If your dog or cat has been prescribed eye drops, applying them can feel a little tricky at first.

By following these steps you should find the process easier. With patience and practice, most pets become more tolerant of eye treatments, and the process becomes much easier for both of you.

1. Read all the instructions on the medication. Some eyedrops need to be kept in the fridge so ensure you are storing them correctly.

2. Wash your hands.

3. Choose a quiet and calm environment to administer the drops and having your pet sit on a non slip surface will help them feel more secure.

4. You can either position your pet on the floor between your legs, get someone to hold them or have them sit against a wall.

5. Raise the pets head to look up at the ceiling by holding under their chin.

6. Using your dominant hand, hold the bottle of eye drops and use your little finger or side of your hand to raise the pet’s upper eyelid a shown in the picture.

7. Squeeze one drop of the solution onto the eye without touching the surface of the eye to avoid contaminating the rest of the bottle.

8. Allow the patient to blink, which distributes the medication across the surface of the eye.

Remember to reward your pet with a treat. The more times you do this will encourage positive reinforcement and will build a positive association with the eye drops.

If your pet has been given a buster collar to wear, this should be kept on until the vet has allowed them to have it off. They may be more likely to rub their eyes after having drops applied and could cause trauma to the area.