Sometimes our pets need medication, especially when they reach their golden years. And, as many pet parents know, it can be difficult to give your pet meds. The solution: Create irresistible pill pouches that your senior pet—or pet of any age—can’t turn down.
These DIY pill pouches can be given to both dogs and cats, and they’re made with ingredients you can find in your own pantry or local grocery store.
“Senior pets need more attention [when it comes] to having their nutritional needs met,” says Sandra Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, owner of All Creatures Veterinary Services in Bangor, Maine. “And healthy treats like these, containing whole foods, meet that ticket.”
Turn medicine time into treat time with this DIY pill pouch recipe. Simply press the pill into the treat, mold it and serve it to your dog or cat as an easy way to give your pet his pill. It’s the perfect way to disguise medicine for a picky pet, and it can be given as a standalone treat for a senior dog or cat.
The steps below show you how to make pill pouches for dogs. For cats, you’ll want to make them smaller.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup of old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup of canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup of plain Greek yogurt
- ½ tsp. of turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp. of all-natural, pet-safe bone broth without garlic or onions
- 1 tsp. of unflavored gelatin powder
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Supplies
- Food processor or blender
- Small mixing bowl
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring spoon
- Measuring cup
- Baking sheet
- Teaspoon
- Rubber spatula
- Mason jar for storage
Yield: 18-20 treats
Serving size: 1 treat
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cool time: 30 minutes
Total time: 55 minutes
Instructions:
- Grind 1/3 cup of the old-fashioned oats using a food processor or a blender to create a powder consistency.
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- Place the powdered oats in a large mixing bowl and add the pumpkin, the Greek yogurt and the turmeric powder to the bowl.
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- Mix well and set aside.
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- In a small mixing bowl, stir the gelatin powder in with the bone broth for 1 minute.
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- Add the contents of the small mixing bowl to the large mixing bowl and stir until an even consistency is achieved. Refrigerate the mixture uncovered for 30 minutes.
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- Form treats by scooping out 1-tsp. balls and rolling them in excess oats.
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- Place the coated balls in a mason jar, and store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze them for up to 3 months.
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- As needed, press a pill into the treat and fold the treat’s edges over to hide the pill. Or, simply give them to your pet as a special treat
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