How to give your dog ear or eye drops
There may be times when you'll need to give your dog ear or eye drops at home. Here are our top tips.
Your vet may prescribe ear or eye drops for your dog to treat various infections or irritations. Some dogs are particularly prone to having sore ears or eyes and may need treatment regularly.
If you’re concerned about your dog’s ears or eyes, speak to your vet. Never use human ear or eye drops on your dog, unless prescribed by a vet.
Preparing your dog for ear or eye drops
Lots of dogs will need ear and eye drops at some time in their life. So, it’s a good idea to get your dog comfortable with having their head, ears and eye area handled before they need any drops.
This way, it won’t be a scary experience for them and will be easier for you. Take a look at our guide on handling your dog, to teach them that having their head held and their ears or eye area handled is nothing to worry about. If you need to start giving your dog ear or eye drops urgently, then follow these steps. Once your dog is better, follow our guide to get your dog used to handling.
Positive practice will make you both better prepared if they need similar treatment again.
Before you start
Read all the instructions before giving any medicine to your dog. If you’re not sure about how much to give, or how to prepare it, check with your vet. Ask your vet whether you need to wear gloves when giving your dog their medicine. You may need to protect your skin when handling certain medications, like steroids.
Practise first without your dog. Mime the actions you need to do to give your dog drops a few times. You could use a cuddly toy. This will help the actions become consistent and natural. Practise squeezing a few drops out of the ear or eye drop bottle, so you know how much pressure to use and how quickly the drops come out.
Prepare a handful of extra-tasty treats. You’ll need these to reward your dog and help make this a positive experience.
Tips for keeping your dog relaxed
- Choose a time when your dog is happy and calm. Keep sessions short. You don’t need to do all the steps during each session. The steps described here are intended to guide you, but some dogs might need to go much slower.
- It can be tempting to rush ahead, especially if your dog appears to be doing well. But going slowly and taking things gently means that you and your dog can feel confident all the way. Think of each short session as laying foundations for the next.
- Watch your dog as you go. Stop right away if you see any signs that they are becoming uncomfortable, worried, or frustrated. An understanding of a dog’s body language is essential in helping you and your dog work together.
- If at any point you or your dog is struggling, go back to a stage at which they were comfortable and practise for a little bit longer before moving on again. Repeat each stage several times so your dog becomes familiar and comfortable with what you’re doing. Keep giving them reassurance and encouragement.
- If your dog is showing signs of being very uncomfortable – for example, growling, squealing, snapping, biting or running away – talk to your vet. They can re-examine your dog and advise on different options, including alternative treatments or seeking professional behavioural support.
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