Hi All
Kyra my nearly 4 year old GSD is quite a silly bunny when it comes to doing anything new. She has had an eye infection and we have antibiotic cream for her but she is not improving because it is such a farce trying to get the cream in her actual eye and not round her eye/up her nose/ in her ears! We have tried getting her to lie down while one person holds out treats which she nuzzles but she just gets in a tizz the minute the eye cream appears. Does anyone have any tips please as we have been attempting to go through this nonsense 3 times a day and getting nowhere. Her wee 6 month old GSD bro had the same eye infection and his was gone in no time no doubts because he let me put the cream in his eye without a fuss!! Thank you.

Oh dear they can be real babies can't they? lol. I just stand no nonsense and grab them I'm afraid! My Enya has suffered ear infections most of her life (I now raw feed her and touch wood no infections so far) and if you so much as glance at the bottle of cleaner she is off and running! It has to be cleaned and treated so I have no choice but to get her in a head lock. Just be firm but calm,don't make a fuss either before or after putting the cream in.

Sit down...Have the dog in front of you facing away.... Ideally between you knees.
Get the tube ready on the arm of the chair....soothe the dog, stroke the head, touch near the eye....dont stress.
gently place your fingers above and below the eye, pouching the lid. From above introduce the ointment.
If this is an ongoing thing it is wise to get the dog used to a stress free application.

I too grab them and get on with it but mine are used to all parts being touched by me and all and sundry.

Ask the vet for drops instead. Most eye ointments come as a drop version as well. Easy. :)

I wonder if it might be easier to use drops rather than cream, they go in the eye faster where you have to squeeze the ointment out. My youngster had a runny eye and I bought some golden eye ointment, it was a nightmare to use taking ages to squeeze out the tube and land on his eyeball then getting all over his eye lid etc, I bought the same stuff in drop form the next day and it was done in a second, no mess, no fuss :-)

edited to say it took me so long to type (with a dog on my knee) that I see Marianne has already suggested that :-D

The applicator can make the handler nervous too as you worry with a wriggly dog that you might end up poking him/her in the eye!

I walk mine through my knees and with the head facing away from me I cup their chin in my left hand hand and lower the lid with my thumb, leaving my right hand free for the ointment.  However my dogs are all used to regular inspections and treatment of all kinds - although usually ears!

Do make sure that your dog sees a lot of the eye treatment kit before you start.  Get her into position several times a day and gently put the applicator just below her eye, with the lid on and without dispensing anything, then praise, release and treat.  After a while you'll find she stops flinching and you'll feel more confident that she'll stay in place.

Another option is to throughly clean your hands then apply a small amount of the ointment to your finger, if it's the applicator that causes the problem, and simply wipe into the lower lid.

> Another option is to throughly clean your hands then apply a small amount of the ointment to your finger, if it's the applicator that causes the problem, and simply wipe into the lower lid.

This is the option I have used on those of mine who are convinced I wish to murder them.  Wash hands and apply with clean finger.

+Yes now you have the picture!!She is a total wuss. :)She is convinced I'm about to remove the eye! Ears, teeth, bum, legs you name it she does not bother but the eye is a whole new ball game for her. I will try a day or so longer and no doubt all of the suggestions will be tried and if we fail I will go back for drops!! Thanks all.

Success this morning! I always put a basket muzzle on her(which she is quite happy wearing) when she is outside in the garden unsupervised as she is a horrendous poop eater(loves her own fresh best of all.I know it's gross. Sorry!!! ). Gives her horrible tummy upsets. Caught her as she was coming in and did the grab and rub lower eyelid with ointment trick. Worked a treat!Just hope she doesn't get wise as to what's coming and take evasive action :) Thanks everyone!

I have used brainless way but one vet gave me drops and said basically everytime you pass the dog put a drop in as the dog is so wriggly enough over the day will hit the spot. it worked and I also gave a treat with each drop. 

Now that's a sensible vet. Why are so many vets clearly not in the know of what a real live dog will do. "Just bring me a sterile .... sample and Bob's your Uncle!", "Just stick 4 of these up the dog's/in the dog's....!". Takes a great deal of restraint not suggest what they do with their .... Rant over.Lol.:) Sorry any vets! Not meaning to cause offence. Honest!!

I had a real problem with putting thornit in my rescue boys ears. First attempt he bit me. I did I gradually over a few days by letting him sit and watch as my two girls took it in turns and then gave them a great. He got a treat for watching and then gradually got him to sit in the position the two girls sit in and stroked each ear. Then finally put the thornit it.

He is now happy to have his turn and waits patiently now in the queue :-)

Reward is the key when you have a dog that is unused to having ears or eyes touched or examined.