Can you put liquid medicine in dog food? Here’s What to Expect

Peanut Paws

Another answer to the question “how to trick your dog into taking liquid medicine?” works wonders for most fur babies, as it doesn’t seem like medicine to your dog. Mix the medicine into your dog’s favorite brand of peanut butter (some dogs like all peanut butter, but you’ll find that some can be choosy!) Spread it onto a silicone mat and watch your dog enjoy the treat.

Ask Your Vet for Compounded Medicine

Ask your vet if you can get the prescription compounded into ready-made dog treats. This makes your job easier and ensures that your dog receives the correct dosage. (Yes, we are happy to do this for our dog owners!)

The Easiest Way to Give a Dog Liquid Medicine

One of the best and easiest ways to give your dog liquid medicine is by hiding it in yummy, stinky canned food.

Dogs who are food motivated will often take medicine easily when hidden in food that disguises the taste.

  • Step 1: Place just a tablespoon or so of food in a bowl. Use the smallest amount of food possible to cover the taste and smell of the medicine; otherwise, you run the risk of your pup not finishing the food
  • Step 2: Add the prescribed amount of medicine to the bowl and mix well
  • Step 3: If you can roll it into a small ball or two and give it as a treat. If the dog food is too moist to form a treat, allow your dog to eat the food as normal
  • Giving your dog the medicine as if it were a treat helps make the food even more appealing because all dogs love treats and associate them with good things[2].

    Second, by hand feeding the food, you know your dog is consuming the full amount.

    Using fish-based canned foods can be horrible smelling to us but often hides the medicine’s bad taste.

    The two canned foods I recommend are Natural Balance Duck and Potato, which has a robust smokey smell, and Fish and Sweet Potato. The Duck and Potato formula is easier to make into a ball.

    Plus, both foods are made with limited ingredients, making them an excellent choice for dogs with allergies.

    How to Give a Pet Liquid Medication

    Regardless of breed, dogs have one thing in common: they don’t enjoy taking liquid medication. Dogs are intelligent about sniffing out pills, tasting medicine that’s mixed in, or wriggling away as you try to dispense liquid medicine. (Pill guns are a different story for another blog.)

    Wondering how to trick your dog into taking liquid medicine? Here are five tried and true tricks from Tucson’s top-rated veterinarian, Santa Cruz Veterinary Clinic, to get your dog to take medicine. Give them a try – we think you’ll find one that works for you.