Giving supplements
How to give a dog a tablet (without the struggle)
Hide the tablet in a small piece of soft, tasty food if its instructions allow; if not, place it at the back of your dog’s tongue, hold their mouth closed gently and stroke their throat. Always check the label or your vet’s instructions first, because some tablets must be given whole or on an empty stomach.
9 min read · Written by the PAWVIVE team. Sources are listed at the end of every guide.
The short answer
Most dogs take a tablet most easily when it arrives inside something they already want to eat. Where a tablet can’t go in food, you can give it directly: tablet to the back of the tongue, mouth gently closed, throat stroked, then a reward. Whichever method you choose, the first job is to read the instructions, because some tablets only work properly when they are given whole, unbroken or on an empty stomach.[1],[2]
Below: four methods, a step-by-step routine for giving a tablet by hand, gentle training for “tablet time”, and tips for small and flat-faced dogs.
Check the instructions before anything else
Dogs Trust advises reading all the instructions before giving any medicine to your dog, and checking with your vet if you’re not sure how much to give or how to prepare it. PDSA adds that you should check with your vet before putting a tablet in food, because some won’t work unless they are given whole or on an empty stomach.[2],[1]
- Can it be given with food, or does it need an empty stomach? Dogs Trust notes that even where an empty stomach is needed, one small treat may be fine — ask your vet if you’re not sure.
- Can it be crushed or split, or must it be swallowed whole?
- Do you need gloves? Some medicines, such as steroids, may need you to protect your skin while handling them.
- What should you do if a dose is missed? PDSA advises checking the instructions inside the packet or contacting your vet.
Four ways to give a tablet
| Method | How it works | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole in food | The tablet goes into a small portion of your dog’s usual meal, offered before the rest of the bowl. | Hungry dogs that gulp their food; tablets that may be given with food. | Some dogs smell the tablet and eat around it, or leave the bowl. |
| Wrapped in a soft food | The tablet is wrapped in a small, mouldable piece of something tasty and offered between plain pieces. | Most dogs, including fussy eaters. | Use only enough food to cover the tablet; check for allergies and unsafe ingredients such as xylitol. |
| Crushed into food | The tablet is crushed to a powder and mixed into a small portion of food. | Only tablets whose label or vet says crushing is allowed. | Some medicines must not be crushed or split. Your dog needs to eat the whole portion. |
| Direct by hand | The tablet is placed at the back of the tongue, the mouth held gently closed and the throat stroked. | Tablets that can’t go in food; dogs that are comfortable being handled. | Be gentle and quick; don’t drop it into the back of the throat, which can make your dog gag. |
Whole in food
PDSA suggests waiting until your dog is hungry, then offering a small part of their meal with the tablet in it before the main meal, so you can be sure the whole dose is eaten. Dogs Trust points out the catch: with their sense of smell, some dogs detect the tablet and eat around it, or leave their food altogether. If the bowl comes back with a tablet in it, move on to wrapping.[1],[2]
Wrapped in a soft food
Pick something soft, strong-smelling and mouldable. PDSA suggests a small amount of cheese or butter, cream cheese, or peanut butter that does not contain xylitol; Dogs Trust lists ideas such as sausage, cold meats, cubed or squeezy cheese. If your dog has allergies or food intolerances, ask your vet which food is best, and remember that some foods are dangerous to dogs.[1],[2]
- Use only enough food to cover the tablet. Too much and your dog can chew around it, and the calories add up.
- Wrap with one hand and offer with the other, so the smell of the tablet isn’t on the outside of the treat.
- Give a plain piece, then the wrapped tablet, then another plain piece straight away. Vary how many plain pieces come first so your dog can’t predict which one holds the tablet.
- Watch until it’s swallowed — some dogs chew the treat and then spit the tablet out.
Crushed into food
Crushing a tablet into a powder and mixing it into your dog’s food can disguise it well, but Dogs Trust is clear that some medicines must not be crushed or split and should be given whole. Only crush a tablet when its label, or your vet, says you may. If crushing is allowed, a pill crusher makes it easier, and mixing the powder into a small portion first — rather than the whole bowl — helps make sure every bit is eaten.[2],[1]
Direct by hand
If a tablet can’t go in food, PDSA sets out a calm, step-by-step technique. Have everything ready before you call your dog, and if you can, ask a helper to hold them.[1]
How to give a dog a tablet by hand
Get set up
Have the tablet and a reward ready. Sit a small dog on a non-slip surface such as a bath mat or towel, with a helper gently but firmly holding them from behind; on your own, hold them against your body, facing away from you. Sit a large dog on the floor with their bottom against a wall or held by your helper.
Hold the tablet and the muzzle
Hold the tablet between your thumb and first finger. Gently wrap your other hand around the top of your dog’s nose.
Tilt the head and open the mouth
Slowly tilt your dog’s head upwards until their nose points at the ceiling, then use the hand holding the tablet to gently pull the lower jaw down from the front.
Place the tablet at the back of the tongue
Put the tablet as far back on the tongue as you can, quickly but gently. Place it rather than dropping it into the back of the mouth, which can make your dog gag.
Close the mouth and help them swallow
Hold the mouth gently closed and stroke the throat. A small amount of water syringed into the side of the mouth can help. A lick of the lips or nose is a good sign the tablet has gone down.
Reward your dog
Give a treat, a game or plenty of praise straight away, so tablets start to mean something nice.
Wash your hands
Wash your hands afterwards, or wear gloves if your vet or the instructions tell you to.
