Give your pup the medication he/she needs with your own Homemade Dog Pill Pockets. They’re made with three ingredients, are dairy and flour free, AND you’ll be saving money!
Your pup will see these DIY Pill Pockets as a treat and you’ll have peace of mind that he’s taking his meds!
PLEASE make sure you’re using a peanut butter that DOES NOT contain Xylitol as it can be fatal.
As we’ve never had an issue feeding these Homemade Pill Pockets to our pups, I encourage you to do your own research and make your own call.
A few years ago, I worked as an office manager in a busy vet clinic and I was amazed, to say the very least that so many animals were on medications. I had absolutely NO idea that cats and dogs could have just as many health issues as humans.
I really think that sometimes I live under a rock or maybe I’m just too naive. Or both.
Though our current dog, Logan doesn’t take any medications, he was the perfect model for the picture below.
I removed the pill and he enjoyed the empty pocket as a treat.
SAVE THIS DIY PILL POCKET RECIPE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
*NOTE:
I previously made this recipe with milk and flour, but have changed it so that these “treats” are better for them.
There have been concerns about the ingestion of raw flour for humans as well as dogs, so I have removed that ingredient and replaced it with ground quick oats.
Also, your furry friend may have an aversion to dairy. I’ve replaced the milk with water.
Below were our first babies, Brady and Keiser.
They really were the best of friends and had such a great time together.
We taught Brady, the older one, a lot of tricks and he was extremely obedient.
He was so obedient that one night after the family was outside with neighbors, we came into the house when I later realized he was nowhere to be found.
I opened the front door to call for him and there he was, just sitting there wagging his tail waiting to be let it.
The younger one, Keiser, belonged to our daughter and lived with us while she was away at college.
He looks innocent and wide-eyed, but he was the mischievous one.
Once he even wrestled with a porcupine. He lost that bout.
We pulled 169 quills out of him that night.
Other times, he’s an absolute goofball, reminding me of Willoughby the dog who says, “Which way did he go, George? Which way did he go?” If he could talk, I’m certain that’s what he would sound like.
This guy pictured above was on meds. He needed a pill three times a day, every day for seizures he was having.
DIY Pill Pockets
When I first purchased pill pockets, I thought they were one of the greatest things invented. The dog needs a pill? Hide it in the pocket, smush the thing shut and voila!
Dog eats pill, but thinks he’s getting a treat! Score! It seemed like a win for all of us. My dog was happy and I was content knowing he was getting the medicine he needs to stay healthy.
Then reality set in.
As if spending money on medication for dogs isn’t enough, you need to purchase something to disguise the pill because they most certainly aren’t going to swallow the thing on it’s own as we humans do.
You know what that means?
$$$$$
This medication for dogs thing can take a toll on your pocketbook.
As much as we all love our pets and would most likely do anything for them, they can be pricey.
Some people have success just wrapping a pill in a piece of bread or other food, but Keiser had grown used to these pill pockets! I wanted him to keep having the treats he enjoyed so much.
I’ve made my fair share of homemade dog treats before, like these popular Peanut Butter & Oatmeal Dog Biscuits and Pupcakes.
I found out that it’s actually super duper simple to make your own dog pill pockets to keep my bank account as happy as my pup.
Now I’ve discovered that I can make these wonderful things at home and the great thing is that they work just as well. You won’t believe how stinkin’ easy it is either!
What ingredients do I need to make my own copycat pill pockets?
- water
- creamy peanut butter –
MAKE SURE that there is NO Xylitol included in the ingredients!! It can be fatal to your pup! - quick oats
THAT’S IT!
Pretty cool, hunh?
How do I make these at home?
- Place the oats into a blender or food processor to grind them up.
- In a small bowl, combine the water, oats, and peanut butter and mix well. use your hands towards the end to bring it all completely together.
- Divide the dough into 12 small balls.
- Using the end of a meat thermometer or toothpick, poke a hole into a ball and wriggle it around making the hole big enough to conceal the pill.
- Place the pill into the dough and give your pup their treat!
- They should last 3-4 days when stored refrigerated in an air-tight plastic container. If left out at room temperature there is the possibility they will become moldy.
- If you have larger capsules, then only divide the dough into 6 balls. You just want to make sure you have enough dough around each pill to conceal it.
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Homemade Dog Pill Pockets
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons quick oats
Instructions
- Place the oats into a blender or food processor to grind them up fine.
- In a small bowl, combine the water, peanut butter and ground oats.
- Mix with a rubber spatula until completely combined. Towards the end of the mixing, I found it best to bring everything together by using my hands.
- Divide the dough into 12 small balls.
- Using the tip of a meat thermometer, or a toothpick, make a hole and wriggle the utensil around to enlarge the opening.
- Store in a plastic bag.
Notes
- They should last 3-4 days when stored refrigerated in an air-tight plastic container. If left out at room temperature there is the possibility they will become moldy.
Nutrition
More Homemade Dog Treats
If you like these homemade pill pockets for your dogs, then you’ll love these Peanut Butter Banana Treats. I love baking for my doggies just as much as I love baking for people in my life.
