The Best Pill Pockets: 7 Products For An Easy No Fuss Solution (2023)

Best Pill Pockets for Pets Summary

Best Pill Pockets for Dogs

Best Pill Pockets for Cats

What are Pill Pockets?

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Pill pockets, or pill pouches, are handy, healthy treats that cover and hide medications and supplements, whether in pill or liquid form.

Pill pouches are designed to mask the smell and taste of pet medication. A pet will be more likely to accept medicines if it is offered to them in the guise of a treat.

Every pet parent that has ever tried to dose their pet with a medication knows the struggle. This is where pill pockets kick in. They are meant to turn pill time into treat time and remove any stress for both parent and pet.

Are Pill Pockets Safe for Dogs?

Yes, pill pouches are safe for dogs. Most do not contain fat, sodium, or any artificial sugars. However, Pet MD recommends looking for a brand that isn’t too high in calories so they won’t have too much effect on a dog’s body weight.

It is important to talk to a vet before administering pill pockets to dogs with an illness. Some brands may be high in sodium and would not be safe for dogs with conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, or high blood pressure.

Are Pill Pockets Safe for Cats?

Yes, pill pouches are safe for cats as well. They provide a healthy alternative to using human food to hide pills.

For cats with underlying illnesses such as heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes, make sure to consult with a vet. They may be able to recommend a brand of pockets that will be safest for them.

Do Vets Recommend Pill Pockets?

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Yes, pill pockets are recommended by vets. However, they advise pet owners to use healthy versions made with natural ingredients.

It is important to keep the number of calories a product contains in mind. Pet owners should also be mindful of things like fat, sodium bisulfate, and artificial flavors or preservatives.

What are the Benefits of Pill Pockets?

The main benefit of pill pouches is that a pet will more easily accept their medication. They can be slipped into dry dog food or given as a treat later on. Using pockets makes the dosing process stress-free for both the pet and the owner.

Here are some of the benefits of hiding pills (capsules and tablets) into pockets:

  • Easy to Give. Pets will gladly and quickly consume their medicine if it’s concealed in a tasty pill pocket. Pill pockets are generally made with pet-friendly flavors.
  • No Stress. Pet owners won’t have to worry that their pets aren’t taking their meds. Pets won’t have to deal with the unpleasant taste of medicine.
  • Tasty for Pets. Pill pockets come in many different flavors that pets will find delicious. Some pockets can even be used as cat chews or dental dog treats.
  • Mess-Free. Pill pockets help eliminate messes that may be caused by a pet constantly spitting its pills out.

Basically, pill pouches or pockets are the answer to a less stressful and less messy experience for pet owners and pets.

The Best Pill Pockets for Dogs Reviewed

The pet market offers a variety of pill pockets – for different life stages, with different flavors and different nutritional values. With so many options, finding the right product to checkout can be hard.

To make things easy, we have reviewed some of the best products for dogs.

The Best Pill Pockets: 7 Products For An Easy No Fuss Solution (3)
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Summary: These real peanut butter flavor pill pockets are made from all-natural ingredients, natural flavors and are easy to use. Containing 60 pill pockets in one bag, this product is a perfect and healthy option for dogs. Plus, it is vet-recommended.

Pros

Cons

  • Only comes in one flavor

Review: Overall, this is the best product listed as it is a healthy and price-efficient pill pocket product. Dogs find peanut butter to be extremely tasty, and pet owners can hide the meds in the pockets successfully.

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Summary: These chicken flavor dog treats are made with real chicken and help conceal the taste and smell of dog medicine. They come with five bags for a total of 125 pill pouches, and help to prevent messes from picky dogs.

Pros

  • Low price for a high quantity
  • Chicken or hickory smoke flavor
  • With real chicken
  • No by-products and meals

Cons

  • Contain fat and sodium

Review: Overall, this product gives the most quantity for the price but may not be as healthy as other products within the same price range. However, the pill pockets are easy to use, and dogs love the taste.

The Best Pill Pockets: 7 Products For An Easy No Fuss Solution (5)

Summary: These pill pockets are all-natural and free of corn, wheat, soy, and anything artificial. They come in a pack of 30 with the choice of six different flavors: chicken flavor capsule, grilled duck, hickory-smoked beef, peanut butter & apple, peanut butter & banana, and peanut butter & honey.

