Dog Pill Pouches

Dogs, like most kids, don't like taking pills but it doesn't have to be a painful process trying to get our canine friends to swallow their medication. By simply hiding their pills in a delicious treat you'll find that your pup may actually like taking his/her medication. Big pet brands have realized this and created "Pill Pockets". This Instructable will walk you through how to make your own natural pill pockets, which I've renamed pill pouches.

You'll need the following for these easy pill pockets:

• 1 Tablespoon of Milk (can substitute chicken stock or water)
• 1 Tablespoon of Peanut Butter (can substitute ground meat/fish)
• 2 Tablespoon of Flour (can substitute GF Flours)
• 1/2 Teaspoon of Fish Oil (not pictured)
• Mixing Bowl
• Fork
• Chopstick
• Storage Container

I first found this recipe while doing a search for natural dog treats for my own pup, I've made a few changes, like the addition of fish oil for her fur coat but otherwise really love it--so does my dog.   :D I have listed substitutions in an attempt to accommodate your dogs dietary needs.

Add all of your ingredients to your mixing bowl. Mix them together until it all sticks together and you have a dough the consistency of cookie dough. 

Taking a small portion of your dough in your hands, roll it into a ball about the size of a marble. 

Using the back end of a chopstick poke a hole or a dent in your pill pocket. Make sure the dent is deep enough and wide enough to accommodate your dog's pills. 

Insert one of your dog's pills into your pill pouch. Using your fingers, seal the open end of the pouch. 

Give your pill pouch, pill inserted, to your dog.

Easy right? You've just painlessly administered your dogs meds and my best guess is that they are still licking their lips!

I've found that this recipe makes 8-12 pill pockets depending on the size of pill you are accommodating. Store them in a tupperware in your refrigerator or freezer and keep for future use. They last for a little under the week in the fridge and a couple of months in the freezer. 

I also like to keep them as treats since they are small and bite sized in addition to using them to hide pills. Your dogs will learn to love them and not expect treats hidden inside.