I’ve never met a dog who doesn’t start wagging their tail like wild when their favorite person is holding a Dog Cake. These Chicken and Cheese Dog Treats are yet another hit with the canines in our house.
Comments & Reviews
Thank you for the recipe on how to make “Homemade Pill Pockets”. My Allie Mack [Golden Retriever] is two years old. I adopted her as a rescue when she was nine months old. Allie had already lived in three different homes before I adopted her. I totally understand that some dogs are pups for a long time. The Vet said that she will be a pup for a awhile growing out of that stage because of how she lived those that first year. Allie has so much love to share. I will pass this recipe on to Dr Tim, Allie’s Vet.
Kathleen
Aw, thanks so much, Kathleen! We LOVE our Goldens – they’re such sweet and awesome dogs.
Best of luck with her, she sounds like she getting lots of love and that you’re making up for a lot of lost time. Great job, mom!
So do you just put the pill in the pocket n mold the pocket around it? Silly question but just checked prices on these n hoped I would find a recipe. Just found out our fur baby has an enlarged heart n am just starting giving pills.
Why do the mold so quickly?
Hi Fran,
I’m sorry about that. If the pill pockets are left on the kitchen counter and there is high humidity in the kitchen then that could be the cause. They could also become moldy if left too long in the fridge or if there are some other items in there that have expired. My suggestion would be to just make one batch or even a half batch at a time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. It might be an inconvenience to make so few at a time, but hopefully, you’ll be able to reach a point where you can make enough at a time and be able to use them before you notice them getting moldy again.
Please let me know how it goes.
Would these work if I took them on a backpacking trip? I am working about them melting together in a zip lock in my pack?
Miranda, I wouldn’t recommend taking them on a backpacking trip as I’ve had a few followers tell me that they’ve become moldy.
And with temperature and humidity, I think there would be just too many variables for me to give you a definitive yes. I think the pill pockets are probably best stored for just a couple days in an airtight container in the refrigerator to help prevent this.
I make my dogs pill pockets with powdered milk honey and peanut butter. Discovered this when I made peanut butter balls for my kids. Dog ate them as fast as the kids. I get my dogs RX at my pharmacy, saves $$$.
I like the idea of not using flour — trying to keep any form of grain away from my boy. He is on Raw meals now as well. With your recipe, are you replacing the powdered milk, honey and peanut butter.ingredients equally with this recipe?
Like this?
1 tablespoon Honey
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons Powdered Milk
I am a foster with the local shelter. Last week that asked me to care for a boy that had been at the vet for 2 weeks after being found in the woods almost starved to death. Half the weight he should be. I have to be careful with his food, but am slowly introducing healthy homemade food with his prescribed kibble. They OK’d this recipe for me to give him with his pills. Trust me, this boy is not fussy at all! But I want to give him things without a lot of preservatives. So thank you for this. I’m making it this morning!
Donna, I’m so happy that this will be able to help you and the baby you’re fostering. Thank you so much for that.
Are these measurements correct? My dough was much too wet using the 1 Tablespoon water. Did you mean 1 teaspoon?
Leigh, I’ve made them multiple times using the same measurements. They are correct.
Thanks, that is a good idea. I have two dogs on meds and one that doesn’t. I put their pills in peanut butter and they usually take them just fine. I have to give the dog without meds some of the peanut butter also so she doesn’t feel left out. LOL. But they end up with peanut butter in their teeth. Your receipe will be better./ I will make some tonight.
Lorene, the dog we have that isn’t on pills is usually the first one into the kitchen for the “treat”! LOL!
Hope they work out for you!
You are a genius! Thank you – I have spent a fortune on pill pockets – no more!
I can’t take the credit, Carolyn, but thank you! My daughter actually pointed me in that direction on Pinterest after she saw it and knew we were spending a small fortune on them. Hope it helps!
Thank you for sharing the recipe. To get around the raw flour situation, I browned it a little in a saucepan. It increases the nutty flavor of the peanut butter and Charlie, our service dog LOVES them!
I just use cheese. Wrap the pill(s) in a strip of processed cheese…Just goes straight down his throat…I don’t think he even tastes it.
the only thing in wrapping it in cheese, sometimes the cheese dosent dissolve properly. I did that and a couple of hours later my dog was sick to her stomache and the pill was still in the cheese. Depending on the times the pills need to be taken this may not be good, or may just pass thru the system. Just an experience I had.
My vet said cheese is not good for dogs. Any dairy product for that matter. Causes upset stomachs.
This is a great recipe. These look easier than anything I’ve tried.
Your pups are adorable. They all have their own personality.
Annamaria
We have two also, they sound just like yours 🙂 We have one that takes meds. We usually just put his pill in some peanut butter. We are going to be going on vacation for a week and the boys are going to be boarded. Have you ever pre-stuffed the pill pocket and kept refrigerated? I’m just trying to make it easier for the kennel. He takes a capsule so I am not sure if this will break down if I make them all ahead of time.
Thank you for your help and the recipe!
Terri
That is a good question, Terri. I have not tried to pre-stuff them, but I am thinking that it might break the pill down. I don’t think it would be too much trouble for the kennel to stuff them as they give it to him.
You’re very welcome and I appreciate the support and comment.
