Pill Pockets: GREENIES Pill Pockets have a pouch that allows consumers to hide pills inside the treat to make it easier to give dogs medication. A thorough physical exam, patient history, and an established veterinary-patient-client relationship is required to provide specific medical advice. Lots of dogs and many … most? Greenies Pill Pockets are a nutritious treat for dogs and cats that contain a built-in pocket, perfect for hiding a tablet or capsule. joke about the trials and tribulations of giving a cat a pill. You just need to cut a piece of your hot dog off and use it to put the pill in. Subscribe to always know when we add new material! 60-count pack. Have your veterinarian or veterinary technician teach you how to administer the medication directly into your pet’s mouth at the back of her tongue without using foods. Dr. Freeman is a veterinary nutritionist and a professor at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Try using a pet piller or pet pill “gun”. Don't hide medicine in human foods, use PILL POCKETS™ for cats. FAST 'N FREE. *Learn about Amazon links and Preventive Vet recommended products. If your pet does not have diabetes, some good options include mini marshmallows, whipped vanilla cake frosting, or whipped cream cheese. I got the dog version (chicken) at one point and they loved these even more than the cat. But two do. You need to speak with your veterinarian and "do your homework" to ensure that you’re using a compounding pharmacy that is reputable and licensed. Using hot dog pieces as pill pockets for pets is easy. Phone Number: This is very important, but even then, there’s still the possibility of errors. DO NOT use a peanut butter that contains the sweetener Xylitol! Most pets will need to take medications at some point in their lives and some pets will need multiple medications long-term to treat chronic medical conditions. Giving medications in food can make things easier, but we found in these studies that the foods owners use are often not ideal for their pets’ underlying medical conditions. When using the dog … You (or they) may get injured in the process, and you’ll almost certainly injure your relationship with them. Ensure that the piece should be large enough to hide the pill but small enough for your dog … Otherwise, he might not get enough of the important medicine inside. Excellent compounding pharmacies exist, just “do your homework.” You can find a compounding pharmacy in your area and ask questions so you can best assess them (see half way down the article) and, of course, talk with your veterinarian. But if your pet needs a medication that can be compounded you might just be in luck! Fortunately there are (often) better options and tricks. If you are worried that your pet is having an emergency or if you have specific medical questions related to your pet’s current or chronic medical conditions, please contact or visit your veterinarian, an animal-specific poison control hotline, or your local emergency veterinary care center. Wow, though! However, it is important to talk to your veterinarian about which specific product is most appropriate for your pet’s underlying medical conditions. “manufacturing injectable drugs under insanitary conditions.”, compounding pharmacy’s error that led to the death of 21 horses, Media Spokespeople and Subject-Matter Experts, cheese (cream cheese, slices/chunks or even “squeeze cheese”), butter (likely not the best bet though, especially if your pet has a history of, “meatballs” of boiled white rice (it’s plenty sticky) or made out of their favorite canned dog/cat food, hot dog pieces or lunch meat (make sure lunch meats are not coated with spices, like peppercorns), baby food (one without onion powder, as onions and its powder can damage a pet’s red blood cells). For dogs with allergies, use the Duck and Pea Pill Pockets. See additional information. Compounding … Sometimes the Best OptionIf giving a pill, capsule, or injection isn’t practical or possible, and if there isn’t a suitable liquid form readily available, then perhaps a reputable and licensed compounding pharmacy could help you and your veterinarian by making their necessary medications into a more palatable (yummy) or otherwise easier to administer form. To be sure you’re helping your pet with medication, here are some tips on easy ways to give medications – with or without food! Another concern with giving medications with foods is that the food and medication can interact with one another (for example, calcium in cheese, milk, or other calcium-rich foods can interfere with the absorption of certain antibiotics). If that’s the case for your little critter, let your veterinarian know, as there are some medicines — including certain pain medications, antibiotics, and others — that are available as liquid suspensions which may be easier for you to administer. Capsules can be purchased from your veterinarian or online. Whipped cream works for some pets. For many, however, it can be a heated battle of trying to first catch the pet, pry open her jaws, and give the pill without having it spit right back out (or finding it on the floor later in the day) or trying to hide pills in some sort of food. These products and tricks tend to work well, but it's unique to your pet's personality and their food likes and dislikes. Want to read more information on feeding your pet? Always remember to avoid chocolate, grapes, … Use a flavored pet treat designed to hold a pill, such as a pocket, wrap, or pouch. Practice with your vet so you can perfect your technique before you go home. Like me, lots of vets out there have plenty of pets on compounded medications — both in the short term and for longer periods of medicating. My pet has kidney disease – what kind of diet should I feed? Box 27552 Finally, the calories from these extra foods can add up and cause a pet to put on the pounds. Its cheaper to buy the dog ones because they are bigger … Also found on Chewy pill wraps. This is because a cat's liver has a limited ability to make taurine … They have the exact same ingredients, but the cat pockets have extra taurine for eye health. $12.24. As an example, I work with many dogs and cats that have heart disease. The cat product does not...more have this. Reward your pet after getting the pill with something he enjoys. However, she also is passionate about providing objective and accurate information on pet nutrition to veterinarians, pet owners, and other animal enthusiasts. For cats and dogs with allergies, use the Duck and Pea Pill Pockets. Not all my cats will take pill pockets. In one of our studies, 60% of dog and cat owners reported using food to give medications to their pets! Just insert the capsule into the Pill Assist, pinch closed, and give to your cat … Other products are high in copper, which should be restricted in a dog with copper-associated liver disease, or phosphorus, which should be restricted in a pet with kidney disease. The pill gun used in the video (featured below) is also a favorite among many vet practices. Medication twice a day hits the pocket book. P.O. To me, they smelled like bacon. This one was issued a “consent decree of permanent injunction” because they were “manufacturing injectable drugs under insanitary conditions.”