Why many animals refuse medication
Tablets are foreign to animals:
- They smell unusual.
- They taste bitter or artificial.
- They are difficult to swallow.
- They arouse suspicion – especially in cats
Dogs often show a willingness to eat something more quickly – but they also learn quickly to recognise and pick out tablets in their food. This can be particularly challenging if you need to give your dog medication that must be administered on an empty stomach or has a strong smell.
What to do? Methods that work in practice
Not every method works for every animal. Depending on the animal’s character and previous experience, it may help to try different things:
🔹 1. Hide in the food
Sounds simple – but only works if the animal is not suspicious. Works better with wet food than dry food. Problematic for animals with a poor appetite or on a diet.
🔹 2. Direct insertion
The tablet is carefully placed in the mouth and rinsed down with a little water. Effective, but not always stress-free – can strain trust, especially with cats.
🔹 3. Hide medication in a treat
With dogs in particular, it can help to press the tablet into a piece of sausage or cheese. Important: test beforehand to ensure that the animal swallows it whole – without chewing or picking it out.
🔹 4. Input aids such as paste
The tablet is coated with a tasty paste that masks the taste. This method is particularly helpful for administering tablets to cats, as many pastes are licked voluntarily – without coercion or resistance.
💡 Some owners report good experiences with special pastes such as NuSnack, which are applied directly to the tablet and adhere well thanks to their texture.
Step-by-step guide: How to avoid stress
✅ Prepare
Have the tablet ready
Wash your hands, create a calm environment
If necessary, allow a few minutes for the animal to rest so that it is ready to eat.
✅ Mask tablet
Hide medication in some wet food, paste or treats
When using NuSnack Paste, for example: Apply the paste directly from the sachet onto the tablet.
The creamy consistency sticks well – ideal for covering odours and flavours.
✅ Administer
- Offer the treat or the tablet covered with paste directly.
Optionally, add a small amount of paste on its own beforehand – as a ‘treat’ to help them get used to it.
Praise or reward success – positive associations have a lasting effect
Tip for summer: a refreshing ‘snack ice cream’
A creative trick if your pet likes the paste:
Freeze individual sachets of NuSnack paste. This creates a cooling, delicious mini snack – perfect for warm days and for getting used to the paste without tablets.
What if nothing works?
Some animals cannot be persuaded even with the best tricks. In these cases, it is worth talking to your vet:
Is this medicine also available as liquid or suspension?
Can the tablet be divided or crushed?
Is an injection at the doctor’s office an alternative?
Patience, routine and a calm approach often help more than pressure. And once you find a method that works, stick with it!
Conclusion: There is no one right solution.
Whether you need to give your cat medication or administer tablets to a dog, it is important that the process is stress-free for both parties. Every animal-human relationship is different – just like every medication administration.
Pill wrap pastes can help make the whole experience positive – as part of a routine, not an exception.