Thanks so much for this my jack Russell koji who is ten makes taking his pills a chore but no more thanks so much
Crystal, I’m SO happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment.
Necessity was the reason I made them. We ended up with too many pills found on the floor a while after we’d given them to our dog in cheese or a slice of turkey. No bueno. I don’t know how he did it, but he always managed to eat the food and spit the pill out, the bugger. haha
I’m definitely going to try this,my 2 dogs spit off there pills no matter what I try to find them in. I hv even crushed tablets n gravy still won’t eat. We tried everything so “fingers crossed” this will do the trick.
My fingers are crossed for you, Kim. I’m hoping it works for them, too!
Thank you for sharing the recipe. I used to use peanut butter or cheese but my new rescue cocker spaniel will eat around it and spit the pill out. The store bought pill poppers fixed that problem but 2 dogs getting meds twice a day and adding another 2 a day each time they get sick or have surgery is starting to add up. Your recipe will help keep the cost down.
Our dog Sammie suffers from debilitating seizures and needs three pills twice a day to control it. She goes through a pack of pill treats in a week!! Thank you for this. Now we can save some money and she still gets a yummy treat!!
You’re very welcome, Meghan. So sorry to hear about Sammie. It’s so very difficult to watch them go through those seizures. So glad I could help save you some money as it can get to be very expensive, especially with as many as you go through each week!
Thanks for your comment.
Thank you !! Made these tonight but with brown rice flour (had it handy.) Tiki devoured his pill none the wiser – as well as our other dog who loves pill time. ;D I was on a frantic search for chewy pill pocket type treats because I found out that the past 3 bags I’ve been using had rosemary in them. Tiki has been suffering from epileptic seizures and so I’m trying to avoid this in the hope of small improvements. This recipe is much appreciated! 🙂
You’re so very welcome, K&T. Thank you so much for your comment. These were a huge help when we had to give Keiser his pills when he was having his seizures. I hope Tiki’s ok. It’s so tough to watch our babies go through the them. Happy to have helped you!
I was thrilled to find this recipe! You are correct that pill pockets are costly. Depending on what is going on with my dog, I can use 3-5 per day. She love these! I use water instead of milk and double the recipe. They refrigerate well and you can even leave them out since there is no milk in them. I just make one large ball and keep in the fridge. I pinch off a few pieces as I need them for pills. The recipe stays soft enough to do this. I don’t think an occasional piece of cheese is harmful unless your dog is lactose-intolerant. Too much could be constipating, though! Thanks for sharing!
would never feed my dogs peanut butter! http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/3-reasons-peanut-butter-isnt-safe-for-dogs-or-people/
My dog is fat restricted so can use something other than peanut butter??
Have you had a trouble with these melting? We have a timed feeder for her middle of the day pill which we set up before we leave for work and I would hate for it to melt and have her not eat her pill.
Thanks!
How long will these treats last before they mold
I had mine sealed in a plastic container and noticed mold after about 3 days. I just made a fresh batch and will store them in the fridge.
Thanks for sharing this recipe, we have two dogs a 11 month old border collie and a 6 yr old shep terrier mix, the 6 yr old has hip issues so is taking glucosamine / Chondroitin pills and also have to border collie on them as a preventive since they are prone to hip issues also. I found my dogs love pill pockets but as previously stated they get to very expensive. Also found on Chewy pill wraps. I made this recipe this morning and the dogs loved it just like treats. but instead of making the individual pill pockets, i am going to leave it in a ball and just tear off enough to wrap around the pill. As you stated the pockets have plenty to cover a pill..
I’m so glad the recipe’s been helpful, Doug! Thanks for letting me know.
Just make sure the peanut butter you use is free from Xylitol as is can be fatal to dogs.
THANK YOU! I appreciate that you created and published your pill pocket recipe!!!!
The pill pockets currently sold in stores are; as you mentioned, expensive, come with prop 65 warning labels, and or make false statements about the ingredients being natural. Seriously, why would I consciously feed my dog anything containing chemicals known to cause cancer?? And if a brand of any dog product states the ingredients are natural, but the list of ingredients on the backside, does not state so; makes me question what is really in that dog product.
You have made me so happy and excited to make my pup his pill pockets. This homemade recipe has put my mind at rest. Made with a few simple, approved for human consumption, natural, ingredients, Awesome!
You’re welcome and thank you, Kelly!
Hey Lynne, I know this is an old post, but I need to know how many pill pockets this recipe would make. Sorry if it’s been answered and I’ve overlooked it.
Butch, the recipe will make 12 pockets.
Brilliant! Thanks very much! My pup has to take a large bitter tasting pill at bedtime and your pill pocket makes it easy and tasty for her to eat it without chewing. Nice and non sticky for me to handle, too.
Hi Lynne!
I found this post years ago and filled it away in the memory bank as something to try if the old pup (not an oxymoron, I swear) ever needed meds long term. This was pre-FDA warning about raw flour. Came back to get the recipe yesterday (the pup’s now on three pills a day) and read your disclaimer. A little research told me that if you “toast” the flour in the oven first, it will kill any bacteria on the small chance that there is any.
Preheat the oven to at least 250F. Spread the dry flour on a baking sheet and toast for 3-4 mins.
