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Resources
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Managing medication at home often involves a mixture of information, organisation, trial and error, and occasionally a little ingenuity. This page brings together some free resources, downloads, videos and products that I've found helpful when caring for dogs with medication needs. Some are simple everyday items, others are things I didn't know existed until I needed them.
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Resources
Helpily resources
When BooBoo eventually refused tablets and none of the usual approaches worked, we found ourselves trying all sorts of ideas. Empty gelatin capsules which can hold several crushed tablets? Who knew? It turns out that, along with a colourful variety of other techniques, these didn't work for BooBoo either.
This led us to develop a very structured method involving small "blobs" of sticky food, some containing medication and some not. To our great relief, she accepted the hidden tablets and genuinely enjoyed the whole process.
Managing multiple medications can be surprisingly complicated. This video shows some of the ways I organised Skippy and BooBoo's medication routines, storage and records.
- Medication organising video
Coming soon! A downloadable chart to help keep track of medications and doses.
Practical medication guides and videos
- Very useful, vet-written guide to giving pills by Dr. Sara Ochoa in Canine Journal
- How to give pills video by Helpful Vancouver Vet
- How to give eye drops video from PDSA
- Putting in ear drops video from Red Bank Veterinary Hospital
- Giving liquid medication – video and transcript from Oakridge Animal Clinic
Useful sources of help
One strong conclusion I've reached from putting together this website and from survey respondents is that it's essential that everybody finds what works safely, sanely and realistically for them and each of their dogs. That applies not only to medication but to tech support. For example, I found working with ChatGPT a time-saving, professionalism-adding and often fun experience. One survey respondent disagreed: "Please don't use AI - it can't even get postcodes right, it's not going to help with medication!"
People get support from all sorts of places, including veterinary practices, family, friends, neighbours, dog walkers, 24/7 phonelines from insurance companies and support groups. One survey respondent simply wrote: "My daughter is also a vet."
The evidence base about giving medication as prescribed
Improving Owner Compliance with Pet Medication Regimens
One of the most useful articles I've found about pet medication management, despite using the common, and unhelpful, medical term "compliance". It explains why medication routines can be difficult, what can happen when medications aren't given as prescribed, and some of the practical ways veterinary teams and owners can work together to improve things.
Useful products
These aren't recommendations for everyone, and I'm certainly not suggesting you rush out and buy them all! They're simply products that I've found helpful when managing medication and recovery at home and, sometimes, when away on holiday with my dogs. Some are everyday items, others are things I didn't even know existed until I needed them. To repeat our favourite mantra: "If in doubt, check with your vet." I’ve included some places to buy these online, but many of the products will be available in your local pet shop, who will appreciate your custom.
Recovery and protection
Soft cone
- What it helps with: preventing licking and scratching while skin, wounds and other injuries are healing
- Why you might find it useful: Much more comfortable than many traditional plastic cones and worth having before you might need it.
- One example: Hjumarayan Recovery Cone This is the one I use with Skippy. I’ve found that it’s easy to Velcro shut and to avoid the loud ripping noise when opening, it’s loose enough to be able to pull over her head.
Recovery shirt
- What it helps with: protecting wounds, skin conditions and post-operative sites
- Why you might find it useful: Some dogs tolerate these much better than cones.
- One example: Suitical Recovery Suit for Dogs
Self-adhesive bandage
- What it helps with: keeping dressings in place and protecting paws
- Why you might find it useful: Useful to have in the house and car for minor injuries and dressing changes. (Though veterinary advice is important because bandages can cause problems if applied incorrectly.)
Getting organised
Wipe-clean whiteboard
· What it helps with: reminders, communication and recording medication given
· Why you might find it useful: Much easier to notice than a notebook and particularly helpful when more than one person is involved in caring for a dog. Inexpensive and available in many forms: wall-mounted, desktop, magnetic for the fridge, or simply propped up against the fruit bowl.
