How to Give Eye Ointments to Dogs

Veterinarians prescribe medicated eye ointments for a variety of optical diseases in canines, including corneal ulcers, cataracts, pink eye and keratoconjunctivitis sicca -- also called "dry eye." Some of these diseases and treatments can be relatively short term, but others, as in the case of cataracts or dry eye, can last for the dog's lifetime. By learning how to apply eye ointments to your dogs at home, you not only save money on long-term vet clinic visits, you enhance your dog's chances of a complete recovery by continuing the treatment for the entire length of the prescription.

Instructions

    • 1

      Restrain your small dog in your lap with its head facing you. If your dog is medium- to large-sized, either kneel on eye level with the animal or have someone hold it for you. You need to control your pet's head in either situation.

    • 2

      Untwist the top of the tube containing the medicine and set the ointment aside, ensuring that the tip of the tube doesn't come into contact with anything, risking bacterial contamination.

    • 3

      Place the side of your nondominant hand on your dog's muzzle just below the orbit of the eye and gently pry open both eyelids using your thumb and forefinger.

    • 4

      Grasp the tube of ointment in your dominant hand and lay the side of your hand next to the animal's ear, poising the tube just above the eyeball.

    • 5

      Squeeze approximately ½ inch of ointment from the tube, allowing it to drop down onto the dog's eyeball. The warmth of your pet's body causes the ointment to diffuse over the surface of the eye. Don't let the tip of the ointment tube touch the eye because you can scratch the cornea causing painful ulcers.