Chances are very very small that raw flour has harmful bacteria in the first place, but some people might find it a good precaution to take. Hope you find this useful, and thanks for the recipes!!
For those concerned with raw flower (which never use) another choice that works is oatmeal-put in food processor has consistency of flour-probably healthier.
For a lowfat, safe quick treat-mix ground oatmeal w/sweet potato or pumpkin, flatten bake 350 until brown/crisp about 10-15 min.
On the oats and sweet potato ,flatten and bake. Is there a receipe ? I need low fat no fat snacks.
Hi there – do these need to be refrigerated? If so, any way to make them not need refrigeration? Thanks!
I use your recipe for my little chihuahua who has to take meds twice a day, but instead of forming it into the pockets, I just pinch off a little bit each time I need it and press it around his pills. He gulps it down so fast he has no idea what he’s getting, he loves them!!
That’s awesome, Laurel. I’m so glad it’s working for you and your little guy. Thanks for letting me know!
Could I make up a batch, store some in the refrigerator and freeze the rest?
Cindy, I think you would be able to freeze them and then just thaw in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Amazing !! I’m so glad you shared this idea , my dog is 9 and this is the first time I’ve ever had him take pills without realising , played catch with the peanut butter balls and the usually stressful medicating saga was done and dusted in seconds, brilliant – now do you have a simple trick for stressfree claw trimming ..
You are very welcome. Emjay. I so wish I had suggestions for nail trimming. We need to work on that with our next one for sure!
I am so excited and happy to find this recipe.. I am not good at stuffing pills down my dog’d throat. I have tried using peanut butter, small meatballs that I make, rolling pills up in ham slices, and several other hair brained ideas.
I tried commercial pill pockets a couple of years ago and she started throwing up immediately. The company has now made three different flavors so I thought i would try again. Same result, she has been sick all week.
I have not made your pill pockets yet, but will do so as soon as I finish this email.
Thanks so much!!
I am so happy and excited to find you receipe.
What would we do without google, lol!? My chow mix was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and has been on 3 pills twice a day for 2 weeks now. I’ve tried everything. Hotdogs used to work but he got wise. I found pill pockets on line after someone suggested them and ordered one pack, but dummy me didn’t calculate that that 30-day supply was only going to last 7 1/2 days! Wow….this is going to be expensive! So I’m going to give this a try. In the meantime, for breakfast he gets 2 pieces of bologna, grilled, with a slice of cheese in the middle, which melts and I press the pills into the cheese, let it cool and slice into pieces. He loves his little bologna sandwiches! Thanks for sharing this recipe. You have beautiful babies!?
Can I use almond flour or coconut flour in place of regular flour?
THANK YOU!
Thank you so much for this post! My dog literally wouldn’t take her tablets so I made these abd they have worked a treat. Very happy fur baby mamma
Lindsey,
that’s so great to hear! Thank you so much for letting me know. It’s tough when you know they need their meds, but yet they won’t touch them with a 10 foot pole.
Instead of flour, try grinding dry dog food in food processor . It’s what I use for making treats, adding sweet potato or pumpkin
(good for sensitive tummys).
Thanks! I have a 14 year old baby girl. I want something soft because she is losing her teeth. I will try this with her favorite dog biscuits. She doesn’t need pills, just a treat she will like.
Thank you so much! You have really solved a huge problem for me. My pup is a severe diabetic and the pill pockets were raising his blood sugar even higher. There are no pill pockets on the market for diabetic dogs. You really made my day!
I have been using this recipe for a few weeks with my senior furr-baby and he loves them. My kids also enjoy helping make them. We make enough for a week at a time and keep them in the fridge.
We too were spending a fortune on pill pockets and needed an alternative. We have tried plain PB or cheese, neither worked, he would simply spit out the pill after the food was gone. I asked my vet about this recipe today, just to be safe. They had no reservations, assuming we had xylitol free PB, other than potentially the milk, which tends to cause stomach upset in dogs. Our boy has been eating them for 3 weeks with no trouble, so we lucked out there. They recommended coconut oil (melted) as a substitute for dogs with a dairy intolerance.
I believe there is a way to “cook” the flout by heating it. Google for that info. I think I saw something about some time ago on America’s Test Kitchen on PBS. Wonderful recipes! Thanks!!!
Will these homemade pill pouches work for a dog that is diabetic?
Debbie, I’m not sure. I would check with your veterinarian before giving it to them. I’m thinking if you used an all natural peanut butter (one not containing any added sugar) would be ok. But check with your vet!
Thank you so much for this. I have a pittie with advanced arthritis and he absolutely loves these pockets. Pill time is now a happy time for him.
That’s so awesome to hear, Lynn! That makes me happy that he now looks forward to them and can help him. Thanks for letting me know!
Can I use wholemeal flour? And are they able to be baked to be safe?
Our two 13 year old sibling small breed dogs have congestive heart failure . They each take 14 pills a day. The amount we’ve spent on pill pockets! 😱
I make their food (for the past year) and they are both doing quite well. I’ll need to try this recipe. Instead of flour I wonder if ground oats would work?
