Make sure that you wash your hands both before and after administering the medication to prevent the spread of infection.
If your dog’s eye is painful, you may need to have someone assist you with restraint or you may need to place a muzzle on your dog.
• Make sure you have carefully read the label and understand the prescription instructions.
Hold the ointment tube using your thumb and index finger. You may want to rest this hand on top of the dog’s head to help stabilize it.
With your other hand, use your thumb to pull down the lower eyelid. Place your remaining fingers under the dog’s jaw to support the head.
Squeeze the ointment onto the edge of the lower lid. Make sure you DO NOT touch the eye’s surface with the tube.
The warmth of the eyeball should melt the ointment, helping it to spread. The dog will blink, further spreading the medication over the surface of the eye.
Make sure you give your dog plenty of praise throughout the procedure and offer a treat after applying the ointment.
Based on material written by Ernest Ward, DVM. and modified with permission from Lifelearn Inc.
© Copyright 2005 Lifelearn Inc.
