{"id":1287,"date":"2022-09-22T21:03:38","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T21:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sbahvet.com\/?p=1287"},"modified":"2022-09-22T21:03:38","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T21:03:38","slug":"diy-pill-pockets-make-pets-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sbahvet.com\/blog\/diy-pill-pockets-make-pets-happy\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY Pill Pockets Make Pets Happy"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a good chance that most pets will have to take <\/span>some kind of medication<\/span><\/a> during their life. While the experience is often unsatisfactory at best, giving a pet a pill does not have to be defined by struggle or end in exasperation. To get the job done without force or fear, create your own pill pockets with their favorite snacks. They\u2019ll scarf them down so quickly, they won\u2019t even realize they\u2019ve also taken their medication. Win-win!<\/span><\/p>\n

Your Pet\u2019s Mindset<\/span><\/h2>\n

Who hasn\u2019t tried to offer a pill pocket, only to stand back and wait for the pill to wind up on the floor? A pet that manages to eat the pill pocket, but not the pill, is pulling off a serious magic trick. Somehow they know that medication lurks beneath layers of <\/span>tasty goodness,<\/span><\/a> but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s time to fold your hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Outmaneuver Your Pet<\/span><\/h3>\n

Once they know what you\u2019re up to, you will have a harder time getting them to trust that the \u201ctreat\u201d you\u2019re offering them is free of medicine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Start strong the first time out of the gate, leave no room for error or discernment by your pet\u2019s suspicious palette, and remain as relaxed and enthusiastic as possible. Since <\/span>you know exactly what your pet likes to eat<\/span><\/a>, you should have no problem creating your own pill pockets to entice them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Full Flavor<\/span><\/h3>\n

Making homemade pill pockets is easy. Making use of their favorite foods is definitely part of the puzzle, but it\u2019s also important to keep your efforts on the down-low. When making the pill pockets, be sure that your pet is distracted with something else so they are fully surprised when you give one to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A good strategy might be offering an empty pill pocket to your pet first. Once they swallow it, quickly encourage them to have another. This time, have the pill surreptitiously squished into the pill pocket and enthusiastically praise them for eating it. Lastly, give them one more empty pill pocket so they truly have no idea that they just ate their medicine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It might be fun to turn this into a game by tossing the pill pockets up in the air and rewarding them when they catch them. They\u2019ll be so caught up in the thrill that they won\u2019t notice anything untoward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recipes for Pill Pockets<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the easiest possible pill pocket, and possibly the most successful vehicle for medication, cut up a hot dog into bite-sized pieces. Press the pill into the center, and watch it disappear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthier options involve peanut butter, yogurt, low-fat cheese, and cream cheese.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These peanut butter pill pockets are very popular with dogs:<\/span><\/p>\n