Do Not Crush List of Pet Medications
Chewy
It’s not always easy to give your pet their medicine—especially when it’s in pill form. While crushing or splitting the medication might be your first move, it’s important to pause and ask your veterinarian if it’s safe to do so. That’s because not all medications can be crushed.
Here’s what to know about the “do not crush” pet medications list.
Key Takeaways
- Never crush a pet medication unless your veterinarian or pharmacist says it's safe.
- Extended-release, delayed-release, coated, and hazardous medications are common medications on the “do not crush” list.
- Crushing certain medications can reduce effectiveness, increase side effects, or expose caregivers to hazardous drug powder.
- If your pet has trouble taking pills, ask your veterinarian about alternative formulations or compounded medications.
What Is the Do Not Crush List?
A “do not crush” list is a reference guide of oral medications that should never be crushed, split, chewed, opened, or altered because doing so can affect how they work, increase side effects, or create health hazards and safety risks for both you and your pet.
Why Some Medications Shouldn’t Be Crushed
Here are some reasons why certain medications should not be crushed:
- Crushing extended-release pills destroys the timed-delivery mechanism and causes the entire dose of medicine to be released suddenly and massively, leading to accidental toxicity or overdose.
- Crushing changes how the medication is absorbed. Some drugs are made to dissolve and absorb further down in the digestive tract.
- Crushing damages protective coatings that shield the stomach from harsh ingredients or stop stomach acid from destroying the medicine. Crushing the medicine can cause severe stomach irritation or render the medicine ineffective.
- Crushing releases fine powder into the air, creating dangerous airborne dust or residue that people can accidentally inhale or absorb by touching, posing a safety risk.
- Crushing removes the coating that masks an extremely bitter taste, making it harder for pets to take.
Medication Types on the Do Not Crush List
Medications on the “do not crush” list fall into several categories based on how they're formulated or handled.
| Medication Type | What It Means | Why It Shouldn't Be Crushed |
|---|---|---|
| Extended-release (ER, XR) | Designed to release medication slowly over a set period of time, rather than all at once | Crushing releases the medication too quickly, which can increase side effects or reduce effectiveness. |
| Delayed-release (DR) | Designed to dissolve and absorb further down in the digestive tract | Crushing releases the medication too soon, making it ineffective. |
| Enteric-coated (EC) | Designed with a special coating to protect the stomach lining from harsh ingredients or protect the medication from being destroyed by stomach acid | Crushing the medicine causes severe stomach irritation or can make the medicine useless. |
| Hazardous | Contains ingredients that can be harmful if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin during handling | Crushing releases harmful dust into the air that people can accidentally inhale or absorb through touching, posing a safety risk. |
| Bitter-tasting | Has an extremely bitter taste that is normally masked by the coating on the tablet or capsule | Crushing removes the coating that masks an extremely bitter taste, making it harder for pets to take. |
Do Not Crush List for Common Pet Medications
The following table lists common pet medications that should not be crushed and the reason each medication should remain intact.
