Dog pill pockets are delightful tools you can use instead of forcing your pup to take dog medicine they'd rather spit out at you. Instead, use a pill pouch to hide away the medicine in a tasty treat! Your dog will be none the wiser, and you'll spend significantly less time trying to bribe your canine into taking their pills. In this review guide, we've chosen 8 of our favorite dog pill pockets so that you don't have to stress about choosing the right pill pocket for your pup.
A Quick Overview of Our Picks
8 Best Dog Pill Pockets
1 Greenies Pill Pockets Canine Chicken Flavor Dog Treats
- Allergens: Chicken
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Glycerin, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Vegetable Oil
- Primary Proteins: Chicken
- Calories: 10 kcal per piece
- Flavor: Chicken
- Type: Dog treats
- Life Stage: Adult
Greenies Pill Pockets are a delicious, chicken-flavored dog treat that couldn’t be easier to use. Instead of trying to sneak your pup’s medicine into a piece of meat or a strawberry, simply pop the pill into the handy hole of one of these treats, pinch the treat closed, and feed it to your dog. This unique product uses real chicken, and there’s not a meat byproduct or meat meal in sight! There is a bit of dried corn syrup, though, so be sure to only use the amount of these dog treats that your pup actually needs.
Chicken, Glycerin, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Vegetable Oil, Dried Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Vinegar, Sodium Bisulfate, Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid (preservatives), Rosemary Extract.
- Easy way to administer pills
- Uses real chicken
- No meat meals
- Contains corn syrup
- Quite fragile
2 Milk-Bone Pill Pouches Hickory Smoked Bacon Flavor Dog Treats
- Allergens: Chicken
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Glycerin, Soy Flour, Cane Molasses, Wheat Flour
- Primary Proteins: Chicken
- Calories: 18 kcal per piece
- Flavor: Hickory smoked bacon
- Type: Dog treats
- Life Stage: Adult
Does your dog love bacon but hate taking their pills? There are healthier ways to get your pup to take their medication, and it starts with these pill pockets. Dog treats like these have a hollowed-out section for a tablet or capsule to sit, and they can then be pushed closed around the pill to disguise it within the tasty treat. Your dog won’t be able to tell, and they get a delicious treat with a hickory smoke flavor. Soft enough to be mess-free, get pill pocket treats that you can rely on.
Chicken, Glycerin, Soy Flour, Cane Molasses, Wheat Flour, Pea Protein, Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Water, Salt, Citric Acid (Used As Preservative), Xanthan Gum, Caramel Color, Natural Hickory Smoke Flavor, Minerals (Calcium Propionate, Zinc Propionate), Bacon Fat (Source Of Bacon Flavor), Natural Mixed Tocopherols (Used As Preservative), Rosemary Extract.
- No artificial flavors
- Fits most capsules and tablets
- Molds around pills
- Contains caramel color
- Contains cane molasses
3 Zoë Pill Pop Grilled Beef with Ginger Dog Treats
- Allergens: Beef
- First 5 ingredients: Barley Flour, Beef, Vegetable Glycerin, Molasses, Whey Protein
- Primary Proteins: Beef, Whey Protein
- Calories: 14 kcal per piece
- Flavor: Beef and Ginger
- Type: Dog treats
- Life Stage: Adult
These Zoë Pill Pops are made in Canada and included grilled beef and ginger in their ingredients. The great thing about using ginger in dog treats like these pill pops is that ginger is known to help calm the stomach. Some reviewers have mentioned that the treats are longer than they expected and not as soft as they could be. This could mean that your dog ends up putting more effort in to chew, but it’ll be too late for they to spit the pill out by then.
Barley Flour, Beef, Vegetable Glycerin, Molasses, Whey Protein, Natural Ginger Flavors, Ginger, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Mixed Tocopherols.
- Pleasant smell
- Completely natural ingredients
- No artificial flavors or colors
- Barley flour is the first ingredient
- Longer than other pill pockets
4 Tomlyn Pill-Masker Paste for Dogs
- Allergens: Liver, Cheese.
