A worrying time

Great training Donna and it sounds as if you have a very good vet who is happy to work with you to examine Dexter.

 

That is definitely a result Donna!
Well done both of you

 

Thank you @MaccieD and @drjs@5, it was great to see this vet again as last time it wasn't a happy experience but as Dexter had been vomiting then, we couldn't use treats.
I told the vet I've been working with a stethoscope too, using C&T, along with doing every body part I can think of

Will be fun doing these eye drops tomorrow

 

That was a much better experience - really good that you had the treats and tennis ball too. Good luck with the eye drops!

 

Managed the eye drops by holding the tennis ball up, worked a treat this morning and rewarded Dexter with a game with the ball after I'd done both eyes. Fingers crossed that he keeps this up.

 

Excellent!

 

Good job, and it sounds like you won the vet over too!

 

We sure did. When my OH took Dexter for his first walk this morning, Dexter turned to go into the vets as they were walking past . Obviously likes the place

 

Well that's a great result ,nice happy associations x
Glad you got the eye drops sorted...I can do them myself now but it was a 2 man job for me at first ! Dexter sounds like he's on his way back to full strength and energy x

 

We tried the two man approach before and it made him worse .
I can hold the ball up as I say eyes and so far he stays still whilst I lift his eye lid and put the drops in each eye with my other hand. I'm hoping to loose the ball but not that bothered if I can't just yet. I do always give him a game with the ball afterwards

 

Whatever works I say

I'm currently putting coconut oil on the skin around one of Ella's eyes and I've found that I have to put it on both of my hands so that she can focus on one hand while the other hand applies the oil! Otherwise it's just too tempting and she tries to lick it off my hand as I apply it

 

I had to do his last drops like that, they weren't as watery as these drops. I spend time naming parts like eyes, ears etc and clicking and treating as he lets me touch and look. It starts off as a split second and then add duration. I agree, if the ball allows him to stay calm, I'll keep using it until he allows otherwise. I tried with food yesterday but that didn't work. I can touch and look at Dexter's eyes without the ball, it's only needed to put the drops in. With my shaky hands it's helpful when he keeps a nice steady gaze at the ball