- One example: I like this because it’s got different coloured pens which you could use for different pets, different members of the family, different medications, different tasks (feeding, meds). Set of two – same thing about different purposes. Dry Erase Mini Whiteboard Set
- Another, more specific example: Dog feeding chart. Although designed for feeding, charts like this can easily be adapted for medication. A permanent marker could transform "Did you feed the dog?" into "Did you give the dog their medication?" and the chart could then be used to record doses instead of meals. Dog feeding chart
Medication charts and trackers
• What they help with: keeping track of medications, doses, timings and repeat prescriptions.
• Why you might find them useful: Medication charts can reduce the risk of missed doses, duplicate doses and confusion, particularly when several medications, several dogs or several carers are involved. Some focus mainly on recording medication, while others also include feeding schedules, reminders and space for notes.
• Examples: The Etsy examples below show two different approaches to medication tracking. Weekly medication download and Feeding & medication schedule download
Helpily's own medication charts, including simple and multiple-medication versions, will also be available as free downloads in the Resources section.
• What they help with: keeping track of medications, doses, timings and repeat prescriptions.
• Why you might find them useful: Medication charts can reduce the risk of missed doses, duplicate doses and confusion, particularly when several medications, several dogs or several carers are involved. Some focus mainly on recording medication, while others also include feeding schedules, reminders and space for notes.
• Examples: The Etsy examples below show two different approaches to medication tracking. Weekly medication download and Feeding & medication schedule download
Helpily's own medication charts, including simple and multiple-medication versions, will also be available as free downloads in the Resources section.
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Storing medication
Medication storage box
· What it helps with: keeping different types of medication (pills, liquids, syringes, etc) together in one place.
· Why you might find them useful: There's something reassuring about knowing where everything is. Keeping medication and related items together can save time, reduce last-minute searching and make it easier to spot when supplies are running low.
One example: Household medicine box storage organiser (They’ve got all the keywords in there!)
Medication storage box
· What it helps with: keeping different types of medication (pills, liquids, syringes, etc) together in one place.
· Why you might find them useful: There's something reassuring about knowing where everything is. Keeping medication and related items together can save time, reduce last-minute searching and make it easier to spot when supplies are running low.
One example: Household medicine box storage organiser (They’ve got all the keywords in there!)
Weekly pill organiser
· What it helps with: storing pills in compartments for days of the week and times of day (morning, afternoon, evening)
· Why you might find them useful: If the pills needed will be the same throughout the week, you only need to sort them out once, getting each pill in its correct compartment. Makes it much easier to see what needs to be given and when. But can get confusing if medication changes part way through the week and also irrelevant for other types of medication eg liquids.
One example: Daviky pill organiser. This one has sections for 3 times a day, there are others are for different frequencies.
· What it helps with: storing pills in compartments for days of the week and times of day (morning, afternoon, evening)
· Why you might find them useful: If the pills needed will be the same throughout the week, you only need to sort them out once, getting each pill in its correct compartment. Makes it much easier to see what needs to be given and when. But can get confusing if medication changes part way through the week and also irrelevant for other types of medication eg liquids.
One example: Daviky pill organiser. This one has sections for 3 times a day, there are others are for different frequencies.
Individual pill pots
· What it helps with: storing part-used tablets.
· Why you might find them useful: Particularly useful for the "other half" of a tablet. Much tidier and easier to identify than wrapping tablets in bits of paper or foil.
One example: This is the one I used for BooBoo. Genuinely called, on Temu, Cute Dog Pill Box!
· What it helps with: storing part-used tablets.
· Why you might find them useful: Particularly useful for the "other half" of a tablet. Much tidier and easier to identify than wrapping tablets in bits of paper or foil.
One example: This is the one I used for BooBoo. Genuinely called, on Temu, Cute Dog Pill Box!
Portable fridge
- What it helps with: travelling with fresh food and medications that need refrigeration, such as insulin, some liquid medications and probiotics.
- Why you might find it useful: Some medications need refrigeration, and many dogs on long-term medication are also on special diets.
