fresh inside the resealable plastic bag and can be used over a long period if your dog needs medication infrequently.
Cons:
- These treats have a slight odor that may be off-putting to some dog owners.
Milk-Bone Pill Pouches
When it comes to these pill pockets from Milk-Bone, it will be hard for even the pickiest dogs to resist their delicious flavor. These treats are made from real chicken and don’t contain artificial flavors, by-products, or meals. The moldable pill pockets have holes that go through their centers to fit any pill and shape the treat around it. Plus, you won’t have to worry about crumbs since these pockets aren’t dry or flaky. Breeds of all shapes and sizes will get excited when they see these treats on the menu.
Pros:
- The pill will stick to the inside of the pouch once joined, and it will be difficult for your dog to separate one from the other.
- This is an affordable pill pocket option, especially if your dog has to take multiple pills every day.
Cons:
- When you buy these pill pockets, you’ll get five bags with 25 treats each. While this is a great deal, it could become an issue if your dog suddenly decides they don’t like the treats anymore.
Vetriscience Laboratories Pinchers Pill Hiding Dog Treats
Healthy hounds
These flavored pill pockets from Vetriscience Laboratories serve a dual purpose for your furry friend. The treats can squeeze shut to hide medication while also feeding your dog beneficial probiotics. Strong medications can harm the health of your pup’s digestive and immune systems, especially when taken for long periods. These treats contain probiotics that will assist your pet’s recovery, help with nutrient absorption, and keep them regular. Take care of your dog with these healthful pill pockets.
Pros:
- Each pill pocket contains only ten calories, and they aren’t greasy or sticky to handle.
- There aren’t any chicken-based ingredients in these pill pockets, so they are safe to feed dogs with chicken allergies.
Cons:
- These treats may be too small to fit larger tablets and capsules.
Medi-Crunch Dog Pill Pouch Treats
Tasty texture
Dogs are smarter than we think, which is why we need to distract them when it’s time for them to take their medication. These pill pockets from Medi-Crunch have a creamy peanut butter center and a crispy wafer shell that your pup will love. Once you hide a pill in these treats, they’ll be so distracted by the delicious flavors and textures that they won’t even think about spitting them out. You’ll be able to feel the stress melt away as your dog willingly takes their medicine with some help from these pill pockets.
Pros:
- Each treat is only six calories, which is much less than other foods that you could be using, such as cheese or hot dogs.
- You’ll be able to fit at least two capsules or tablets inside each pill pocket.
Cons:
- They are more fragile than other pill pockets and may crack if you need to give your dog a large pill.
Presidio Pill Buddy Naturals
Nutritious and delicious
We all want what’s best for our furry friends, especially when it comes to their health. These natural pill pockets from Presidio are available in many flavors and made with all-natural ingredients, such as chicken and barley flour. The pellet-shaped treats can be molded around pills of various sizes to trap them inside. These pill pockets are sealed in pairs inside the bag to keep them from drying out or cracking, so you can keep using them for a long time.
Pros:
- These treats are free from allergens such as corn, wheat, soy, and artificial flavorings.
- They are available in vegetarian flavors as well as meat-based ones to cater to your dog’s specific diet.
Cons:
- The pill pockets are no longer effective if they dry out since you need to be able to mold them around the pills.
What is the purpose of a pill pocket?
Dogs have a stronger sense of smell than we do, which means they can detect the foreign scent of vitamins and medication when it comes their way. It is common for most dogs, but especially the picky ones, to spit out or simply refuse to take their pills because they recognize that it isn’t regular food. Pill pockets are used as treats to hide your dog’s pills and ensure they take them when necessary.
How do I use a pill pocket?
Most pill pockets are made from ingredients that create a soft, malleable treat. The pockets usually have a slot for you to place your dog’s pills to make it easy to squeeze the treat tightly shut. We recommend using one hand to insert the pill and one hand to close the pill pocket to avoid getting any scent from the pill on the outside of the treat. If you approach your dog with excitement and anticipation, they should eat the entire pocket like a treat instead of trying to figure out what’s inside.
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