When it comes to medicating animals, flavour is often considered a top priority.

Many pet owners assume that if their cat loves chicken, whether it’s cooked, raw, or from a can, then it will also enjoy chicken-flavoured medicine. Sometimes this is true, but not always.

Have you ever considered whether chicken-flavoured noodles actually taste like chicken? Or whether banana-flavoured candy truly tastes like banana? The reality is that artificial flavours don’t always mimic the foods pets are familiar with.

What matters more when creating a palatable medication is managing the bitterness and unpleasant aftertaste that often comes with drugs. After all, medications are essentially “tamed poisons” and, as a natural deterrent, they tend to taste bad.

Taste itself is a complex and not fully understood phenomenon, especially in animals. Unlike humans, animals experience flavour differently. When formulating a pet-friendly medicine, the goal is often to mask the bitterness using a combination of sweeteners, salt, and aftertaste-neutralizers. The specific flavour itself is secondary, and sometimes the smell of the flavour added has more impact than the taste. Sometimes it’s actually better not to add a flavour at all.

Research has shown surprising and unexpected flavour preferences in different animals. For example, some horses may prefer banana, ferrets enjoy bubble-gum, and rabbits can be rather fond of pina colada! (Personally, I can’t blame the rabbits for that one.)

Ultimately, it’s best to trust your experienced compounder’s advice when it comes to choosing the right flavour and formulation for your pet’s medication. And don’t hesitate to try a flavour that might be a bit outside the box—your pet may just surprise you!