- One example: After trying two models that didn't work well, I eventually found a portable fridge that is a proper mini fridge, not just a heavy coolbox. When we're camping, the 18 litre version has been perfect for keeping refrigerated medication, the dogs' fresh food, my yogurt and Diet Coke cold. The photo is helpful for showing its capacity but not the variety of things it can keep cold, not even the variety of Colas! Bingi Portable car fridge/freezer
Giving medication
Pill splitter and crusher
· What it helps with: Splitter function: dividing tablets into halves or quarters when a smaller dose is needed (eg Give your dog half a 5mg pill twice a day) or when the pill is too big for your dog to take whole. Crusher function: crushing tablets into a powder so they can be mixed with food.
· Why you might find it useful: Splitter is much easier, more accurate and safer than trying to split tablets with a knife. Particularly useful when the same tablet needs to be divided regularly. Crusher is helpful for dogs who are much better at detecting and rejecting whole tablets than crushed medication. But the opposite can also be true! Some pills taste bitter and the bitterness is pronounced when the pill is either divided or, especially, if it’s crushed. Always check with your vet or pharmacist first, as some tablets should not be crushed.
Pill splitter and crusher
· What it helps with: Splitter function: dividing tablets into halves or quarters when a smaller dose is needed (eg Give your dog half a 5mg pill twice a day) or when the pill is too big for your dog to take whole. Crusher function: crushing tablets into a powder so they can be mixed with food.
· Why you might find it useful: Splitter is much easier, more accurate and safer than trying to split tablets with a knife. Particularly useful when the same tablet needs to be divided regularly. Crusher is helpful for dogs who are much better at detecting and rejecting whole tablets than crushed medication. But the opposite can also be true! Some pills taste bitter and the bitterness is pronounced when the pill is either divided or, especially, if it’s crushed. Always check with your vet or pharmacist first, as some tablets should not be crushed.
- One example: This is the one I use and both the splitter and crusher functions work well. I don't use the storage compartment because I'm fairly sure I'd forget the pills were in there! Opret multi-function 3 in 1 Splitter/crusher box.
Empty gelatin capsules
- What it helps with: hiding the taste, smell or shape of medication; can help dogs with swallowing the medication.
- Why you might find it useful: Empty capsules can be surprisingly useful for disguising the taste, smell or appearance of medication. Several tablets can sometimes be crushed and placed inside a single capsule, making medication easier to administer. They come in different sizes, so it's worth checking with your vet which size is likely to work best and whether any medication placed inside the capsule can safely be crushed.
Pet pill giver (aka pill “popper” or “gun”)
· What it helps with: placing tablets directly into your dog’s mouth.
· Why you might find it useful: They're an alternative to using your fingers to place a pill towards the back of your dog's mouth. The "popper" places or gently propels the pill towards the back of the mouth. Some people find these very helpful, particularly if their dog accepts direct pill administration or they are worried about being bitten. For BooBoo, who didn't like being touched around her face, it was a complete non-starter, but other owners find them invaluable.
· What it helps with: placing tablets directly into your dog’s mouth.
· Why you might find it useful: They're an alternative to using your fingers to place a pill towards the back of your dog's mouth. The "popper" places or gently propels the pill towards the back of the mouth. Some people find these very helpful, particularly if their dog accepts direct pill administration or they are worried about being bitten. For BooBoo, who didn't like being touched around her face, it was a complete non-starter, but other owners find them invaluable.
- One example: Buster pill popper
Flavoured pastes
Pill pockets
• What it helps with: hiding tablets or capsules inside a ready-made edible treat.
• Why you might find them useful: Pill pockets are designed specifically for giving medication and can be a convenient alternative to wrapping tablets in cheese, paste or other foods. Some dogs take them happily, making medication quick and easy to give. As with many medication techniques, results vary considerably between dogs.