Pros

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  • Healthy and meat-free recipe
  • Available in a variety of flavors
  • Free from corn, soy, and grain
  • Budget-friendly price

Cons

  • The pockets are drier than similar products

Review: Some customer reviews stated that this product was too dry. However, most users are pleased with the overall quality and variety of delicious and dog-friendly flavors.

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Summary: This product allows pet owners to pinch their own pockets from the mold in the container. It comes in a 4.2-ounce container and comes in 3 different flavors: cheese flavor and bacon, peanut butter, and bacon.

Pros

  • Fits all tablet sizes
  • Moldable shape of the pocket
  • Reasonably priced
  • Low in calories
  • Formulated by vets

Cons

  • The moldable effect can be messy for some owners

Review: Overall, this is the most versatile pill pocket product as it can fit any pill shape. Most pet owners are satisfied with the product. However, for some, the molding part is too messy.

The Best Pill Pockets for Cats Reviewed

As with pockets for dogs, the market also offers a large number of options for cats. Each product and brand highlights a different quality, so it is important to examine the pros and cons of each.

Listed below are just a few products that we recommend for cats.

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Summary: These pill pockets come in both chicken flavor and salmon flavor and are all-natural. They contain trace nutrients and minerals that are healthy for all cats. Plus, they are recommended by vets and are free from sketchy ingredients.

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Pros

  • Vet-recommended chicken formula
  • Excellent price to quality ratio
  • Around 45 pockets per container
  • Free from artificial flavors and fillers

Cons

  • Available in one flavor

Review: Overall, this is the best choice of pill pockets for cats as they are healthy and inexpensive. Pet owners find it very easy to use these pill pockets, and their cats love the chicken flavor.

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Summary: This moldable paste allows pet owners to create a pocket of any size. It comes in a 4-ounce container and is bacon-flavored. The moldable paste does not crumble and is perfect for masking meds for small dogs and cats.

Pros

  • Perfect pill pockets for cats
  • Suitable for small dogs
  • Works for any size pill
  • Can be used as treats

Cons

  • Only one flavor available
  • High in fat

Review: Overall, these pill pockets are universal and fit different sizes of meds. However, not all cats are fans of the bacon flavor. Also, some owners are not happy with the amount of fat in the formula.

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Summary: This pill wrap paste can also be easily molded to fit any shape. It comes in a 4- ounce container (with around 56 pockets) and contains only health-boosting and natural ingredients.

Pros

  • Can fit pills of any size
  • Natural and healthy ingredients
  • Mess-free and tasty wraps
  • Around 56 pockets per container
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Cons

  • High price tag
  • Unspecified flavor

Review: Overall, this product is similar to the one listed above but is made from healthier ingredients and is higher in price. However, most pet owners find these pill pockets worthy of the cost.

How Do I Use a Pill Pocket?

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Pill pouches are relatively easy to use – pretty much like giving your pet a cat or dog treat. If you are a bit confused, read the product details and then follow these steps:

  1. Hold the pocket treat with your thumb and forefinger
  2. Use the other hand to insert the medicine into the pocket
  3. Squeeze the top half to close the pocket, trapping the med inside
  4. Feed the sealed pocket to your furry friend (cat or dog).

Do not touch the pill pocket with the hand that held the medicine. The smell and taste of the medicine could be transferred onto the pocket. This may prevent a pet from wanting to eat the pill pocket.

Do Pill Pockets Have Nutritional Value?

Yes, depending on the brand, some pill pouches have nutritional value. Some of them may contain added minerals and nutrients that are good for cats and dogs.

The Greenies pill pockets dog treats are the healthiest option. Plus, they are rich in beneficial nutrients while low in calories and fat.

