Meddor
A pill spat out, a cat hiding under the bed, a dose forgotten or given twice: that’s everyday life with a treatment. Choose your pet and the type of medication: here are the techniques vets recommend. For the dose and timing, follow the prescription.
Rules that always apply
- Follow the prescription to the letter: dose, timing, duration, with or without food. Texas A&M’s veterinary school suggests writing the instructions down as you leave the vet’s, to avoid giving too much.
- Never a human medicine without your vet’s approval.
- Don’t split or crush a tablet without their approval: some are coated and must stay whole.
- Sitting or standing, never lying down, so they don’t choke.
Hiding it in food
That’s the easiest way, if your vet says the medication can be given with food. Hide it in a small bite they love, given before the rest of the meal: mixed into the whole bowl, you wouldn’t know whether they took it all. For a dog, avoid any food containing xylitol, a sweetener that’s toxic to them.
For cats, a little water afterwards
Some tablets irritate the oesophagus if they stay there. International Cat Care and Texas A&M advise following the tablet with a little water or a treat, especially in cats.
When it isn’t working
If they vomit, are very stressed or struggle, don’t push. Your vet can show you how, or suggest another form: a liquid, a paste, a tastier tablet.
Frequently asked questions
I missed a dose
Ask your vet or pharmacist how to pick up again, rather than deciding on your own.
What’s a pill giver?
A kind of plastic syringe, with no needle, that places the tablet at the back of the tongue. Your vet will have them.
Can I put my dog’s flea treatment on my cat?
No. Some dog parasite products contain permethrin, which is highly toxic to cats.
Sources
- International Cat Care, “How to give a cat medication”: tablets, liquids, spot-ons, tools.
- Texas A&M, College of Veterinary Medicine, “Giving Your Pet Pills”: position, pill giver, water afterwards, when to stop.
- Merck Veterinary Manual, “How Drugs Are Given to Animals”, November 2025: human medicines.
- Merck Veterinary Manual, “Ectoparasiticides Used in Small Animals”, April 2024: permethrin and cats.
- Merck Veterinary Manual, “Food Hazards”: xylitol.