Pill Pockets vs Pill Shooter for Medicating a Senior Dog
Getting daily medication into an old dog without a fight, and how to keep the method working for months rather than days.
The short version
Start with a pill pocket, because a dog who takes medication voluntarily takes it for years without stress. Keep a pill shooter for the medications that cannot be hidden, for a dog who has learned to eat the treat and spit the tablet, and for the days when the pocket trick stops working. The single most useful technique with either is the three treat sequence: an empty treat, then the loaded one, then another empty one, so the dog swallows before they think. Whichever you use, follow any tablet with water or wet food, because tablets left sitting in the oesophagus can cause damage.
At a glance
| Greenies Pill Pockets for Dogs | Knupp Co. Soft Tip Pill Shooter | |
|---|---|---|
| Dog cooperation needed | Yes | No |
| Works with capsules | Yes | Yes |
| Works with bitter tablets | Only if fully enclosed | Yes |
| Calories added | Small but real, daily | None |
| Risk of the dog spitting the tablet | Moderate | Low |
| Suits a dog who guards their mouth | Yes | No, and may make it worse |
Choose the Greenies Pill Pockets for Dogs if…
Choose pill pockets for daily long term medication, because the goal is a routine that survives months without either of you dreading it. Seal the tablet completely, since a bitter taste leaking through will burn the method permanently. Use the three treat sequence, and rotate flavours before your dog gets suspicious rather than after. Count the pockets in the daily calories, and check the ingredients if your dog is on an elimination diet for suspected food allergy.
Check Greenies Pill Pockets for Dogs on Amazon
Choose the Knupp Co. Soft Tip Pill Shooter if…
Choose a pill shooter for tablets that cannot be crushed or hidden, and for dogs who reliably eject them. A soft tip places the tablet over the base of the tongue without your fingers going in, which is safer for you and less confrontational than it looks. Keep the head level rather than tipped far back, follow immediately with a few millilitres of water or a spoon of wet food, and finish with something good so the whole event still ends well.
Check Knupp Co. Soft Tip Pill Shooter on Amazon
Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I crush my dog's tablets into food?
Ask your vet or pharmacist first, because some must not be crushed. Extended release and enteric coated tablets release their entire dose at once if broken, and some drugs are hazardous for people to handle as powder. Where crushing is allowed, mix into a small amount of strongly flavoured wet food that the dog will finish in one go, not into the full bowl where half of it gets left.
My dog has started refusing medication they used to take. Why?
Sometimes the trick simply wore out, and changing the flavour or the delivery is enough. But new refusal can also mean nausea, mouth pain or that the dog feels unwell, and that is worth mentioning to your vet rather than escalating the wrestling. A dog who has become food avoidant generally, rather than tablet avoidant specifically, needs looking at.
Is it safe to give medication with food?
Usually, and often better tolerated, but not always. Some medications need an empty stomach and some interact with dairy or with calcium. Check the label instructions or ask your vet, and if the dog is on several drugs, ask which ones can be given together, because timing separation sometimes matters more than the vehicle you hide them in.
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