Getting Dog to take tablets

[DogualCat]

AIBU to ask how you get your dog to take tablets? Old dog has been prescribed pain relief three times a day for arthritis. He’s normally ok but these must taste vile. I’ve tried in his food, sausages, ham, chicken, hot dogs, cheese and treats but he just drops them on the floor. I’ve wasted more tablets than I’ve got him to take and the bloody prescription for the check up and 10 days of meds was £185!

Any tips or tricks I haven’t thought of? He doesn’t like peanut butter, they can’t be crushed or dissolved and I can’t open his mouth and make him take them as he’s a rescue who was badly treated and hates his muzzle being touched. Rang the vet but they couldn’t think of anything else to try.

My boy will happily swallow anything pressed into a little bit of pate - never let us down yet.

Can you cut it up, put sections in a bite sized piece of sausage then do a catch game? Might have gone down before he realises? It’s so tricky I remember it with my old dog.

Have you tried squishing it into some bread and "accidentally" swiping it off the counter onto the floor?

We get a few bites of a high value treat like steak and give them quickly.... Steak, steak, steak, tablet, steak, steak etc. My dog is so excited for the next bite of steak she doesn't even really notice the tablet, especially if the next steak bite is quickly chasing it

Snap! Though my boy is less discriminating about the flavour 😊

I was wondering about pate, I’ll grab some. Thanks.

He hasn’t mentioned Librela which I was surprised by as I know lots of people with dogs who have found it really helps.

Crushed into cat food works for our dog.

Why can’t they be crushed? Theres no reason I can think of why this would be a problem them mixed into some wet food.

My normal go to if eating isn’t an option is manually putting them in the throat which you say you also can’t do.

Could they not give something liquid or injectable as an alternative?

Tried bread, which is his true love but he can still taste it. He’s a bit stupid so rubbish at catching treats and I’ve tried fooling him by offering him nice bits before the tablet filled bit but it must just be so awful that he can taste it through anything!

Butter! Only way mine will take anything. Cold from the fridge with the medicine in the middle.

Try the trick with

treat
treat
treat.

Wait until they get really excited to take the next treat, and slip a tablet into it. Then follow with another couple of treats.

Cheese works well. My dog falls for it every time but it’s important to make sure you do several tablet free treats first

They’re slow release and coated so can’t be broken down. I might have to ask for the monthly injection or liquid but wanted to see if anyone has any ideas before I spent another hundred odd pounds as they do seem to be helping

You have to give a couple of not tablet filled high value treats so they’re over the suspicion then add one in when their guard is down 😂

Oooh, I like this idea! I have to keep the cat’s wet food up high as he is obsessed! Strangely, they cat prefers dog treats so they are both a bit strange

Brie or camembert cheese. It's really sticky so the tablet can't be worked out if it.

You need at least 3 or 4 bits to start. So cheese, cheese, camouflaged tablet, cheese, all in quick succession. If it's a once off tablet, I generally don't need the multiple extra bits but if it is a course of tablets, I do.

He does love butter. I don’t keep it in the house as I love it too much too so I will get some! Thanks

Loving all the suggestions. Steak, butter, pate, Camembert. He may not take the tablets but he’s going to be eating like a king 😀

I crushed the tablets and mixed them with some tinned mackerel in oil.

Ours had ham wrapped around to start, then got wise so had the tablet in pate then wrapped in ham. Crafty bugger got wise to this so I had to make up extra without tablets in and eat one first before he'd take his!
Good luck.

Can’t be crushed and I’ve tried treat, treat, treat, treat with tablet in. I’m almost tempted to lick one to see just how awful they are as the look of revulsion on his face is off the charts!

Presumably your treats haven't had a strong enough flavour to mask the tablet. I'm telling you, a good strong brie or camembert is your only man.

What are they?
DDog just eats his, they taste of beef- not that I’ve tasted them.
Tube of pasta with tablet hidden inside? And your eating the bowl then pass the contraband pasta to the dog? Or ‘drop’ it on the floor and scramble to get it but DDog just beats you to it? I have a Labrador, it’s never really been an issue - good luck!

(Librela is a last chance saloon option in most vets opinions.)

I cut them up smaller and squish into a little ball inside roast chicken.

Throw it up into the air and it’s gone before he notices. I always give him a bit of just chicken at the start and the end.

I’ve made a shopping list, it looks like something Henry VIII would have written!

I give the pill squished into cheese but offer another bit of cheese while she's eating the cheese/pill. That way, she swallows it quickly in order to eat the next bit of cheese.