| Generic Name | Commercial Dosage Form | Dosage Type | Reason(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin/Clavulanate | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Aspirin | Tablet | Irritant | |
| Azathioprine | Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Bexagliflozin | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Budesonide | Capsule, Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Ciprofloxacin | Tablet | IR (immediate-release) | Bad taste |
| Ciprofloxacin | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Chlorambucil | Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Chloramphenicol | Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Clarithromycin | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Clonidine | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Cyclophosphamide | Capsule | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Cyclosporine | Capsule | Modified | Hazardous, modified-release |
| Diltiazem | Capsule, Tablet | ER, CD (controlled dose), XR | Modified-release |
| Doxycycline | Capsule, Tablet | DR/CR (controlled release) | Modified-release |
| Erythromycin delayed-release | Tablet | DR | Modified-release |
| Erythromycin ethylsuccinate | Tablet | Bad taste | |
| Esomeprazole | Capsule, Tablet | CR | Modified-release |
| Ferrous Sulfate | Capsule | Irritant | |
| Finasteride | Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Fluvoxamine | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Gabapentin | Capsule | Bad taste | |
| Hydroxyurea | Capsule, Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Isotretinoin | Capsule | Hazardous/teratogenic, irritant | |
| Leflunomide | Tablet | Amorphous solid dispersion | |
| Levetiracetam | Tablet | IR | Bad taste |
| Levetiracetam | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Lithium Carbonate | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Lomustine | Capsule | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Melphalan | Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Methimazole | Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Metoprolol Succinate | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Metronidazole | Tablet | Bad taste | |
| Miltefosine | Capsule | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Minocycline | Capsule, Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Mitotane | Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Mycophenolate | Capsule, Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic, irritant | |
| Omeprazole | Capsule, Tablet | DR/CR | Modified-release |
| Oxybutynin | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Pantoprazole | Tablet | DR | Modified-release |
| Pentoxifylline | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Phenlpropanolamine | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Piroxicam | Capsule | Irritant | |
| Posaconazole | Tablet | DR | Amorphous solid dispersion, modified-release |
| Praziquantel | Tablet | Bad taste | |
| Propranolol | Capsule | ER | Modified-release |
| Pyridostigmine | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Robenacoxib | Tablet | Coated tablet | |
| Sirolimus | Tablet | Nanocrystal, hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Sulfasalazine | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Tacrolimus | Capsule | Amorphous solid dispersion, hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Tamsulosin | Capsule, Tablet | CR | Modified-release |
| Theophylline | Capsule, Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Toceranib | Tablet | Hazardous/teratogenic | |
| Topiramate | Capsule | Bad taste | |
| Topiramate | Capsule, Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Tramadol | Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
| Trazodone | Tablet | Bad taste | |
| Venlafaxine | Capsule | ER | Modified-release |
| Verapamil | Capsule, Tablet | ER | Modified-release |
What If Your Pet Can't Take a Tablet or Capsule Whole?
If your pet is having trouble taking a tablet or capsule whole, talk with your vet before crushing the medication.
You can try disguising it first in a pill wrap, or you can use a pill dispenser, a device that safely deposits the pill in the back of your pet’s mouth. Your veterinarian can also demonstrate safe techniques to help your pet take the pill.
Speak with your veterinarian about pet treats or food you could hide or wrap the medication in, based on your pet’s health status and any dietary sensitivities. Safe human foods include a small piece of cheese, peanut butter (xylitol-free and for dogs only), sliced lunch meat, or a small piece of plain cooked chicken.
Ask Whether Another Formulation Is Available
If you are having trouble giving your pet their medicine, ask your vet about other formulations. Your pet’s medication may also be available in a liquid, chewable tablet or have a smaller tablet strength for easier administration.
Ask Whether the Medication Can Be Compounded
In certain circumstances, your vet may recommend a compounded formulation of the medication. A compounding pharmacy can create flavored versions of some medications, with options like cheese, chicken, or beef that might be more appealing to your pet. However, not all medications are suitable for compounding.
Compounded medications are prescribed if there’s a specific reason your pet’s health can’t be managed by a US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, such as if your pet has trouble taking pills in capsule form, the dosage strength is not commercially available, or the pet is allergic to an ingredient in the FDA-approved medication.
Never Modify a Medication Without Veterinary Guidance
Always speak with your vet before making any changes to your pet’s pills. Medications should only be crushed, split, chewed, or opened if that has been approved by a veterinarian or pharmacist.
When To Call Your Veterinarian
Call your veterinarian if:
- Your pet won't take medication.
- You accidentally crushed a medication.
- Your pet spit out a dose.
- You aren't sure whether a medication can be crushed.
If your pet has trouble taking medication, don't assume that crushing it is the safest solution. Your veterinarian can recommend an alternative approach that helps ensure your pet receives the full dose safely and effectively.
