Eye drops and cooperative care

How do you feel about having eye drops administered?

Last year, Lucy, our tri-paw springer spaniel, suddenly developed extremely dry, horribly infected eyes. Thanks to the expert help of the ophthalmologists at the Royal Veterinary College and The Ralph in Marlow over a period of several months, her incurable condition was brought under control. It is now manageable provided that we follow a daily eye drop regime.

The regime consists of four different sorts of eye drops given at certain times throughout the day from first thing in the morning until bedtime. That amounts to at least 13 sets of eye drops for Lucy every day, for the rest of her life.

Lucy and I manage this using what’s known as cooperative care. Essentially, she gives me consent to proceed and I do so very gently and give her some food after I have administered the drops. There is no force. On the very rare occasion that she says “no, I can’t deal with any more eye drops at the moment”, I respect that and do not proceed, and I give her food all the same.  This isn’t about only getting a food reward if you have eye drops; it’s about agency.

Giving Lucy choice and control means she can tolerate the daily eye drop regime and so, far from it damaging our relationship, I believe it has strengthened it.