. Dr. Linder has received speaker fees or research funding from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Nestlé Purina PetCare, and Royal Canin, and has provided professional services for Mark Morris Institute. This page may contain affiliate links, for which we earn a commission for qualifying purchases. I’ve been interested in how owners give medications to their pets so that it can be safe and less stressful to everyone involved. Even with all the great disguising tricks and products, there are still some cats and dogs that just simply won’t take a pill (or capsule). You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen to whip up a batch of pet pill pockets. The absorption and effectiveness of some medications can be affected by being crushed or by opening the capsules.  Pills that have to be disguised in order to be taken and not forced or spit out. But that’s not ideal ... for anyone. Pills and capsules tend to be the mainstays of medicating cats and dogs. Keep in mind that whatever you use as a "disguiser" will likely add more calories to your pet's daily intake, so be sure to account for these extra calories in the food and treats you give them throughout the day, especially if your pet is on a weight loss program (or your cat or dog should be). Some examples of compounded formulations include: A very important note regarding compounding pharmacies … like with everything else, not all compounding pharmacies are the same. Subscribe to always know when we add new material! A variety of other diseases also benefit from dietary changes, such as liver disease, certain bladder stones, or gastrointestinal disease. GREENIES Pill Pockets Natural Dog Treats, Tablet Size. Protein and Carbohydrate Sources of Home-cooked Pet Diets, Research Review: Comparing “senior” and “adult” cat diets. Do you remember this National News Headline from 2009 about the compounding pharmacy’s error that led to the death of 21 horses? Try different ones out and also see what their stomach will tolerate. What Is Guaranteed about the Guaranteed Analysis? Then, trying to figure out a way to give her the medication became frustrating. Greenies Pill Pockets are safe for dogs and cats. Other Foods That Make Best Pill Pockets . Sure, you could likely force them to take their medicine. Tips and Tricks to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water, A broken heart: Risk of heart disease in boutique or grain-free diets and exotic ingredients, It’s Not Just Grain-Free: An Update on Diet-Associated Dilated Cardiomyopathy. As you’re on this website right now, we can assume that you love pets and likely have a special dog or cat (or many) in your life. ANSWER: Greenies Pill Pockets are a nutritious treat for dogs and cats that contain a built-in pocket, perfect for hiding a tablet or capsule. Read more here. A Dog on Medication Gets Expensive. 503.208.7838 So what are you to do when Fluffy or Fido need meds? Liquids and InjectionsEven with all the great disguising tricks and products, there are still some cats and dogs that just simply won’t take a pill (or capsule). Please share your experiences and stories, your opinions and feedback about this blog, or what you've learned that you'd like to share with others. Pets love the taste so much they won't even notice there's medication inside! Often the stinkier the pill disguiser is, the better! I once had a dog that loved pills so much, I needed to watch that he didn’t eat pills dropped by my other dog! They are far less crumbly than pill pockets. I know I’ve likely just made compounding pharmacies sound like horrible “rolls of the dice,” which they really typically aren't, and their services are very important in helping to make sure that “difficult to medicate” pets can more easily receive the medications they need. But what if your pooch or kitty is difficult to “pill?”. That may be a yummy treat (be sure that treat has the appropriate properties that match his nutritional goals), or something else he enjoys, such as brushing, playing with a favorite toy, or going on a walk. Only 1 left! Fill out the form below to leave a comment. No matter which product you select, try to use the smallest portion possible to cover the medication – just a small piece of the total treat or you can even ask your vet if using a flavored treat designed to hold pills for a cat would have the right nutritional profile for your dog to minimize the size. There are many other products that are safe for both felines and canines. For some, pill time is a piece of cake and the pet willingly gulps down the medications. Designed by veterinarians, GREENIES Pill Pockets Dog Treats mask the smell and taste of any medicine, taking the stress (and mess) out of giving your canine companion medicine. All right reserved. That will make pill time a more pleasant experience. Some food items, like hot dogs or cheese, for example, could cause stomach upset in some pets, so use your best judgement and be sure to test it out. Avoid prepared meats, deli or lunch meats, canned meats or fish, or rotisserie chicken which are all high in sodium. Also, some medications should be given on an empty stomach while others must be given with meals to be most effective or to minimize side effects. A syringe for water is another essential tool in your pilling arsenal. Dr. Freeman has received research support from, given sponsored lectures for, or provided professional services to Aratana Therapeutics, Elanco, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Nestlé Purina PetCare, P&G Pet Care (now Mars), and Royal Canin. Hot Dog Pieces. The compounding pharmacy also needs to be accustomed to making medications for pets. To make our pill pockets… And not only do we love the pets, we also love their people, and you are our reason for making this site. She is on the cutting-edge of science, with hundreds of articles in prestigious journals, speaking engagements at national and international conferences, and awards for her scientific achievements. Pets love the taste so much they won't even notice there's medication inside! 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