How to give eye drops to pets

As a pet owner, you can expect to have to administer eye drops at some point during their life. Eye drops may be prescribed to your pet to treat an eye infection or provide important medication towards an eye condition or abnormality. Proper administration of eye drops can be an essential part of their recovery. We have some hints and tips to help make the job easier.

Hints & tips before you get started

Check the instructions: read the medication label and make sure you understand the prescription instructions. Contact your vet prior to administering if you have any questions.

Use an assistant if needed: if your pet is in pain or unlikely to sit still for long enough, you may need someone to assist you in holding or restraining your pet. The assistant will need to focus on keeping the head and body steady while you focus on giving the eye drops.

Wash your hands: both before and after administering eye drops to prevent contamination and spread of infection. Ensure that the applicator tip is clean and does not come in contact with your pet.

Prepare the eye drops: remove the lid from the bottle along with any protective caps that may be on the dropper. Once you are confident that the fluid will flow out you are ready to go.

Keep it positive: don’t forget to reward them along the way to make it a positive experience for both of you. This can help make it easier to give medication in the future. Give your pet plenty of praise and pats throughout the procedure and offer a treat when you are finished. Never punish them if they resist. Rather speak to your local vet for guidance or assistance.

How to hold your pet securely when giving eye drops

Dogs: when you dog is calm and ready, sit them down in front of you. Securely and firmly place your hand around your dogs muzzle and tilt their head upright. Eye drops should be administered from behind their head to prevent them getting stressed at the sight of the drops. Small dogs may be best placed on a table or bench with a towel covering it to prevent slipping.

Cats: make your cat feel safe and secure by wrapping them in a blanket or towel with only their head exposed. Place them in your lap or on a raised surface. An assistant may be required to keep them still. Gently place your hand around their mouth and tilt their head upright. Administer eye drops from behind their head.  

Rabbits: you may find it easier to administer eye drops from a raised surface such as a table or bench. Lay a towel or blanket over the table to prevent slipping. Similar to cats, wrap them in a blanket or towel to make them feel safe and secure and seek the help of an assistant if required. Gently place your hand around their mouth and tilt their head upright. Administer eye drops from behind their head.  

How to give eye drops to your pet

1. Gently clean any discharge or debris from around their eyes with warm water and a wash cloth. This can be soothing and help prepare them for receiving their medication.

2. Hold your pet in a secure position as per tips above for dogs, cats and rabbits.

3. Using your less dominant hand, securely and firmly place your hand around your pets mouth and tilt their head upright. Use your forefinger to hold their eye open with your remaining fingers and thumb under your pets jaw to support their head.

4. With your dominant hand, hold the eye drops and position them at a suitable angle, approaching from behind the head. You can rest this hand on the top of your pets head for stability. Hold the bottle close to the eye, but do not touch the eye’s surface to avoid cross contamination.

5. Squeeze the prescribed number of drops directly onto the eyeball, aiming for the centre of the eye. Keep their head in the same position for a few seconds to allow the eye drops to absorb properly. Your pet will blink, spreading the medication over the eye’s surface.

6. Release your pet’s head and praise them for their co-operation.

If your pet seems agitated by the drops or if the eye appears more inflamed or red after administering the medication, get in touch with your vet straight away.