• One example: Pill pockets are widely available from pet shops and online retailers. For BooBoo, they were a complete non-starter because the one I tried was too big and too chewy. (She had no teeth.) This brand, Rosewood Pill Treats, looks like it might be softer and more squashable. Lots of people with dogs find pill pockets invaluable and use them successfully for years.
- What it helps with: disguising taste and texture of pills
- Why you might find it useful: Sticky pastes are tasty, like treats, and can be moulded around medication. They are often easier to use than cheese or other foods. I found them to be the easiest ‘wrapping’ to use in the (much mentioned on this website!) Blobs Method.
- One example: The version I’ve seen most often recommended, and a very popular one with my dogs, is the Arden Grange range. Lots of local pet shops stock them.
Pill pockets
• What it helps with: hiding tablets or capsules inside a ready-made edible treat.
• Why you might find them useful: Pill pockets are designed specifically for giving medication and can be a convenient alternative to wrapping tablets in cheese, paste or other foods. Some dogs take them happily, making medication quick and easy to give. As with many medication techniques, results vary considerably between dogs.
• One example: Pill pockets are widely available from pet shops and online retailers. For BooBoo, they were a complete non-starter because the one I tried was too big and too chewy. (She had no teeth.) This brand, Rosewood Pill Treats, looks like it might be softer and more squashable. Lots of people with dogs find pill pockets invaluable and use them successfully for years.
Food topper
· What it helps with: a tasty addition sprinkled onto food, it can help disguise medication and encourage dogs to eat medicated food.
· Why you might find it useful: A small amount can make a surprising difference, especially when appetite is poor or medication has altered a dog's enthusiasm for meals.
One example: I give the girls some Thrive topper with their food if I need to disguise medication in there. It’s a crumbly version of the little cube Thrive treats they enjoy.
· What it helps with: a tasty addition sprinkled onto food, it can help disguise medication and encourage dogs to eat medicated food.
· Why you might find it useful: A small amount can make a surprising difference, especially when appetite is poor or medication has altered a dog's enthusiasm for meals.
One example: I give the girls some Thrive topper with their food if I need to disguise medication in there. It’s a crumbly version of the little cube Thrive treats they enjoy.
Liquid medication
Oral/feeding syringe
Spare applicators for awkward bottles
Oral/feeding syringe
- What it helps with: measuring and giving liquid medication, liquid food or recovery diets.
- Why you might find them useful: Liquid medication often comes with its own syringe and instructions on how to measure the correct amount. Syringes can provide accurate dosing and are often easier to use than droppers. Larger syringes with wider nozzles may also be suitable for thicker liquids, liquid food or recovery diets. Having a few different sizes can be useful for different medications and situations.
- One example: Many liquid medications come with a suitable syringe included, but replacement syringes are inexpensive and widely available from vets, pharmacies and online suppliers.
Spare applicators for awkward bottles
- What it helps with: administering liquid medication supplied with special applicators.
- Why you might find it useful: Some bottles use surprisingly complicated or fragile dispensers and applicators. Having a spare can be useful if one is lost, damaged or difficult to clean. It's also worth checking whether the manufacturer provides instruction videos and replacement applicators. These aren’t available ‘over the counter/Internet’ as they are specific to a particular prescription bottle of medication.
- One example: Skippy has Cyclavance and I’ve broken a few applicators – the plastic cap thing on the right of the photo below. I rang the company and they sent me 2 spares and directed me to the video that shows very precisely how to use the bottle to avoid breaking the applicator. Fair enough!
Honourable Stationery Mentions
Highlighters Helpful for drawing attention to important information on medication labels, charts and treatment plans. Different colours can also be used for different pets, medications or tasks.
Laminator I love my laminator! With the dogs’ medication, I use it for things that rarely change, such as travel checklists, and the laminated sheet can be ticked off with wipe-clean pen and re-used over and over.
Permanent marker Handy, for example, for writing opening dates on bottles and packaging, adding notes to medication labels and adapting charts or reminders.
Self-adhesive labels Great for identifying medication boxes, drawers and storage areas, particularly when more than one pet is receiving treatment. Inexpensive, widely available and surprisingly effective at reducing muddles.