The Best Pill Pockets: 7 Products For An Easy No Fuss Solution (11)

  • Greenies Pill Pockets are the tasty, smarter way to help your dog’s medicine go down at treatment time—without trying to hide pills in human food like messy peanut butter or cheese
  • Your dog won’t be able to sniff out the medicine: Pill Pockets mask the smell and taste, and come in an irresistible real peanut butter flavor for a stress- and mess-free experience for you both
  • These Pill Pockets Dog Treats are a cinch to use: Drop the medicine tablet inside the pill pouch, pinch it closed, and give your best friend a tasty snack

Can I Make My Own Pill Pockets?

Yes, DIY pill pouches are a thing. For example, pet owners can even use a small chink of low-fat, low-sodium cheese as a pocket.

Alternatively, they can roll up their sleeves and make DIY pockets with more ingredients. Here is one simple and efficient recipe.

You can use peanut butter, flour, and milk, or water to make pockets. Peanut butter can be replaced with whatever ingredient a pet loves most, such as chicken or beef.

Use a 2:1:1 ratio of ingredients: 2x flour, 1x peanut butter, 1x milk or water, and mix together in a bowl. Use a spoon to scoop out a small amount.

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Roll it into a ball, and create an indentation for the pill using your finger or the spoon handle. Store a batch of DIY pill pockets in the fridge for up to a week.

FAQs

Do vets recommend pill pockets? ›

Yes, pill pockets are recommended by vets. However, they advise pet owners to use healthy versions made with natural ingredients. It is important to keep the number of calories a product contains in mind. Pet owners should also be mindful of things like fat, sodium bisulfate, and artificial flavors or preservatives.

What flavor of pill pockets do dogs like best? ›

Pill pockets are designed with specific flavors so that dogs are eager to enjoy them. Bacon, chicken and peanut butter are among the more popular choices, as these aromatic flavors are big hits with most dogs.

Do pill pockets work? ›

Generally speaking, pill pockets tend to be helpful for most dogs. But they don't always work. Many dogs have no trouble taking their medication when wrapped in these tasty treats, but there are exceptions and some dogs will still make things difficult on you.

What can I give my cat instead of Greenies Pill Pockets? ›

Purina Whisker Lickin's Tender Moments are a popular and palatable alternative if your cat will not eat Greenies Pill Pockets. These soft treats come in chicken, salmon, and chicken and cheese flavors. Simply mold the treat around the pill and give to your cat!

What can I use instead of pill pockets for dogs? ›

In addition to “Pill Pockets”, some food items you can use to hide your dog's pills or capsules:
  • Cheese.
  • Spray cheese (Easy Cheese Cheddar n Bacon)
  • Peanut Butter (preferably chunky style to hide pills)
  • Marshmallows (hypoallergenic)
  • Chewable / soft dog treats.
  • Cream Cheese.
  • Hot dogs.
  • Fig Newtons.
Jan 8, 2021

How do you give a dog a pill when he won't eat? ›

The easiest way to give your dog a pill is to hide the pill in food. This usually works best if you hide it in a special treat such as a small amount of canned dog food, cooked sweet potato, or a soft dog treat that can be molded around it (i.e., Pill Pockets™).

What flavors do dogs hate the most? ›

At the top of the list? Citrus. Most dogs can't stand the taste and smell of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Here's why — plus, how to use their dislike of citrus to your advantage.

What flavor is irresistible to dogs? ›

Tests have shown that most dogs prefer beef and pork over chicken and lamb. They also prefer warm, moist foods over cold, dry foods.

What is a dog's favorite flavor? ›

Dogs have different taste receptors than humans, meaning they enjoy different flavors. The five most popular flavors that dogs love are vanilla mint, peanut butter, beef, bacon, and cheese. However, feeding your dog certain foods like bacon can be unhealthy because it is high in fat and sodium.

Are pill pockets healthy? ›

For most dogs, most breeds, and most circumstances, the pill pockets circulating at your local pet store are safe for your pup to use. They are designed by veterinarians. For example, Greenies Pill Pockets advertise they are “designed and recommended by vets.” They even offer a flavor for dogs with food sensitivities.

Should pill pockets be refrigerated? ›

A: No. You do however want to make sure the bad is sealed to keep the pill pockets fresh.

How do you make homemade pill pockets? ›

The 'secret' formula to making a diy pill pocket recipe work is 2:1:1; two parts flour, one part peanut butter, and one part liquid. If you blend ingredients in these proportions together you will then be able to roll them into little balls. From there, it is simple enough to make a pocket in the balls.

