If only giving medications to your pet was as easy as waving a magic wand. Animals have an intuitive sense of reading our emotions. If we’re nervous about having to give them a pill or eye drops, they will become anxious, too.
Over the years we’ve mastered the art of administering medications, and we’re happy to share some of our tricks and tips with you in the next few issues of Insights. This time around, we’ll show you how to administer eye ointment to your pet, step by step. Really, it’s easier than you may think!
If both drops and ointments are used, always apply the drop first, then wait 5-10 minutes before applying the ointment. It is oftentimes helpful to elevate the patient (if possible) onto a table or countertop to bring them out of their natural environment and better under your control. Place a towel or blanket on the surface to increase your pet’s security. It is always a good idea to clean around the eye and remove any mucus from the eye by using a clean warm washcloth or ocular wipe before administering medications.
- Hold your pet gently but firmly in front of you with their back towards you.
- Use your nondominant hand to elevate the chin upwards and pull back the top eyelid.
- Use your dominant hand to gently compress the tube to allow a small amount of ointment to escape from the tip (~¼ inch length).
- Manually open the eyelids, and drape the released ointment on the surface of the eye , taking care not to make contact with the eye.
- Gently blink the eyelids to assist with dispersion of the ointment on the surface of the eye.
