Dog - Application of Eye Medication

We have discussed the frequency and application of the eye medication prescribed but you may find these notes useful.

Applying the medication

It is always useful to have someone hold your dog for you if at all possible.

Hold the head firmly but gently and tilt the nose upwards.

Remove any dried discharge from the corners of the eye with a piece of cotton wool moistened with clean water or saline solution. Ensure that no wisps of cotton wool touch the eye itself.

Applying ointment

If eye ointment has been supplied in a tube, do not point the nozzle directly at the eye as this often causes the dog to shy away. Gently part the lids between your fingers and thumb and holding the tube with the nozzle parallel to the eye and approximately half a centimetre from the eye, gently squeeze a small amount of ointment across the already held open eye. Your dog will immediately close his eye. Gently stroke your fingers across the closed lids to disperse the ointment which will rapidly liquefy when in contact with the warm tears.

Applying eye drops

If liquid eye drops have been prescribed the technique is, usually, a little easier. The lids are parted as before and the opened bottle is held vertically, upside down, approximately half a centimetre above the eye. One drop is gently squeezed on to the eyeball. Following this the procedure is exactly the same.

General tips

If you rest the hand holding the eye preparation on your dog’s head, above and behind the eye, you will find it easier to get the medication into the eye. Also if the head is moved, you will be moving with it, and thus will be less likely to waste medication.

Sometimes although only one eye is affected, we may have advised you to apply the drops, or ointment, to both eyes. Please remember to apply the preparation to the unaffected eye first. It is also important to avoid touching the eye with any part of the nozzle of the eye preparation in order to reduce contamination as much as possible.

If you find it difficult to apply the medication, sometimes a simple muzzle takes your dog’s mind off what is happening and will be of great assistance. If you contact us we can supply a suitable muzzle or alternatively one can be improvised from a piece of bandage or an old tie. We will gladly show you how to apply this.

If you happen to own one of the flat faced, brachycephalic breeds, Boxer, Pug, Peke, etc. muzzling is more difficult but techniques using a towel or in some cases a special muzzle can be effective. Please contact us.