- First 5 ingredients: Wheat Flour, Corn Syrup, Glycerin, Vegetable Oil, Stabilized Rice Bran
- Primary Proteins: Liver Powder, Cheese
- Calories: N/A
- Flavor: Bacon
- Type: Pill paste
- Life Stage: Adult
The great thing about this product is that it’s a paste that you can wrap around any size or shape pill to hide it from your dog. It does contain a couple of unfavorable ingredients, such as corn syrup, dried cheese, and dried liver powder, but it’s not made to be a huge part of your dog’s diet, just something that dog owners can safely wrap pills in to make their own DIY pill pockets.
Wheat Flour, Corn Syrup, Glycerin, Vegetable Oil, Stabilized Rice Bran, Spray Dried Liver Powder (Stabilized with BHA, Propyl Gallate, Citric Acid), Dried Corn Syrup, Lecithin, Dried Cheese, Fish Oil, Natural Flavors, Salt, Sorbic Acid, Calcium Propionate (To Preserve Freshness), Brewers Dried Yeast, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, and Rosemary Extract.
- Shapeable paste to wrap around pills
- Can be used for dogs and cats
- Formulated by vets
- Contains several common allergens
- Has added salt
5 VetIQ Pill Treats Adv Formula Chicken Flavored Chews
- Allergens: Chicken, Liver
- First 5 ingredients: Dried Whey, Vegetable Glycerin, Tapioca Starch, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Corn Syrup
- Primary Proteins: Dried Whey, Dried Pork Liver
- Calories: 19 kcal per piece
- Flavor: Chicken
- Type: Dog treats
- Life Stage: Adult
With a built-in tube to hide pills from your dog, these chicken-flavored chews are an excellent alternative to just feeding medication to your dog. Though they contain a couple of problem ingredients, they’re largely a good formula and a great size for longer pills and supplements. VetIQ Pill Treats are made in America and are completely wheat-free. They’re a delicious soft treat with added whey protein to give your dog a little extra help with their muscle production.
Dried Whey, Glycerin, Tapioca, Corn Syrup, Poultry Fat, Brewers Dried Yeast, Sugar, Beet Molasses, Vegetable Gelatin, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Palm Oil, Sorbitol, Lecithin, Hickory Smoke Flavor, Calcium Sulfate, Glucono-Delta-Lactone Caramel Color
- Easy to use
- Plenty of space for longer pills
- Great for supplements or medication
- Contains sorbitol
- Includes several common allergens
6 Pet MD Wrap A Pill Peanut Butter Flavored Pill Paste for Dogs
- Allergens: Cheese
- First 5 ingredients: Wheat Flour, Oat Flour, Corn Syrup, Glycerin USP, Peanut Butter
- Primary Proteins: Peanut Butter
- Calories: 9 kcal per serving
- Flavor: Peanut Butter
- Type: Pill paste
- Life Stage: Adult
For the dog who won’t go anywhere their medication, the taste and smell of peanut butter is sure to cover it up. Make giving your dog their pills just that much easier by wrapping them in this peanut butter flavor pill paste. The beauty of pill paste is is that you can shape it around any size or shape pill and cover it completely in the paste. The ingredients aren’t complex and won’t really do much for your dog, but the product does contain rice bran for a bit of extra fiber.
Flour (wheat flour, oat flour), corn syrup, glycerin USP, peanut butter, rice bran, vegetable oil, spray dried cheese powder, lecithin, salt, sorbic acid, calcium propionate (to maintain freshness).
