Greenies Pill Pockets Review: The Easiest Way to Give Your Dog Medication

If you've ever tried to give a dog a pill by hiding it in peanut butter, wrapping it in cheese, or attempting to open their mouth and shove it down their throat, you know how difficult medication time can be. Greenies Pill Pockets are designed to solve this problem — and they do it remarkably well.

How They Work

Pill Pockets are soft, malleable treats with a hollow center. You press the pill into the pocket, pinch the opening closed, and offer it to your dog as a regular treat. The treat smell overwhelms the pill smell, and most dogs eat it without hesitation.

The peanut butter flavor is the most popular, and for good reason — it's intensely appealing to most dogs. The chicken flavor is a good alternative for dogs who are peanut-sensitive.

Does It Actually Work?

In my experience: yes, almost always. Mochi has been on various medications over the years — antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, monthly heartworm prevention — and Pill Pockets have worked every single time. She eats them without hesitation, without sniffing them suspiciously, without eating the treat and spitting out the pill.

The key is to offer the Pill Pocket casually, as if it's just a regular treat. If you act nervous or make a big deal of it, your dog will pick up on your energy and become suspicious.

What to Watch For

A small percentage of dogs are "pill detectors" who will eat the treat and spit out the pill regardless of how well it's hidden. If your dog does this, try:

• Using two Pill Pockets (one with the pill, one without) and offering the plain one first, then the pill one
• Warming the Pill Pocket slightly to intensify the smell
• Switching flavors

Ingredients

Pill Pockets contain wheat flour, glycerin, natural flavors, and various vitamins and minerals. They're not a health food, but they're not harmful either — the calorie count is low enough that daily use for long-term medications won't cause weight issues.

Value

At $15.49 for 30 pockets, they're not cheap — about $0.52 per pocket. But compared to the stress of wrestling with your dog to give a pill, or the risk of medication not being absorbed properly because your dog spit it out, the cost is well worth it.

Verdict

4.8/5 stars. Greenies Pill Pockets are one of those products that do exactly what they promise, consistently and reliably. If your dog needs regular medication, keep a bag of these on hand at all times. They're worth every penny.