Teach your dog that tablet time is good news
For a dog who needs regular tablets, a little practice pays off. Dogs Trust describes a gradual routine that teaches your dog that having their mouth handled means something good is coming. Start when your dog is relaxed, keep sessions short, and if they struggle, go back to a stage where they were comfortable.[2]
- Gather plenty of tasty treats your dog loves but rarely gets.
- Stroke the top of their head with one hand and give a treat with the other, straight away. Repeat.
- Add a cue such as “tablet time” — say the words first, then touch your dog, so one always follows the other.
- Rest your hand briefly over their snout, give a treat, let go and toss another treat for them to chase.
- Gently massage the outside of their mouth for a second, then give a treat.
- As they open their mouth, pop a treat just inside, then a little further back each time.
- When this is easy, use the same routine with the tablet hidden in a treat.
Source [2]
Dogs Trust also suggests making it a game: a run of treats tossed for your dog to chase or catch, one of which contains the tablet, or a few rewards for tricks such as “sit” and “paw”. Watch your dog throughout, and stop straight away if they seem uncomfortable, worried or frustrated.[2]
Tips for small dogs
- Work on a non-slip surface such as a bath mat or towel, at a height that lets you stay calm and steady.
- If you’re on your own, hold your dog against your body, facing away from you, so they feel secure.
- Use a smaller piece of wrapping food — a small mouth needs only a small parcel.
- If your dog needs half or a quarter of a tablet, a pill splitter or crusher helps you prepare the right amount — but only split or crush where the instructions allow.
- Pill “poppers” can help with bitter tablets, but ask your vet to recommend one and show you how to use it, because incorrect use can damage your dog’s mouth.
Tips for flat-faced dogs
With flatter-faced dogs, a hand placed over the snout is likely to cover their eyes or face, which can worry them. Dogs Trust suggests telling your dog how clever they are and giving a treat or two straight away, and letting go quickly so they learn that being held only lasts a moment.[2]
- Try food methods first, so you don’t need to handle their face at all.
- Keep any hold brief and gentle, with plenty of rewards in between.
- Ask your vet nurse to show you a hold that suits your dog’s face shape.
What not to do
- Don’t hide a medicine in food, crush it or split it unless its instructions or your vet say you can.
- Don’t drop or push a tablet into the back of the throat — place it on the back of the tongue.
- Don’t wrap it in a large lump of food, and don’t hide more than one medicine per piece.
- Don’t use foods that are unsafe for dogs, such as peanut butter containing xylitol.
- Don’t keep going if your dog becomes uncomfortable, worried or frustrated — stop and try again later.
- Don’t use a pill popper until your vet practice has shown you how.
- Don’t stop a prescribed course early because your dog seems better — finish it as prescribed.
Ask your vet or vet nurse to demonstrate
Some dogs are genuinely tricky to give tablets to. PDSA encourages owners who are struggling to speak to their vet practice, who will be happy to share tips and show you techniques in person. Your vet may also be able to suggest a different form of a medicine — some, though not all, come as a liquid or spot-on, and Cornell notes that a compounding pharmacy can sometimes make a medicine more palatable with flavourings.[1],[3]
Giving DIGEST+
DIGEST+ is a chicken-flavour tablet and a complementary feed for dogs. Its label says the tablets can be eaten directly or crushed into food, so any of the four methods above can be used. If your dog takes it straight from your hand, that is the simplest route; for a fussier dog, crush it into a small portion of their meal first so you know it has all been eaten.
The label’s feeding guide works out at roughly one tablet per 10 kg of body weight. Weigh your dog, then check the dose calculator or the table below.
| Body weight | Tablets per day | One bottle lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 kg | 1 tablet/day | 120 days |
| 11–25 kg | 2 tablets/day | 60 days |
| 25–40 kg | 3 tablets/day | 40 days |
| Over 40 kg | 4 tablets/day | 30 days |
Make sure fresh drinking water is always available. The label advises that DIGEST+ is not recommended for pregnant or lactating dogs, is not suitable for puppies under 12 weeks, and that you should consult your vet first if your dog is under veterinary supervision.
Questions people ask
Can I crush my dog’s tablet?
Only if its label or your vet says you can. Some medicines must not be crushed or split and should be swallowed whole, so check first. If crushing is allowed, mix the powder into a small portion of food so your dog eats all of it. The DIGEST+ label says its tablets can be eaten directly or crushed into food.
What food can I hide a dog’s tablet in?
Something small, soft and strong-smelling that you can mould around the tablet, such as a little cheese or cream cheese. If you use peanut butter, make sure it does not contain xylitol. Use only enough to cover the tablet, and ask your vet if your dog has allergies, a special diet, or a medicine that must be given on an empty stomach.
How do I know my dog has swallowed the tablet?
Watch their throat for a swallow, or look for a lick of the lips or nose. Keep an eye on them for a minute or two afterwards, because some dogs chew a treat and then spit the tablet out.
My dog keeps spitting tablets out. What should I do?
Try a different method, such as a tablet hidden in a small treat between plain treats, and practise short, positive training sessions. If you are still struggling, ask your vet practice to demonstrate a technique, and ask whether the medicine comes in another form such as a liquid.
Should I give a tablet before or after food?
It depends on the tablet. Some need an empty stomach and others are best given with a meal, so follow the instructions on the label or from your vet. Supplements have their own feeding guide on the label.
Work out your exact supply
The calculator on the product page takes your dog’s weight band and how many dogs you have, then shows the daily dose, how long a bottle lasts and a sensible refill rhythm.
Sources
- How To Give Your Dog A Pill — PDSA. Checked 2026-10-15.
- How to give your dog tablets — Dogs Trust. Checked 2026-10-15.
- How to medicate your dog — Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (Riney Canine Health Center). Checked 2026-10-15.
Updated