How do you give an uncooperative dog eye drops? A Complete Guide

Step Two: Introduce Your Hand Coming Toward Their Face Using a Start Button

This first step is simply getting them used to your hand coming toward their face. Wait for your dog to look at you (this is the “start button” your dog will use to tell you they are ready) and then start moving your hand in your dog’s directions and mark and reward them (go nice and slowly here if you need to). If at any time your dog looks away or gets up and leaves, let them do that because that means that they 1) aren’t ready to engage; 2) it is too much for them; or 3) they just want a break. (Pssst…You can toss a treat when they opt out too!). Here is the order: Your dog looks at you → you present your hand (possibly move it toward their face) → mark and treat. You should also give them some treats for not looking at you to make sure they know they have a choice.

In step two, after Lucy looks at Lisette, Lisette shows her hands and then gives Lucy a treat.

Preparing to Administer Eyedrops

Question How do you give an uncooperative dog eye drops? Ray Spragley, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Ray Spragley is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and the Owner/Founder of Zen Dog Veterinary Care PLLC in New York. With experience in multiple institutions and private practices, Dr. Spragley’s specializations and interests include non-surgical management of cranial cruciate ligament tears, Intervertebral Disk Disease(IVDD), and pain management in osteoarthritis. Dr. Spragley holds a BS in Biology from SUNY Albany and has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (DVM) from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) through the Canine Rehab Institute as well as a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) through Chi University. Ray Spragley, DVM Veterinarian Expert Answer Hold your dog in a position where they cant back away from you. From there, lift the dogs muzzle up with one hand. Using the thumb of that same hand, pull their eyebrow (not eyelid) upward to help open the eye. Once the eye is exposed, use the other hand to insert the eye drops directly onto the eye.

Question Can you use normal eye drops for dogs with dry eyes? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Most of the human eye drops used for dry eyes are bland and are designed to moisturize the eye, and can be applied into the canine eye. However, if you need to address a specific problem, such as a dog with the condition “Dry Eye”, some drops are much more effective than others, especially those containing hyaluronic acid.

Question What should I do if my dogs eyes sometimes get red and watery? Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Veterinarian Expert Answer Keep the eyes clean. Redness is a sign of inflammation, whilst wateriness can be a result of irritation, and so an allergy or dust irritation would be top of the list of possibilities. With this in mind review what you use around the dog, and stop using any aerosols such as air fresheners, deodorants, hairsprays, or perfume in the vicinity of the dog.

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Step One: Work on Consent Behavior With Your Dog

Lucy, Lisette’s Goldendoodle, offers her eye contact at their apartment in Washington, DC.

When Lucy was a puppy, the first thing that we worked on was consent behavior. For Lucy, that meant giving me eye contact, so I knew that she was ready to engage with me. You can go with whatever consent behavior makes sense for you and your dog, but if you want to use eye contact too, simply wait until your dog gives your eye contact and then mark and reward them with a treat. We will turn this behavior into a “start button” in the next step.

How To Give a Dog Eye Drops (when they hate it)! – Dog Health Vet Advice

Like humans, dogs can get eye infections. If yours gets one, a vet may prescribe eye drops for the dog. Your dog may be naturally aggressive or may panic when you attempt to put drops in its eyes. As a result, your dog may attempt to bite or otherwise hurt you. Before administering eye drops to your dog for the first time, familiarize yourself with the steps you can take to ensure your dog’s comfort and your safety during the process.

Cover or remove nice clothing and work on an easy to clean surface because administering eye medications can be messy.

Begin by putting a muzzle on the dog, which often eliminates the need for additional restraints. Many dogs give up and stop trying to fight once the muzzle is on. You can use an open-ended, closed, or basket-style muzzle made of leather, cloth, or plastic. All types have a strap that you must buckle at the top of the dog’s head, behind its ears. Dogs with short faces, such as Boston Terriers or bulldogs, require a basket-style muzzle. Open-ended muzzles can interfere with these dogs’ breathing.

Restrain the dog further if it continues to resist after the muzzle is in place. Enlist the help of a second person. To keep a dog on its belly, place your arm and upper body over the dog’s shoulders. Use the other hand to hold the head and lift it upwards, providing access to the eye. The person administering the drops should stand on the side opposite the eye being treated. Another method is to put the dog on its side. When the dog tries to lift its head, place your elbow over the dog’s neck and gently push its head back down. When holding the dog’s legs, grasp them close to the body, not to its paws. This will give you better leverage to hold the dog securely.

Choose a position that is comfortable for the dog and provides you with a good position to administer the eye drops. Apply the minimum amount of restraint necessary; excessive restraint often encourages dogs to be stubborn and to keep fighting you. The more restraint you use, the harder and more dangerous the experience may become, and the greater the risk of injury to you and the dog.

Cradle the dog’s head in your non-dominant hand. Use the thumb of the hand cradling the head to pull down on the lower eye lid, creating a pouch between the eyeball and lid.

Deposit the prescribed number of drops into the pouch. Do not allow the top of the bottle or pipette to touch the eye. Unlike with eye ointments, there is no need to distribute drops across the eye through massaging. To reduce the chance of contact between the bottle or pipette tip and eye, try resting the heel or middle finger of your dominant hand on the dog’s head as you hold the bottle. Doing so can help stabilize your hand.

Aksana Nikolai is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology with a bachelors degree in language studies and international affairs. Nikolai is currently working in online marketing and communications. She has been writing since 2008, specializing in made-for-Web content and maintaining her fashion and beauty blog.