- Delicious peanut butter flavor
- Use as much or as little as you need
- Cover any size or shape pill
- Contains corn syrup
- Has added salt
7 Medi-Crunch Peanut Butter Dog Treats
- Allergens: None
- First 5 ingredients: Peanuts, Sugar, Wheat Flour, Corn Starch
- Primary Proteins: Peanuts
- Calories: 6 kcal per piece
- Flavor: Peanut butter
- Type: Dog treat
- Life Stage: Adult
A fun and delicious dog treat that takes a stressful situation and turns it into something enjoyable. This inventive product from Medi-Crunch consists of a crunchy wafer shell that looks like a mini ice cream cone, coupled with a creamy peanut butter center where you can hide any pill your dog needs to take. It’s less of a pill pocket and more of a cute way to trick your dog into taking their medicine. None of the ingredients are particularly interesting or healthy, and it does have added sugar and salt. Don’t feed your dog too many of these treats outside of using them as transport for pills.
Peanut Butter. Wafer: Enriched Wheat Flour, Soybean or Canola Oil, Tapioca Starch, Soy Lecithin, Leavening Agent, Annato, Salt
- Fun design
- Low calories
- Long shelf life
- Added sugar
- Added salt
8 Pillbuddy Naturals Peanut Butter and Apple Pill Treat
- Allergens: Chicken, Garlic Powder
- First 5 ingredients: Barley Flour, Chicken, Vegetable Glycerin, Cane Molasses, Whey Protein
- Primary Proteins: Chicken, Whey Protein
- Calories: 14 kcal per piece
- Flavor: Peanut Butter and Apple
- Type: Dog treats
- Life Stage: Adult
The only real issue with these natural and healthy pill treats is that they contain garlic powder. It’s a known fact that garlic contains thiosulfate, which is toxic to dogs – so why would a dog treat have garlic powder in it? Well, garlic powder only has a small amount of thiosulphate when compared to fresh or cooked garlic, so it won’t be harmful to dogs if they have a tiny bit of it. That does mean that you have to be careful to not feed too many of these treats to your pup. Beyond that, the all-natural ingredients in these apple and peanut butter dog treats are exactly what you’d expect. There’s even some chicken in there, to give the pill pockets a bit of a meatier flavor.
Barley Flour, Vegetable Glycerin, Brewers Yeast, Whey Protein, Cane Molasses, Vegetable Oil, Peanut Butter, Apple, Lecithin, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Rosemary Extract, Xanthan Gum
- All-natural ingredients
- Wheat-free
- Easy to squeeze closed
- Contains cane molasses
- Ingredients include garlic powder
Best Pill Pouches for Dogs: Buying Guide & FAQs
Now that you’ve looked at our 8 top pill pouch products from Amazon and Chewy let’s talk a little about what pill pockets actually are and the benefits of using pill pockets for dogs who need to take medication regularly.
Pet parents who have issues giving their dogs medication may benefit from using a product like a pill pocket or pill paste to cover up the sensory cues that tell a dog that they’re about to eat something unpleasant. For example, medicine often smells foul, but a delectable chicken treat or a bit of peanut butter will mask the scent.
What Are Pill Pockets?
Pill pockets are usually small dog treats or similar products that allow dog owners to hide the medication that their dog needs to take. Pill pockets work by giving you a hollowed-out opening to place the capsule or tablet in, which you can use to disguise the pill.
There are also similar products, such as pill paste, which allow you to mold the product to various pill shapes instead of hiding it inside a certain size of dog treat.
Dog owners should be aware that pill pockets don’t work for every dog, but they can be an excellent product if your dog is having trouble with the taste of their medicine or won’t swallow it.
Do Pill Pockets for Dogs Work?
This depends on the dog. Pill pocket treats often work for dogs, but some dogs are crafty and can easily detect hidden pills in food. There are plenty of amusing internet videos of dogs pushing pills out of their mouths after accepting food that their medication has been wrapped in. It’s funny to everyone until your dog does the same thing and you don’t know how to fix it. Dogs need the medication that they have been prescribed for one reason or another, so in some way, you need to get them to take it.