People should be aware that some medications cannot be given with dairy products
Someone was asking for help with nail trimming. I found a very helpful video on Youtube. The gal shows you how to use your body to hold the dog down and also shows you how she gradually trains it to get over its anxiety. Nail trimming is a whole lot better now.
I am new to the regular medication routine, and am going to try this recipe for sure!
Thank you!
These are wonderfully easy to make and I made my batch with beef broth instead of milk to add flavor. However, uncooked wheat flour isn’t tolerated by my pup for some reason. I gave him one at night to try and get him hooked on the delicious treat (with no pill inside) … he loved the tasty treat but threw up a very undigested chunk a few hours later. We are using arrowroot powder from now on as it is well tolerated by dogs and is also good for their digestive system.
Just finding this in 2020! Mixed up all the ingredients and store in a small container. When it’s pill time, I just pinch off what I need. Couldn’t be easier or more affordable! Thanks! (I used 3 Tbsp almond flour to avoid the quandary of whether to toast the all purpose flour or not. I honestly don’t think it would matter though!)
Thank you very much for this recipe, it makes a big difference when you’re on pill tricking tacking #3487373 and your canine child stillll somehow manages to eat around the pill!
Without getting into a total rant about why some pills/tablets cant be made in a way that doesn’t require you to go to magic school to avoid having to forcefully give medications when they are already not at their best…..
I wanted to share with everyone- **IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FLOUR** I was able to substitute this out by taking some dry treats/kibble, put them in a little bag and bang on the bag with the back of a spoon to turn it into a fine powder- ergo no flour, and using what your dog already loves and eats! The recipe still worked wonders!
Good luck to everyone on their pill quests!!
I love your recipes. I have decided not to join here bc it has so many popups and things interfering with seeing all you have here. I just gave up. Luckily I was able to screenshot bits and pieces to follow and save the recipe. I hope all is well in your world with this Virus. Take care and thanks so very much for the recipe. God Bless you and yours. Sincerely Magz
Please watch out for XYLITOL in any food you give your fur babies, it’s potentially fatal
There are foods like P.B. Without this additive
Hi Lynne, I just found this and was wondering if you would recommend this for cats? My two fur babies are suffering from major allergies and I’m trying to get them to take Benadryl without immediately spitting it up. Any advice is appreciated! Thank you.
Zain, I don’t have a recommendation for cats. I suggest asking your veterinarian as they’ll give you the best advice for them.
I work in a five star kitchen. To make flour safe to eat, just place the flour on a pan and dry bake it for a few minutes. Goodbye E Coli!
Ano
These are amazing! My dogs love them even more than the commercially made ones and they are super easy and cheap!
Between my three dogs I give 18 pills per day, we’ve got allergies, arthritis, pain and a mast cell tumor. This recipe makes medicine time =treat time!
Thank you!!!
I can’t wait to try thes! Our 9 year old pup has hypothyroidism and was recently diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. She has to take meds 4 times a day, sometimes 5 pills in a dose! The store bought pill pouches are great but pricey! We learned fast that we can’t keep spending so much money on store bought pill pockets. I also like that there are basic ingredients in this recipe making it easy to control. Many pet treats have rosemary oil in them, an ingredient that some think may trigger seizures in some dogs. I don’t want to take any chances with her health. Thank you for posting this!
Oh, Tara, give your pup a big hug for me! I’m so glad that this recipe will be able to help you. It really was a lifesaver for us with our dog, Keiser.
Wishing you the best with your baby and hope these help all of you!
Love this recipe! I stored mine in a Tupperware on the countertop and it went moldy after about 5 days. Going to try again but store in the fridge and hope they last longer.
Thank you, Nasya. Good to know.
Great recipe. My GSD mix swallowed all 3 of her daily pills whole with this!
That’s awesome to hear. Thank you, LW!
Just saw your recipe on Pinterest. Wondering if I can just use oat flour and how much?? Can I use the oat flour without baking??
Think this recipe sounds great. Almost the same ingredients I use when making dog treats.
I bake the treats though.
I am going to try this recipe really soon. My 7 month old Beagle Mix rescue Gracie is heartworm positive and we are doing her pre-treatment right now which is 5 pills a day, which means 1-3 pill pockets a day for the unforeseeable future and Greenie’s is super expensive.
Hi Amanda!
I’m so glad you found it and hope that it helps Gracie and saves you some money as well!
I may have missed it. It says store in a plastic bag. But does it need to stay refrigerated? I’m trying these now and I can already tell you my dog will love it! Just putting the natural peanut butter on the pill works but this will make it special! Also with a dog and diabetes it’s nice to give them something safe.
Ashlee, you will need to refrigerate them in a plastic bag because they can start to get mold. I know it’s convenient to maybe make a large batch at a time, but I would recommend against it because of this. I found it’s easiest to just make one recipe at a time.
This recipe is fantastic! I’ve been using cheese slices for his pills but our dog has diabetes and now has diarrhea which I’m thinking is caused by the cheese slices. I’ve made other pill pocket recipes but this one is the easiest. I like to make a big batch, can I freeze part of it? Thanks, June 😊
Hi! My vet told us to eliminate all proteins including peanut butter and bacon. Can I replace the peanut butter in your recipe with sweet potato or pumpkin? Thank you!!
