How to Give Eye Medications to Your Pet

Laurie Anne Walden, DVM

Photo by iezalel williams on Flickr

Many dogs and cats need eye medication at some point in their lives. Pets with chronic eye diseases might need more than 1 eye medication given multiple times a day for years. With practice and positive reinforcement, giving eye medication to an animal can be quick and drama free.
 
If your pet doesn’t need eye medication yet, you can train them for it in advance. This training will reduce your pet’s stress when they need medication later on. Go through the body positioning and head handling steps listed below and give yummy treats at each stage. Large dogs can be trained to rest their head on your knee to receive eye medication.
 
Handling Eye Medication

• Some medications need to be shaken before use; check the label.
• Wash your hands before handling eye medication.
• Don’t touch the tip of the bottle/tube with your hands.
• Don’t let the tip of the bottle/tube touch your pet’s eye.

 
Giving Multiple Medications

• If you need to give more than 1 medication at a time, wait 5 to 10 minutes between medications.
• Give drops first, ointments last.
• Keep track of which cap goes with which medication container so you can replace the caps on the right containers.

 
Preparation

• Have treats ready, especially if your pet is new to eye medication.
• Choose a location where you can comfortably stand (or sit) behind or beside your pet. Your pet can be on the floor, your lap, or a table as long as you can easily reach their head and they can’t back away from you.
• If your pet is wiggly, try placing them on an unfamiliar surface like a table.

 
Administering the Medication

• Position yourself behind or beside your pet. To avoid intimidating your pet, don’t lean down over their head.
• Uncap the bottle/tube and hold it in your dominant hand (if you’re right-handed, hold the medication in your right hand). Hold the bottle/tube between your thumb and forefinger with the tip pointing toward your pinky, like you’d hold a dropper.
• Place your other hand under your pet’s chin and tilt their nose slightly upward.
• Bring the hand holding the medication toward the eye, ideally approaching from below and to the side so it won’t look (to your pet) like you’re about to poke them in the eye.
• Place the pinky side of your medication-holding hand on your pet’s head just above the eye.
• Use the side of your medication-holding hand to gently stretch the skin above the eye upward; this will pull the upper eyelid slightly open.
• At the same time, use the thumb of your chin-supporting hand to gently pull down the lower eyelid, if you can reach it.
• For eye drops (liquids): Quickly drop a single drop onto the surface of the eye. It’s okay if it lands on the inside of the lower lid. If the drop lands on haired skin or if your pet closes the eye before the drop lands, try again.
• For ointments: Quickly squeeze out a small strip about the length of a grain of rice and let it drape down onto the surface of the eye or the inside of the lower eyelid. Wait until your pet blinks. Blinking will spread the ointment across the surface of the eye; there’s no need for you to rub the eye.
• Give your pet a yummy treat and tell them how wonderful and clever they are.

 
Watch for Unwanted Effects
Some eye medications are a little uncomfortable for the first few applications. It’s common for animals to blink more than usual or squint for a minute or two after an eye medication is applied. If your pet’s eye seems uncomfortable for more than a few minutes or if this response continues for more than the first few doses, contact your veterinarian.
 
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/181765699@N08/48298582227/

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