Sometimes, you need to find the best pill pockets for your dog. That means doing a little experimentation with the pill pocket treat products you can find and see which ones work best for your pup. It’s always good to read reviews, too, because other owners will talk about their experiences with dogs taking medication. You might pick up a few handy tips and tricks from pet parents going through the same issues with their canine companions.
What to Consider When Purchasing Pill Pockets for Your Dog
When you’re looking to buy pill pockets, pet parents may need to consider a few different variables. These tasty treats are many, but not every product will suit every dog. So here are some questions that you might want to ask yourself when buying pockets to hide a pill inside:
- Does your dog have any allergies or food sensitivities? Some pill pockets contain wheat, gluten, lactose, and more.
- Did you check the ingredients of the product? Some pill-hiding treats contain surprising ingredients, which you may not want to add to your dog’s diet. Remember to check for food that your pup is intolerant to and toxic ingredients to dogs.
- Does your dog have a sensitive stomach? Of course, you’ll want to avoid harsh ingredients and common allergens. Instead, look for all-natural treats and those without added salt.
- What size is your dog’s medicine? Some pill pockets and small, while others are large. You’ll need one that fits the pills or can be adapted to their size (such as a pill paste).
- Have you tried other alternatives? For example, some pet owners try using peanut butter or other human foods to disguise the taste of their dog’s pills.
Benefits of Using Pill Pouches to Medicate Your Dog
- Most pill pockets are made using natural flavors and natural ingredients.
- Dog owners can hide large or small pills in a tasty treat to make daily medication a better experience.
- Pill pockets are low-calorie, making them perfect for dogs who need to take several tablets or large capsules a day.
- You don’t have to stick to medication to use a small pocket pill. They’re suitable for supplements, too.
- Using pill pockets can make medication time a stress-free experience for dogs and pet owners.
- Pet pill pockets can even be hidden in wet dog food to encourage your pup to eat without making them think something strange might be going on.
- Some pill treats for dogs can also be used with liquid medicine.
- Pill paste is great when your dog’s medication is in a strange shape.
- Using pill paste or doggy pill pockets won’t add much to your dog’s food intake so it won’t ruin their diet.
- You can use as much pill paste as you need to cover a pill.
How to Use Pill Pocket Dog Treats
Using pill wraps for dogs couldn’t be easier! Depending on the type of pill pocket treat, you may need to push the soft treat closed to create a true pocket – such as with Greenies Pill Pockets for Dogs. Other pockets just sit over or wrap around the pill. There are also pastes to help you give your pup individually wrapped tablets and capsules.
The standard pill pocket should be used like this:
- Take one tablet or capsule from your dog’s prescription and place it in the provided treat. If the treat is hollowed out, simply pop the pill inside the hole. Larger pills may need to be hidden within two treats, or you could purchase a pill paste.
- Give the pill pockets to your dog one by one. If your pup seems to be cautious of the new treat, you could hide it in their wet food to further cover the smell of the medication.
- Stay with your dog until you’re sure that they’ve swallowed the pill. Some dogs are crafty and may be able to detect the pill.
- Let your dog get on with their day and provide them with plenty of positive interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
To administer a pill pocket, the best thing you can do is put a thin coating of peanut butter over it for picky dogs. It must be a thin coating, because peanut butter is very high in natural fat, so it isn’t good to feed too much of it to your pup. If you know your dog has a nut allergy, use another food like a strawberry.
Certainly! To make your own pill pockets, you just need any human foods that are suitable for dogs to eat. Some people put their dog’s pills inside a grilled cheese, but this isn’t a good idea because dogs are lactose intolerant. Instead, wrap the pill in meat (like plain roasted chicken), fruit, or even try baking your own dog treats and hiding the medication in those.
Flavor preference is individual to your dog, but most dogs like anything meaty. Try a pill pocket that’s bacon or chicken flavored, provided that your dog doesn’t have any allergies to either type of meat. These two flavors are very popular for dogs, and you’re extremely likely to find a pill pocket in one of them.