Michele, I think pumpkin or mashed sweet potato would work great as well. Just store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
I’m sorry. I really needed a recipe for these but when I came to your website all of the ads where like a bomb went off. I ended up NOT getting the recipe because of this. So much confusion going on with your page. I don’t believe I be back until the ads stop.
Well, Charlene, I cannot apologize for the inconvenience as the ads are necessary to provide my readers with FREE recipes. I’m sure you’ll find that is the case with practically every blog or recipe website you visit to print any recipe for free.
I have been making these for maybe a month now. I make a big batch and refrigerate them but my dogs (at least the dog that actually needs to take the pills) won’t eat them cold so I take a few out each time I give a pill and put them in a sealed bag for the next dose – that way they are always room temp but not moldy. May be elaborate, but saving so much!
Also sometimes add in sweet potato or other dog-friendly baby food for variety. Requires a little more oats.
Corrie, I’m so happy it’s worked out so well for you and your babies! Thanks so much for taking the time to let me know and for rating it so well, too!
Corrie, I’m SO happy to hear that it’s worked so well for you and your babies! That’s awesome. Thanks for the feedback and for taking the time to let me know.
Thank you for this recipe. Our dog has a chronic condition that affects his digestion & will be on meds the rest of his life. The ingredients do not make him sick so we now also use them as treats since he can’t tolerate commercial products. That it is so easy to make is another plus & since he weighs in at 70 lbs. I increased it to cups, 2, 1 & 1. They don’t have time to spoil.
Olga, you are most welcome. I’m so glad that it’s working out well for you. Hugs to you and your baby.
Tried this recipe on my smart dog who hates taking his medication. He already figured out the pill was hidden inside it. Great recipe, very cheap and easy to make.
Smart dog you’ve got there, Alyssa! I’m so glad you liked it and thanks for the feedback!
Love this. I make bigger batches, roll out in one one large sheet, refrigerate overnight then freeze what i can’t use within the next 2 weeks (this is how long i find it lasts before going bad). I just pinch off a bit each time i need to wrap a pill and wrap it. Really simple and doesn’t stick to fingers.
I will definitely be trying this recipe. I have two dogs and they both have to take meds. I have to hide them in their Snausages treats that I buy. It is getting harder to trick Reese who we rescued and we call him our “Cheagle”, as we describe him bc he is part chihuahua and part beagle, so I believe these will help. Our Jack Russel mix, Sweetpea, she is harder to trick because she chews her treats where Reese sometimes swallows his almost whole lol. They both love peanut butter flavored treats!! Thank you for the recipe.
My 11 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback is on daily pain pills but having them swallow it was a pain for me. Try hiding it on cheese, ham, almond butter… nothing worked. Most of the commercially sold pockets were full of junk I don’t want to give to his already compromised health! So I made these. Oh wow! He LOVES them. No pain to give him his meds now! The pain is to stop him asking for more! Thank you!
Thank you..thank you..thank you.!!! I could not get my dog to take his post op tramadol no matter what I tried. I made these this morning and he didn’t even know the pill was in there. So much healthier this way.
Oh, Audrey, that’s SO awesome to hear and makes me so very happy.
I’m thrilled to be able to help and remove a bit of stress so you don’t have to worry about your baby.
Thank you so much for the recipe ! You are a life saver ! I’ve never heard of pill pockets before as they are not sold in my country. Everytime my pups got sick , the first thing that popped up in my head was “please don’t let the medication be pills…..”. My two pomeranians are like walking pill detector, they could lick an entire bowl of slimy wet food clean and leave the teeeny pill there ; if I ever tried crushing and mixing them with their food , they’ll just take a sniff and rather be hungry.
It’s the kennel cough season here and both my babies are sick, they were prescribed so many pills and I was so lost because I had never managed to get one pill in them , let alone a few pills for two pups 😂 I was sceptical of this recipe but went on to try anyways since I really hated the idea of force feeding them.
My eldest gobble it up right away! His little brother didn’t fancy the smell of peanut butter so I switched it with pumpkin puree and coconut oil and voilà, they begged for more! I even tried stuffing some strong smelling supplements they used to hate into the pocket, and surprisingly they ate them nonetheless! I’m definitely going to give this ‘special treats’ sparingly so they won’t get bored of them too easily.
So easy and economical; my Boxer loves them. He is on 2 a day heart meds so commercial pill pockets are expensive.
I realize this is an older post, but thank you SO much for this recipe! I have a 15 y.o. Cocker Spaniel who is quite suddenly taking 3 different meds on different days at different intervals. At first I was wrapping a tiny bit of cheese around the pills, but after adding the 3rd med, I felt like we needed to make a change since even at small amounts, it was just too much cheese. Pill pockets all seem to have ingredients she is allergic too, plus they are very pricey for long term use. Then it occurred to me that some clever person had to have already come up with a good homemade alternative, so I googled, and there was your recipe. It came together so easily! I left it in one ball and have it stored in a container in the fridge. She’s already had her first pill in its little PB pocket and is one happy pup since she loves PB, and I’m a very happy and relieved mama. Thanks again!