Small sealable plastic bags Invaluable for organising small items, separating supplies and providing an extra layer of protection against leaks when travelling.
Sticky notes Handy for temporary reminders and messages for pet sitters or family members. And ourselves!
Tippex Very useful when a printed medication chart changes slightly and you don't want to print the whole thing again.
Zip/document wallet
Perfect for keeping medications, other bits of kit (eg syringes) and charts together in one, portable place. Particularly useful for holidays, vet visits and pet sitters.
Highlighters Helpful for drawing attention to important information on medication labels, charts and treatment plans. Different colours can also be used for different pets, medications or tasks.
Laminator I love my laminator! With the dogs’ medication, I use it for things that rarely change, such as travel checklists, and the laminated sheet can be ticked off with wipe-clean pen and re-used over and over.
Permanent marker Handy, for example, for writing opening dates on bottles and packaging, adding notes to medication labels and adapting charts or reminders.
Self-adhesive labels Great for identifying medication boxes, drawers and storage areas, particularly when more than one pet is receiving treatment. Inexpensive, widely available and surprisingly effective at reducing muddles.
Small sealable plastic bags Invaluable for organising small items, separating supplies and providing an extra layer of protection against leaks when travelling.
Sticky notes Handy for temporary reminders and messages for pet sitters or family members. And ourselves!
Tippex Very useful when a printed medication chart changes slightly and you don't want to print the whole thing again.
Zip/document wallet
Perfect for keeping medications, other bits of kit (eg syringes) and charts together in one, portable place. Particularly useful for holidays, vet visits and pet sitters.
MMH Hidden Heroes Awards 🏆
🏅 Most likely to turn chaos into order: Whiteboard
🏅 Most likely to make you feel absurdly organised: Medication storage box
🏅 Most likely to earn its keep every single day: Medication chart
🏅 Most under-rated: Highlighter
🏅 Most likely to prompt the question: ‘Who knew such a thing existed?”: Empty gelatin capsules
🏅 Most likely to save a holiday: Portable fridge
🏅 Most boring but surprisingly helpful: Self-adhesive labels
🏅 Most likely to make visitors say "I didn't know there was such a thing": Feeding syringes
🏅 Most likely to prevent a return trip to the vet: Self-adhesive bandage
🏅 Most popular with dogs: Flavoured paste
🏅 Most likely to be discovered by accident and then recommended to everyone: Food topper
🏅 Most likely to be preferred by the dog to the thing that came home with them after the op: Soft cone
🏅 Most surprising variety of shapes and styles: Soft cone (ranging from Handmaid's Tale to Dunkin' Donuts)
🏅 Most self-appreciation for having bought one ages ago ‘just in case’ Soft cone
🏅 Most likely to turn chaos into order: Whiteboard
🏅 Most likely to make you feel absurdly organised: Medication storage box
🏅 Most likely to earn its keep every single day: Medication chart
🏅 Most under-rated: Highlighter
🏅 Most likely to prompt the question: ‘Who knew such a thing existed?”: Empty gelatin capsules
🏅 Most likely to save a holiday: Portable fridge
🏅 Most boring but surprisingly helpful: Self-adhesive labels
🏅 Most likely to make visitors say "I didn't know there was such a thing": Feeding syringes
🏅 Most likely to prevent a return trip to the vet: Self-adhesive bandage
🏅 Most popular with dogs: Flavoured paste
🏅 Most likely to be discovered by accident and then recommended to everyone: Food topper
🏅 Most likely to be preferred by the dog to the thing that came home with them after the op: Soft cone
🏅 Most surprising variety of shapes and styles: Soft cone (ranging from Handmaid's Tale to Dunkin' Donuts)
🏅 Most self-appreciation for having bought one ages ago ‘just in case’ Soft cone
These are just some of the soft cones I’ve tried for Skippy, til we discovered the Hjumarayan which she’s not too bothered by.