Steps for Applying Your Dog’s Eye Medication

Treatment for eye problems sometimes requires eye drops or ointments. To make them easier to administer, try these tips:

• Have the eye drops or ointment close at hand, then clean away any discharge around your dog’s eyes with warm water and a cotton ball.
• For eye drops, tilt your dog’s head back a little. Then, resting your hand on your dog’s head so you don’t hit its eye with the dropper if the dog moves, squeeze drops into the upper part of your dog’s eye.
• To apply eye ointment, gently pull down your dog’s lower lid, creating a pocket for the ointment. Rest your hand on your dog’s head. That way, if the dog moves, you won’t hit the eye with the ointment applicator. Then squeeze a ribbon of ointment into the dog’s eye.
• Gently open and close the lids for a few seconds to help spread the ointment or drops evenly.