THANK YOU FOR THIS! Meds are already so expensive, to buy the pill pockets are just an added insult. I cut the time down by using oat flour. Question though: I get far more pockets from a batch because my charge is a chihuahua. How long do they last in the fridge/ have you tried freezing them?
I didn’t think it was possible to make these so well. They’re not really sticky at all, especially if I roll them in flour. With 5 dogs at various stages of their lives, this recipe will save me like $15 a week on Pill Pockets!
Thank you for this recipe! My 9.5 yrs young GSD mix was diagnosed with cancer, and she is now on Palladia (oral chemo) three times a week and anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea meds as needed. The first month I had no trouble feeding her feline pill pockets (salmon flavored), but couldn’t get her to take a pill in the canine peanut butter pill pocket. And now five weeks in, she’s starting to balk at the feline salmon (I think I wrapped one of the pills too thin and she caught a taste before swallowing). I’m hoping to start with your recipe and based on ingredient proportions, modify with different flavors to keep her interest in her medicine. Maybe instead of water I will use the water I cook her chicken in and experiment with the oatmeal, broth, and ground cooked meats-I’ll need a binder when I don’t use PB. Thanks again! YOU may have just helped me give her lots more time with a lot less stress to her (eliminated the need to force feed these pills with an already compromised trachea from the pressure of the tumor).
Oh, Laila, I am so sorry to hear about your baby! I sure do hope these work for her and that she’s actually able to enjoy them.
Best wishes for you both, and thank you for your comment.
These are so awesome! I make a double batch and it makes 15 grape sized balls. I have to give my old guy arthritis pills 2x per day so each double batch lasts a week. I feel good giving these to him every day with such simple ingredients. Thanks for the great recipe!
What a great idea! I’ve worked in the animal care industry for nearly 30 years and this never occurred to me, my coworkers or our vets. I’ll definitely be spreading the word. At any given time I have a number pets of many varieties. Right now I’m challenged by one of my senior dogs, who was special needs failed foster and who now has geriatric issues on top of his other problems. He’s allergic to everything, including grain and dairy, and he’s also become quite finicky in his old age, so medicating without “pilling” him is problematic. He loves peanut butter, but it’s so messy, and he takes a number of pills, some of them quite large, so he gets more peanut butter than I’d ideally like. This recipe solved the problem! Because he can’t have oats, I substituted ground flaxseed, which has a number of benefits for dogs. Like the oats, it provides bulk so I use far less peanut butter now. The one thing people may want to know is that each pill pocket is quite small (about the size of a standard marble), accommodating one small tablet or caplet each. For larger capsules, liquid, or ground-up meds, several pill pockets must be combined, so in those instances plan on multiplying the recipe. Thanks so much for posting this recipe. It’s a godsend!
Tracey, I am so happy to hear that, thank you so much and you are so welcome!! I hope it helps your pup. I love the idea of the ground flaxseed. I’ve used that to make some of my dog treats and our dogs have loved them. Thanks for spreading the word, too. I appreciate it!
My dogs love them and I don’t even need to grind up the oats.
Bless you for posting this recipe! My 15 year old Lab-Pit mix is still very active and healthy with the help of all her supplements and three medications. Her Levothyroxine is so tiny, she never notices it in her kibble. However, her newer meds, Gabapentin and Carprofen, are a different story! I used to hid each pill in string cheese, but it was difficult to mold it around the pills.
After discovering Zesty Paws pill wrap, giving meds was so much easier! But one tub alone cost over $15-$18 dollars! I was really trying to use as little possible to make it last, but then she would taste/smell her meds. I found a cheaper option by Pet MD for $11-$14 dollars. Recently, she’s been picky with a few of her supplements (Reishi, Turkey Tail, and Colostrum), so I’ve been wrapping them, too. We go through one 4.2 oz tub (60 portions) in about one week!
I made your pill wrap recipe today. However, after looking at the ingredients listed by Zesty Paws and Pet MD, I chose to add Liquid Smoke and Sunflower Lecithin. Then I decided to throw in some Nutrition Yeast just for fun. SHE LOVES IT! I would never had known where to begin if I didn’t have your recipe as a guide. Thank you. Thank you! THANK YOU!
Love this recipe! 2nd time making them for my 3 dogs who get meds 3x/day. They love them! We were spending a fortune on cheese and its not really that great for them, so I’m really happy you shared this recipe. Thanks!
If you don’t have quick oats oatmeal can you use old fashion oatmeal?
Love this homemade pill pocket-my dog likes them better than the ones you buy!
Judy, thank you so much for your feedback, and yes, you can use old fashioned oats for this recipe.
These are great and my dog scarfed them right down. However I stored them in a Tupperware kind of container at room temperature and on the 3rd day, opened it to find white fuzzies and spots of mold. Should these be refrigerated or what did I do wrong?
Janet, I’m so glad they worked for your pup! I have had people say that after a few days of sitting on the counter, so I suggest storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I think they should be ok for up to 4 days that way.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention again. I have edited both the post and the recipe card to make note of that.
Do you have a recipe for pill pockets without peanut butter? My dog is allergic to peanut butter.
Margo, although I haven’t used any of these in this recipe, you could use SunButter which is a nut butter made from sunflower seeds, almond butter or cashew butter.
