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Homemade Pill Pockets For Dogs Recipe (3 Ingredients)

5 from 2 votes
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With just 3 enticing ingredients, these homemade pill pockets for dogs disguise your dog’s medication perfectly. Keep them in the freezer so medication time is always a breeze!

Pink pill inside of a pill pocket for dogs.

I don’t know about your dog, but my Rhubarb is an expert at evading her medication. No matter how well I think I’ve hidden it – whether it be in a pile of cheese or in a spoonful of peanut butter, she always seems to avoid swallowing the pill.

Until now.

Pink pill inside of a pill pocket for dogs.

Introducing our homemade pill pockets for dogs recipe, a clever and simple solution to help administer medication to your furry friends.

With just three ingredients, this fun and easy recipe provides a unique way to sneakily deliver your dog’s medication. Our pill pockets are made from wholesome instant oats, peanut butter, and optional fish oil to make them absolutely irresistible.

By following these step-by-step instructions, you’ll have a stash of these homemade treats ready to go whenever your pup needs their medication. Let’s get started on making pill time a breeze for both you and your dog!

Dog eating a pill in a pill pocket.

Homemade Pill Pocket Ingredients

You just need a handful of ingredients to make these pill pockets for your dog!

  • Instant Oats: Instant oats are used as the base ingredient in our pill pockets. They provide a soft and easily moldable texture, making it convenient to shape them around the medication. Oats are also a great source of dietary fiber for dogs and can support healthy digestion.
  • Peanut Butter: Peanut butter adds a delicious flavor to the pill pockets, making them enticing for your furry friend. It also acts as a binding agent, helping to hold the dough together. When choosing peanut butter, ensure that it does not contain xylitol, as it can be toxic to dogs. Look for natural peanut butter without added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
  • Fish Oil (optional): Fish oil can be added to the pill pocket dough for additional nutritional benefits (plus the flavor is irresistible to dogs!). It contains omega-3 fatty acids that promote a healthy coat, skin, and joints in dogs. If you prefer not to use fish oil, you can substitute it with water to achieve the desired dough consistency.
Fish oil, peanut butter, and rolled oats on grass.

How to make pill pockets for dogs

Put down those Greenies Pill Pockets, because it’s so easy to make pill pockets for your dog at home (and for a fraction of the price!)

Step 1: Blitz Oats
Begin by adding the oats to a blender and blitzing them into a fine powder. This step is important as it helps create a smooth texture for the pill pocket dough.

Oat flour in a blender.

Step 2: Stir
Stir together all the ingredients to form a dry, thick dough. The combination of instant oats, peanut butter, and fish oil (or water) creates a flavorful and malleable dough that can easily be shaped into pill pockets. If the dough feels too wet, you can add more oats to achieve the desired consistency.

Stirring brown dough.

Step 3: Roll
Portion the dough into teaspoon-sized pieces and roll them into balls. By doing this, you create individual pockets that are the perfect size for concealing your dog’s medication. Use a straw to make a small hole in the center of each ball, creating a convenient space to place the medication before serving it to your pup.

Step 4: Store
You’ll likely be using these pill pockets over the course of many weeks, so just keep them in the freezer until ready to use! Freezing helps the pill pockets retain their shape and texture, making them easier to handle and serve. I recommend freezing them in a single layer first, then transferring them to a freezer-safe baggie.

Pink pill inside of a pill pocket for dogs.

Step 5: Serve
When it’s medication time, simply place the prescribed medication into the pre-made hole in each pill pocket. The soft and flavorful texture of the pill pockets makes them enticing to dogs, helping to mask the taste and smell of the medication!

Dog eating a pill in a pill pocket.

Homemade Pill Pockets vs Store Bought

If you frequently need to give your pup medication, these homemade pill pockets are going to be a game changer for your wallet. The exact cost breakdown per treat for homemade pill pockets may vary based on ingredient prices and quantities used. However, as an example, let’s assume the following average prices:

  • ¾ cup instant oats: $0.50
  • 2 tablespoons of peanut butter: $0.25
  • 1 tablespoon of fish oil: $0.15

With these estimates, the total cost of ingredients per recipe is approximately $0.90. If the recipe yields 20 treats, the cost would be around $0.04 cents per homemade treat.

In comparison, Greenies Pill Pockets typically come in packs of 30, and their cost can range from $6 to $10, depending on the retailer and location. This would result in a cost per treat ranging from $0.20 to $0.33 cents per Greenies Pill Pocket. Therefore, making homemade pill pockets can offer significant savings compared to buying commercially produced ones.

Pink pill inside of a pill pocket for dogs.
Pink pill inside of a pill pocket for dogs.

Homemade Pill Pockets For Dogs Recipe (3 Ingredients)

Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Author: Sarah Bond
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
With just 3 enticing ingredients, these homemade pill pockets for dogs disguise your dog's medication perfectly. Keep them in the freezer so medication time is always a breeze!

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup instant oats can sub rolled oats
  • 2 Tbsp peanut butter check ingredients label to make sure it DOES NOT contain xylitol
  • 1 Tbsp fish oil optional, can sub water

Instructions 

  • Blitz: Add oats to a blender and blitz into a fine powder.
    Oat flour in a blender.
  • Stir: Stir together all ingredients to form a dry, thick dough. If dough feels wet, add more oats.
    Stirring brown dough.
  • Roll: Portion into teaspoon sized pieces and roll into balls. Use a straw to make a small hole into the center of each ball.
  • Store: Set on a parchment-lined plate on a single layer and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or container. Keep frozen until ready to serve.
    Pink pill inside of a pill pocket for dogs.
  • Serve: Place your dogs medication into the hole and serve as needed!
    Dog eating a pill in a pill pocket.
5 from 2 votes
Rate this recipe:




Mandy

Tuesday 13th of February 2024

These sound great. What type of fish oil do you use? Where do you get it from? Thanks

Sarah Bond

Tuesday 20th of February 2024

I haven't found a favorite brand because my pup has an allergy to it, so we don't use it anymore. But most pet stores will have dog-safe fish oil!

Kathy M

Saturday 7th of October 2023

Didn't use the fish oil, but my dog loves peanut butter so it worked just fine. My dog takes medication twice a day, so this will save me a ton of money. I use 1 pocket for 2 doses by splitting a ball in 1/2 , patting each 1/2 out into a baby burrito, placing the medication in the middle and rerolling into a mini ball -- works great!

Sarah Bond

Saturday 7th of October 2023

I'm so happy to hear it, Kathy! :D

GW

Friday 26th of May 2023

What a great idea. Thanks

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