Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
What helps dog owners give eye drops as prescribed
By Yamada, Ryoko et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2025·The University of Tokyo, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Factors Associated With High Adherence to Eye Drop Therapy for Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study involving 113 dogs found that owners who brought their pets back to the vet within two weeks and had prior experience giving eye drops were more likely to consistently administer prescribed eye drops. The researchers discovered that these factors significantly increased the chances of owners following through with the treatment. To improve adherence, veterinarians are encouraged to schedule follow-up visits sooner and offer practice sessions for owners who are new to giving eye drops. This approach can help ensure dogs receive the necessary treatment for their eye conditions.
People also search for: dog eye drops adherence · how to give dog eye drops · dog eye treatment follow-up
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify factors associated with high adherence to eye drop therapy for dogs. ANIMALS STUDIED: The study included 113 dogs and their owners who visited a veterinary ophthalmology clinic. PROCEDURES: Participants were classified into high and low adherence groups based on whether they gave the eye drops the prescribed number of times or less, respectively, until their second visit. Information about 15 candidate factors was obtained from the owners and medical records. Simple logistic regression was used for initial screening, followed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the valid participants, 71 were in the high adherence group, and 31 were in the low adherence group. This classification was used as the outcome variable. Participants' previous experience giving eye drops, prescribed number of eye drops, and days between first and second clinic visits were selected as the explanatory variables to include in the multiple logistic regression analysis. The analysis showed that revisiting the clinic within 2 weeks of the first clinic visit (odds ratio = 5.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.7-15) and previous experience giving eye drops (odds ratio = 3.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-8.2) were associated with high adherence. CONCLUSION: The present study recommends that veterinarians set a shorter interval until the next visit and provide opportunities for practice to owners who have never given eye drops to their dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40485287/