While some pets will happily allow you to put drops or ointment in their eyes, for other pets it can be extremely difficult! Some dogs will resort to biting and scratching to avoid their medication, while others can become fearful of having their face handled at all. This can make the whole process very frustrating and upsetting for both you and your pet. In these situations, we need to teach the pet to enjoy their eye medication – and yes, it is possible! It can be a long process, but it is very worthwhile.
STEP 1: Touch the top your pet’s head – give him a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 2: Touch the top of the eyelid – give a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 3: Touch the top of the eyelid while holding the drops in front of him – give a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 4: Lift up the eyelid while holding the drops above the eye – give a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 5: Lift the eyelid and instil a drop – give a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 6: Once he is comfortable with the drops, you can start using the real drops as direct.
STEP 7: Keep using treats! He needs a reward for taking each drop.
- We are going to teach your pet that every time you touch their face and give eye medication, something really good happens.
- For rewards, use really special treats (eg tasty cheese, cooked sausage, roast chicken).
- Use fairly small, bite-sized pieces so that he can eat it quickly and you can repeat the exercise.
- Have the treats visible so your pet knows they are coming.
- When you get to the stage of using drops, use artificial tears to practise.
- To lift the eyelid, use the heel of your hand to gently push the lid up. You can also hold the drops in the same hand.
- If your pet’s aversion to drops is very bad, start at step 1. If your pet doesn’t mind you handling their face but does not like drops, start at step 2.
- Take things slowly. If you have any set backs, go back to the step before and continue for one week.
STEP 1: Touch the top your pet’s head – give him a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 2: Touch the top of the eyelid – give a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 3: Touch the top of the eyelid while holding the drops in front of him – give a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 4: Lift up the eyelid while holding the drops above the eye – give a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 5: Lift the eyelid and instil a drop – give a yummy treat. Repeat a few times in a row. Repeat several times per day for one week.
STEP 6: Once he is comfortable with the drops, you can start using the real drops as direct.
STEP 7: Keep using treats! He needs a reward for taking each drop.
