So, Digby had an eye infection for which I was given drops, not easy but managed to get them in. It came back though so now I have some cream, supposed to put it on lower eyelid so blinking takes it over the eye. How the dickens do I hold his head still enough? He was quite good with the drops but hates the cream and struggles like mad. This is a worry when I'm holding a pointy plastic tube right next to his eyeball. I have missed more than once. Any advice on how to hold him VERY still?
Re: How to hold dogs head still to administer eye cream. So no guarantees but I used to go next to Riley facing the same way as him, put one arm over his neck/backhand, pull him into me with my elbow and hold his nose with that hand to keep him as still as possible. Basically clamping him to my side. Then with the other hand rest the edge of it on his nose so the tube was steady and near his eye and then drop cream onto his eyelid. Good luck!!
Re: How to hold dogs head still to administer eye cream. Too late to help you now, but for the future I found out this by accident. Lady gets a little bit of natural discharge from both eyes and I very gently wipe it away a couple of times most days when she is lying down. She has got so used to it now that drops and eye cream are a doddle as she doesn't move a muscle.
Re: How to hold dogs head still to administer eye cream. Oh this is a problem and have had it 3 times with Charlie and once he had an awful ulcer in his eye, very nasty. David dealt with it in a very funny way, he would sit in Charlie's bed with him stroking him and when Charlie looked up David had the dropper hovering over his eye and dropped it in, he missed a few times but generally got the 'bulls eye'. But now I do as David does with Lady and hopefully if it happens again he won't be so wriggly Hope he's OK. Helen x
Re: How to hold dogs head still to administer eye cream. They can be so strong. I treat mine like small ponies and use my knees. Sit on a kitchen or dining chair with the dog sitting between my knees both of us facing forward, if the dog is partially wedged under the seat that helps. Anchor firmly behind the shoulders with my knees, lean forward to wrap up the dog, my left arm goes around the shoulder and chest, gripping the chin firmly so that the head can be angled and then cream into right eye with right hand, or reverse for the left eye (right hand on chin, left hand to administer cream). I usually end up with my chin on the top or alongside the dogs head too. When the cream is in blink the eyelid a few times manually with a couple of fingers, firmly but gently, to work the cream in and then a big treat for being such a good dog. If possible do the anchoring and wrapping up at times other than administering the dreadful drops. A friend with bigger dogs makes hers lie on their sides on the floor and literally puts a knee in the neck, just under the jaw. I've never tried that one and it looks a bit like a pin down but I suppose if you have to for the greater good. Hope the cream helps.
Re: How to hold dogs head still to administer eye cream. I have always given my dogs a treat after administering eye cream - they soon associate the discomfort with the upcoming treat and make much less of a fuss.
Re: How to hold dogs head still to administer eye cream. Can't remember having a big problem with eye drops - think we took the "pin her onto the bean-bag" approach. It did remind me though of when we had to give her the equivalent of doggy Gaviscon.... It was a complete hoot! ;D We chased her round the kitchen, she kept moving her head, she spat it out....she HATED it We hadn't quite worked out the pinning down technique at that point. Luckily we didn't need any more than a few doses. jac
Re: How to hold dogs head still to administer eye cream. You're so right, i can't believe how strong he is - and still only a baby. Some great tips though - I was coming at him from the front and it really wasn't working so well. I do try and touch him to get him used to it - ears, teeth, tail, feet etc, will add eye wiping to the repertoire. Hopefully his infection will be ousted by this cream, the drops didn't work unfortunately.