What is the best food to hide cat pills in? ›

Some recommendations for food in which you might hide pill include: canned cat food, strained meat (human) baby food, tuna or other canned fish, plain yogurt, Pill Pockets™, cream cheese or butter. Butter is helpful because it coats the pill and eases swallowing.

Do vets recommend Greenies for cats? ›

The top vet recommended cat dental treats listed from the above link include: Greenies Cat Dental Treats. Whiskas Dentabites in Chicken and Salmon flavors. Purina Dentalife Daily Oral Care Cat Treats.

Do cats like peanut butter? ›

Although many cats love the taste of this salty and sweet spread, cat parents should avoid giving their feline friends peanut butter. It provides no nutritional value and, more importantly, certain ingredients, like fat and added artificial sweeteners, can be harmful or even toxic to cats.

Can I give my dog regular peanut butter? ›

Yes, dogs can eat peanut butter as long as it is fed in moderation and does not contain xylitol, so get out that pet-safe peanut butter jar and share the good news.

How do I trick my dog into liquid medicine? ›

If the medicine is liquid, mixing it with peanut butter or animal skin is a good trick. Just make sure not to spoil your dog too much with food, as it could result in stomachaches and other health issues.

Can dogs eat applesauce? ›

Can Dogs Eat Applesauce? Yes, dogs can safely eat plain applesauce! But applesauce generally includes added sugars, so always choose unsweetened applesauce and give it to them in moderation.

How long can a sick dog live without food? ›

Dogs can usually go three to five days without food, however, this is not ideal. If your dog has gone two days without food, it is highly recommended you call a veterinarian if you haven't already. More important than your dog eating is their water intake.

Can dogs eat cheese? ›

Yes, dogs can eat cheese. In fact, cheese is often a great training tool, especially for puppies. But should dogs eat cheese? While some dogs can eat cheese, and most dogs love it, many dogs can be intolerant of cheese.

What smell do dogs absolutely hate? ›

Citrus scents top the list of smells your dog probably hates. The scent of lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits is strong and unpleasant for your dog. For this reason, you can use citrus scents as a dog repellant in off-limits parts of the house. Their noses are irritated by the strength of citrus.

What smell do dogs love the most? ›

The methodology of observing the dogs freely exploring the experimental area allowed us to determine the smells that were the most attractive to them (food, beaver clothing). Our study shows that dogs interacted more frequently with the scents of blueberries, blackberries, mint, rose, lavender, and linalol.

Do dogs see TV? ›

Dogs absolutely can see TV, and many seem to enjoy it. There are a number of features about television shows that dogs find attractive. Some of these are visual, such as motion, while others relate to the sounds coming from the TV. Dog eyes are very different from human eyes, so they see things on TV differently.

What is dog's favorite meat? ›

Dogs prefer beef, pork and lamb to chicken, liver and horsemeat and strongly prefer meat to cereal diets. They prefer canned meat to fresh meat, ground meat to cubed meat and cooked meat to raw meat.

Are Feline pill pockets safe for dogs? ›

There is very minimal difference between the cat and dog pill pockets, mostly just size. The big ones (like the rest) are like play dough in consistency and are great for pinching off bits to wrap kitty pills in. I have used cat and dog pill pockets interchangeably for years.

Why do vets recommend Pro Plan? ›

Yes, Purina Pro Plan is good for dogs. Backed by 400+ Purina scientists, including nutritionists, behaviorists, and veterinarians, Pro Plan dog food formulas offer advanced nutrition and the highest quality ingredients to nourish your dog's best life. Pro Plan is recommended by veterinarians.

Are pill pockets OK for cats? ›

Giving pills to cats can be a challenge, even for the most experienced veterinarian! The easiest way to give your cat a pill is to hide the pill in food. This usually works best if the pill is hidden in a small amount of wet cat food, tuna, or a soft treat that can be molded around the pill (i.e., Pill Pockets™).

Are pill pockets healthy for cats? ›

Pill Pockets for Cats is a simple, healthy way to administer oral medications to your cat.

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