If you do, I’d love to hear what your dog thought of them!
works great- Made one with flour previously but not a fan of flour for dogs so the oats are perfect. I let the water sit for a minute in the oats prior to adding the PB and it worked beautifully:).
Deb, thank you so much for letting me know, I really appreciate that you took the time to do that.
I’m thrilled to hear that it’s worked so well for you. It makes it much easier when we can give the love and care our pets deserve without feeling we’re going to break the bank in the process.
These are perfect. My dog has allergies and turns out the “peanut butter” pill pockets by greenies STILL have chicken product in them. So glad I found this recipe. Thank you for making it!!!
Chelsea, thank you so much! I’m so happy it’s worked for you and that will help with the allergies, too! I so appreciate the feedback and your rating, too!
These worked great. Easy and cheaper than buying! I make them every other week now.
Bridget, that’s so great to hear! Thanks so much for letting me know and for your star review! ❤️
Thanks for the easy recipe! But I have a question — won’t they last longer than 3-4 days in the fridge? I would prefer to make them less often. What about making a big batch, then freezing the ones you won’t be using in the next few days?
Kathy, they may last a bit longer when stored in the fridge. Another suggestion is to do what Jill commented with here on the post: storing some ground oats in a jar and mixing them with the peanut butter and water when needing them.
Unfortunately, I haven’t made them to store in the fridge because our pup who needed them passed a few years ago and our current dog doesn’t need them.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this recipe! My lab is on pain meds (3 pills/day) and will be for the foreseeable future. She’s 10. The simplest way to get her to take her meds was to wrap in a pill pocket. Unfortunately the expense of buying these every week was getting ridiculous. My niece suggested I find a recipe to make my own and voila – I found your recipe. My dog loves them, they take minutes to make and because she has to lose weight to help her joints, the calorie count is perfect! Less than half the calories of the store bought pill pockets. To make the task even easier, I ground up a larger portion of quick oats and store them in an airtight jar, so whenever I run out of the pockets, all I do is measure 2 Tablespoons out of the jar and mix with the peanut butter and water. So easy! I don’t make them into pockets, I just roll the mixture into a ball (and store in frig) then just pull off what I need.
Oh, Jill, that makes me so happy to hear. I’m so glad this recipe’s been able to help your girl. I’m so glad you let me know because besides helping people make recipes for their families, it warms my heart that I’ve been able to help their furry best friends, too! Give her a big hug for me!!
I am so happy to have found this recipe. As soon as I get home I will make this. Our Sadie 4yrs old has seizures now weekly. 5 pills a day. Trying to get under control. Treats are $$$$, I can’t wait for her to try them.
Thanks for recipe!
Do you think if you froze them and took them out a few at a time they would last longer? I love the idea, but the thought of having to make these every 4 days for the next 5-6 years is a hard no -my doggo takes 4 pills twice a day, and I’m already working daily with her on training and with a behaviorist once a week. (Not every dog you rescue is grateful and loving. Mine is a hot mess of anxiety and pain). I’ve been splitting a pill pocket in half to give her all four and it works fine, but we’re going through a bag of 60 once a month!
Jenn, I think they would be ok if you froze them and took a few out at a time. You could also do as Phil suggested above by making up the powdered mix in advance and then making them a few at a time, but of course, whatever works easiest for you.
I hope they make your life easier and save you some money, Jenn!
My fur baby has Addison’s. So he takes medication twice a day. I needed a way to cut the cost and this recipe helps me do it. Super easy to make and he loves them!
I do love the simplicity of this recipe, thank you!
A suggested improvement, to get rid of the possibility of mold, no refrigeration needed, make a decent quantity, and to have it on hand whenever you want —–
– Put 1/2 cup of oats, along with 1/4 cup of PB2 (powdered peanut butter) in a nutri-bullet.
– Turn this into a powder.
– Put in a mason jelly jar and store in your pantry / on your counter.
I take a teaspoon of oat/peanut butter powder, plus a few drops of water, and make the paste. You can do this in the palm of your hand (no need to dirty more dishes).
I have 2 dogs, and this makes 4 treats in less than a minute, each about the size of a small marble (only one has the medicine, but they don’t know or care 🙂 )
This makes enough for 36 tsp of mix (144 pockets), which should last you at least a month if you use them every day, and easily fits in a 1/2 pint jelly jar. Takes about 1 minute to measure out the ingredients, process them in the nutri-bullet, and store in the jar.
Phil, that is an awesome suggestion and I really appreciate the tip and I’m sure others will as well. Thank you SO much for sharing that!
I’m so glad this recipe has helped you and your pup!
Thank you for this recipe. We adopt older dogs and usually need to give them medicine at some point. This recipe has saved me so much money!
Laura, you are most welcome! I’m thrilled to hear that. Thank you for letting me know and for the review!
What a wonderful thing you’re doing! I love that you’re giving older dogs a forever home. Thank you, and keep up the great work!❤️
My dog is a snob because she turned her nose at this, but I doubled the peanut butter and she was accepting. I’m definitely keeping it in the arsenal because it’s a lot better than giving a spoonful of peanut better every time.
Good thinking, Lynda! I’m so glad that worked for you, Thanks for the comment.