Administering Canine and Feline Eye Medication

By Carolyn Piché.

​Helpful videos are included at the end of the page.

Administering eye medication to your pet is generally not very difficult, but it requires care and a clean work space in order to be done properly. We hope these step-by-step instructions help make the process easy and stress-free for you and your pet! 

Set-Up

• Read all of the dosage instructions provided by the veterinarian on the medication label, as that will tell you which eye(s) needs medication and the quantity needed. ​
• Wash your hands. 
• Talk to your pet in a happy voice and take them to a convenient location. 

​For large dogs: Place your dog’s hindquarters against a surface (couch, wall, etc.) so they cannot back away from you. If you have someone assisting you, have them wrap one arm under the dog’s abdomen and their other arm around the dog’s upper chest/lower neck region, as if to pull the dog in for a hug. (See figure 1.)

​For cats and small dogs: It is often helpful to wrap them in a blanket or towel, such that only their head is sticking out. If you have assistance, your helper should tuck the pet under their arm on a tall surface (counter, table, etc.). If you don’t have help, after wrapping in a towel, you can place your pet between your knees with their hindquarters backed against you, while kneeling on the floor. (See figure 2.)

Figure 1. Holding a dog to prevent backing away

Note: If you are applying both eye drops and eye ointment, the drops should be applied before the ointment. If applying multiple medications, you should allow 5 minutes between applications to ensure that one medication doesn’t wash out the next.

Figure 2: "burrito" wrap

Note: Never allow the tip of the tube to touch the eye, eye lashes, or eye lid. In addition, you should never touch the tip of the tube with your fingers as these are all sources of contamination. 

Note: The ointment can blur your pet’s vision for a few minutes. It is best to not let them walk around and potentially injure themselves.

References:

1. “Administering Eye Medications to Your Pet.” Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University , 2016. 
2. Flaim, D. “Tricks to Giving Your Dog Eye Medication.” Whole Dog Journal, Whole Dog  Journal, 2014. ​

Instructions 

• If discharge is present in the eyes, you should gently cleanse the area with a sterile eyewash solution, or a clean, damp washcloth. 
• Use one hand to steady your pets head and raise it upward so that they are looking at the ceiling. 
• Gently use your finger to pull the lower eyelid downward, but be careful not to actually touch their eye. 
• Hold the tip of the tube parallel to the eye so that if they jerk, the tip of the tube will not injure the eye. (See figure 3.) 
• Hold tip of the tube about one inch away from the eye and gently squeeze to apply a short ribbon of ointment from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye.
• Rotate the tube upwards when finished to help detach the ribbon of ointment from the tube. 
• Gently shut your pet’s eyelid and massage the closed lid a couple of times to ensure the eye is thoroughly coated. 
• Give your pet ample praise and a treat. This reward will make the next application more pleasurable for both of you. 
• Re-cap the medication and return it to a safe location away from children and pets. 
• Wash your hands.

Figure 3. How to hold the medication tube.

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