Our pets, like humans, also need to take medicines. May it be for an illness or vitamin supplements. Our pets are not big fans of medicines, whether in pill or tablet form or a liquid. Dogs and cats are always reluctant to take in their medications, and as a result, pet owners become frustrated in dealing with their pets’ mischievousness. But pets need their medicines, and even though it is difficult for owners to do, they must find ways for pets to have their medications.

There are clever ways you can give your pets their medicines. Before doing anything, ask your veterinarian first how to provide a particular medication for your pet correctly. Follow these simple and easy hacks to give your pets their necessary medications quickly.

Hide medicines in strong-smelling food.

An old trick from the book is hiding the medicine. But cats and dogs have a good sense of smell, and even the slightest hint of medicine, they can smell it. To cover the scent of the medication, it is best to hide it in strong-smelling food. Wet pet foods often have a strong smell, and they can help mask the smell of medicines, making it easier for them to intake their pills. Some pets are so picky with their food that they will not eat the food, no matter how appealing. You can give your pet treats with medicine hidden for your pet to consume. It also helps if you have an extra treat to offer after they have swallowed the one with the medicine in it, so they will think that you are giving them treats and not fool them into having their medications. Pets are clever creatures, too.

Use competition to lure your pet.

Your pet can be competitive, especially if you have several of them and only need to give one medicine. Dogs will always seek their owner’s sole attention, and thus if you try to give everyone a treat, they will munch on the one where you have hidden the medicine, thinking that other pets will take it away from them. Some pets tend to eat faster when they are in a competitive situation, and they can dose down their food quickly. But as a responsible pet owner, make sure the medicine will not end up in another pet’s tummy.

Make it into a game.

Our pets love games, and one way to lure them into having their medicine is to play with them and give them treats as a reward. You can also use the treats with medicine inside like a toy in a tossing game. For pets, anything you toss them is a start of a game, and it’s irresistible if a treat is involved.

Do not show how you prepare the medication.

Our pets are intelligent and observant. Their senses are quick to judge if we are hiding something from them. If you are preparing a treat with hidden medicine inside, make sure not to show them because they are smart, and if they see you, they will know not to take in the treat, even if it is their favorite one. Pets are suspicious, so your preparation needs to be hidden from them.

Ask for a flavored medication from your veterinarian.

Flavors will make a difference if you are trying to give your pet medicine. You can ask your veterinarian for flavored medication or have the pill formulated into a tasty treat or a liquid form. The liquid form is easier to give. They can be directly added to their food, and if they are delicious, they will think of it as part of their food and not medicine. Not all medications can be compounded or made into a different formulation. To ensure that your pets will still have their medicines, it is better to hide them inside a treat or their food.

Put it on their paws.

Our pets like to lick their body to clean it, and one part of their body that they want to lick every time is their paws. If your pet’s medicine is in powder form, you can put cheese or peanut butter on the top of their paws and sprinkle the powder on top. They like licking cheese or peanut butter, and with this, it’s easier to give them their medicine.

Take them for a walk.

Walks for your pets are not for exercise only but also a trick for them to have their medicine taken. While you stopped midway through your walk, you can give your pet a treat, and they will not realize it has medicine inside. They can get distracted by the smell of their surroundings and will gobble their treat before other dogs take it.

Giving pills to your pets is quite a feat to do. If disguising the medicine is complicated and tricky, try to give your pets a liquid medication that can be easily added to their food or water. You can also share your pet’s pill directly down their throat, but you may need help in doing this one.

Administering medications to your pet is a tricky task to do. It’s challenging and stressful for the owner and the pet. Learning tricks and bribery will make it easier for you to give your pet their medications.