The Look This Senior Dog Gives Mom After Uncovering Her Medicine Plot Is Hilarious
If there's one thing most dogs seem to hate, it's taking medicine. Pet parents everywhere have tried the classic trick of hiding a pill inside a favorite treat and hoping their dog never notices. Sometimes it works...and sometimes your dog gives you a look that says, "Nice try." Even my dog, who will happily eat just about anything, refuses a snack the moment she catches a whiff of medicine.
This thirteen-year-old Chihuahua, Charlie, is the same way. He definitely wasn't fooled when his mom tucked his medication inside bite-sized pieces of Pupperoni. Charlie sniffed out her sneaky plan immediately and was not having it. The betrayed look he gives her after realizing what she's done is so relatable, it's no wonder the internet can't stop laughing.
@hedwig.co He knows I've betrayed him #seniordog#rescuedog#chihuahua
Funny - Gold-Tiger
Charlie's mom shared in the caption that he knew that she'd betrayed him, and the look on his face says it all. Like commenter @Sherry Rose pointed out, "He is not in the mood for 'roni roulette lol!"
@Okie_cop joked, "He remembers when you tried this in 1924," and @Debbie Gillman181 could relate, "My dog can smell a pill 7 days before I give it to her."
We hope Charlie's mom made it up to him by giving him medicine-free treats!
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Why Can Some Dogs Always Find Pills Hidden in Medicine?
One viewer, @jennielepalva, joked, "Dogs' sense of 'pill smell' needs to be studied!!"
As it turns out, it already has. Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell; it's estimated to be tens of thousands of times more powerful than ours, which makes hiding medication from them much harder. While some dogs happily swallow a pill tucked inside cheese or a favorite treat, others become experts at sniffing it out, eating the tasty part, and spitting the medicine right back out.
For dogs that have caught on to the classic "hide it in a treat" trick, Oakland Veterinary Referral Services recommends a strategy they call the "Bait and Switch." Start by giving your dog a favorite treat without any medication. Next, offer an identical treat with the pill hidden inside. Then, immediately follow it with another pill-free treat. Many dogs are so eager to get to the third treat that they swallow the medicated one without stopping to inspect it.
Another helpful tip is to let your dog see you holding a second, pill-free treat while offering the medicated one first. If they're focused on getting the next reward, they're often less likely to notice the hidden pill.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM.