How do you apply eye or ear medication?

This chore can be hell on earth for pet owners, as well as for the animal.

Since your pet needs help as soon as possible, everyone benefits when the application of medicine is quick and easy.

To help you in this task, I have collected some tips and examples.

1. Try to make the procedure fun! For example, apply the medication during a game and then reward your pet with a treat or a favorite toy.

2. Pick a place where it is quiet and where the animal is most easy to treat. For some animals it’s easier on top of a table than on the floor. Of course, this is easier with a cat then with a Great Dane!

3. Make sure you have the cream or drops ready before you start. If the animal hears the package opening, it may figure out what’s coming and refuse to cooperate.

For putting cream or drops in the eye, it is best to stand behind the animal. Support the head with one hand and keep the medicine in the other. The upper eyelid is very movable. Because of this, it is possible to pull it back so that that the white of the eye is visible.

By holding the medication in the palm (under the thumb) of the hand, it is easier to apply to the eye. At the same time, you can keep the lower eyelid open with the thumb of the other hand. After application, close the eyelids so the cream or drops will spread over the entire eye.

Ear infections are a common ailment in dogs and cats. Some breeds are particularly susceptible such as the Cocker Spaniel. Ear medications come in cream, ointment, and liquid forms. Some of the liquid medications need to be refrigerated, so be sure to check your bottle for the correct storage information.
When you put medication in an ear, it helps to realize how the ear of a dog or cat is constructed. They have a vertical canal and a horizontal canal, and, because of this, the ear drum is difficult to reach – but good when you put cream in, since it is almost impossible to put it too deep and cause damage.

For this procedure, lift up the ear from the dog or cat enough so that you can see the ear canal. Put the tube deep in the canal. Most of the times, the tube comes with a nozzle which is a big help in the application of the cream. Make sure you keep the tube vertical so you can not go too deep in the ear.

Drops, of course, go in much easier than cream or ointment.

After putting in the cream, massage the ear at its base so that the cream can spread throughout the ear.

The amount of ear or eye cream – or drops – depends on the type of medication. For the eye application, it is easy to see how many drops or the amount of cream to be used.

With the ear there, however, there is much more variation – from just a few drops to filling up all the ear canal. Usually, the instructions on the medication will advise you on the correct amount.  It is not wise to put more or less than prescribed. Usually, drops are used in small amounts, while creams and ointments are applied more liberally.

Note: Take care . . . some tubes are elastic, which means that when you release pressure it could suck the cream back into the tube.  Make sure that you remove the tube from the ear before releasing pressure.