How to give your pet medication

Tips & tricks

Here are some reminders if you need a refresher on any instructions demonstrated by your vet.

At DMVS, we believe instructions must be concise, clear and are best demonstrated. All therapeutic options, e.g. administering ear drops, are performed while clients watch to ensure correct techniques are used. There are some tips below to follow if you need.

How to give your pet ear drops?

Although you can do this by yourself, this is usually much easier with an assistant to hold the head and help keep them steady.

    1. Always have your patient on a stable table with no wobbles (prevents wrestling on the ground).

    2. Hold the ear up so that the ear canal opens (take care in early treatment when ears are painful).

    3. Add the drops into the ear space. DO NOT LET GO OF THE EAR!

    4. Massage the base of the ear for at least 1 minute.

    5. Look for the characteristic squelching sound – it usually means the drops have passed into the TARGET AREA - The Horizontal canal.

    6. Let them shake their heads AFTER the massage is completed.

    7. Repeat in the other ear if required.

    8. Wash your hands.

How to give your fussy pet tablets?

Many clever pets sense (smell) the presence of a foreign substance in their food.

Tips to help you feed tablets to your pet

  • Try covering the tablet in butter, then freezing it. Providing the packaging is small enough it will be readily accepted and slip straight down!

  • Feed immediately after administration (check the instructions on the tablet label).

  • Crushing tablets into vegemite and peanut paste then smeared onto furr can help your cat swallow the medication. However you must observe them afterwards to ensure it isn't smeared onto the lounge setting!

How to give your pet eye ointment?

Make sure to apply ointment to the least affected eye first (if both are involved), washing your hands in between. You may need to put your pet on a table to prevent any wrestling, an assistant may be required.

Take care with eye ulcers - as they can be very painful, it may be prudent to use a muzzle to prevent a bite.

Warning: if you observe excessive eye weeping or a refusal to open a painful eye, arrange a revisit ASAP.

    1. Apply the ointment dose to the flat end of your finger.

    2. Opening the eyelids with the other hand.

    3. In a gentle wiping motion from inside to outside, deposit the ointment.

    4. Let them blink away any access.

    5. Wash your hands.

How to clean your pet’s teeth?

Pause. There are some steps you need to take before brushing your pet's teeth for the first time. This procedure ensures your safety and your pets comfort, while producing excellent results.

Some pets will never tolerate teeth cleaning. Unless you’re confident they won't bite you, then do not attempt this procedure!

    1. Initially, handle the mouth until your pet is comfortable with your fingers around the muzzle and inside its lips.

    2. Dip your index finger into tuna broth or flavoured soup and massage the teeth and gums.

    3. Once or twice a week is usually sufficient to gain trust and get them used to this.

    4. After a couple of weeks, dip a brush (your finger or pet toothbrush) into the broth and gently use along the teeth and gums.

    5. Finally after a month or two, you can graduate to pet toothpaste (chicken and meat flavoured are usually a hit).

How to wash your pet’s drain post surgery?

Penrose and other rubber drains are used extensively in our practice to enhance healing of large surgical incisions and the healing of wounds from tearing type traumas like dog bites. Bathing drains is very important, as it helps clean away solid material blocking the drain.

Be careful in the first 2-3 days as these areas are bruised and painful. It may be prudent to use a muzzle if concerned about getting bitten.

When no material is present at the drain holes, the drain can be removed. We always like to recheck these drains before we remove them.

Remember to bathe the wounds another 24 hours after the drain is removed.

    1. Prepare your salt solution by dissolving a teaspoon of salt into a cup of cooled boiled water.

    2. Wiggle the end of the drain.

    3. Use soaked cotton wool balls to clean away any solid material blocking drainage.

    4. Massage all the fluid from the tissue by gently running from the top drain hole directly toward the bottom drain hole. This clears any excess.

    5. Wash your hands.

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