Dog Eye Infection Home Remedies: A Guide to Symptoms and Treatments

Our furry friend will occasionally suffer from a dog eye infection and other eye-related problems. Many of the most common eye problems in dogs, such as pink eye, cataracts, and glaucoma, also afflict people.

This means that there are well-established treatment strategies for many eye infections in dogs and other eye-related problems in pets.

And while most true infections will require veterinary treatment, there are a few natural dog eye infection home remedies that may provide your canine some relief and help prevent future problems.

Your dog’s health is surely of great importance to you, so it may be helpful to know the signs and symptoms of these issues, as well as the best home treatment options available.

However, as with any dog health problems, it is always a good idea to seek the advice of a veterinary professional. That being said, hopefully, this article will help you to identify the symptoms of these eye issues as they arise.

Dog Eye Infection Symptoms

Fortunately, most eye infections in dogs have rather obvious symptoms, so they aren’t very likely to go unnoticed. You will likely know when something is wrong with your dog’s eye, and that is when it’s a great idea to pay a visit to the vet.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with dog eye infections and other ocular problems include:

• Redness
• Inflammation or Swelling
• Eye Wiping
• Closed Eye
• Discharge
• Squinting and Blinking

Some of these symptoms can occur for very brief periods before resolving on their own. For example, your dog’s eyes may redden for a few hours after walking through a smog- or smoke-filled area, before clearing back up in short order.

Additionally, their eyes may redden if they manage to get foreign bodies in their eyes such as dirt. These are very natural situations and happen to most dogs through simply being outside.

Accordingly, you can usually wait for a day or so to see if these symptoms resolve before visiting your veterinarian.

However, if any of these symptoms persist or your dog appears to be in pain, you’ll want to head over to the vet sooner than later. It is always best to get the opinion of your vet rather than trying to diagnose the problem and administering a home remedy on your own.

Types of Dog Eye Infections (and Other Eye Problems)

Not all eye problems are created equally, and there are a variety of problems that can cause problems for your dog’s eyes. It is important as a dog owner to be able to identify these issues, so you are able to address the issue at the first sign of symptoms.

Some of the most common issues include:

1. Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Just like your school-aged child, dogs often suffer from the condition colloquially known as pink eye. Technically, pink eye is an infection of the conjunctiva – a thin membrane covering the sclera and inner eyelids.

Eye conjunctivitis causes the white of the eye (the sclera) to appear reddened and inflamed. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or environmental irritants, such as smoke or dust.

2. Corneal Inflammation

The cornea is the transparent membrane that covers the iris and pupil. It can become inflamed or infected by a variety of environmental triggers, bacteria, fungi or viruses. If the infection goes untreated, ulcers can develop.

3. Cataracts

Dogs suffering from cataracts exhibit an increasing opacity of the eye, which will eventually cause them to lose vision in the afflicted eye(s). While surgery can correct the problem, many dogs who develop cataracts are able to maintain a high quality of life without it.

4. Uveitis

The uvea is a pigmented area of the eye, found beneath the sclera and cornea. It is comprised of three different parts of the eye: the choroid, ciliary body, and iris.

Uveitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, but it is also caused by trauma and underlying systemic inflammatory conditions. Some cases of uveitis are persistent and ongoing, while others tend to come and go in a cyclical fashion.

5. Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease that occurs when the pressure inside the eyeball becomes elevated. The condition occurs because the eye is unable to properly drain for a variety of reasons.

Without treatment, glaucoma will eventually damage the optic nerve at the back of the eye, and lead to blindness.

6. Entropion

Occasionally, dogs can suffer from eye problems when one of their eyelids folds inward. This condition is called entropion, and it results in irritation, drying of the eyes and discomfort.

The disease is most common in dogs who have a predisposition to the condition, which includes both brachycephalic (short-faced) and giant breeds.

7. Cherry Eye

Cherry eye occurs when the gland associated with your dog’s nictitating membrane (the third eyelid, sometimes visible near the inner corner of the eye) pops out.

The degree to which the gland pops out (prolapses) varies from case to case; sometimes, the bright red tissue only protrudes slightly over the eye, but at other times it can cover a significant portion of the eye.

Cherry eye is most common among brachycephalic breeds, and it must usually be treated surgically.

8. Tear Duct Problems

Dogs can suffer from a variety of different problems relating to their tear glands and ducts. The ducts can become clogged or they can produce too much fluid. This can result in excessive tearing.

Some dogs may even be born with malformed ducts. Each of these problems will require your vet’s help to diagnose and treat. Excessive tear production can even lead to fur staining in some animals.

Veterinary Treatment for Eye Infections in Dogs

As you can see from the above ailments, your dog can develop a number of different eye problems. This is why it is not advised to attempt to diagnose the problem on your own. Instead, you should seek the opinion of your vet as soon as you suspect something is wrong beyond just a normal eye irritation.

Your vet will likely begin treating your dog by trying to identify your dog’s eye ailment. He or she will ask you about your dog’s general health, as well as the details surrounding your dog’s eye problem.

For example, your vet will want to know when the problem started, whether or not trauma was involved and if your dog’s eye infection symptoms have changed over time.

What to Expect at the Vet

• Your vet will then inspect your dog’s eye carefully. He or she will probably inspect it with the naked eye at first before giving it a closer look with an ophthalmoscope.
• If a corneal ulcer is suspected, your vet may apply a substance called fluorescein to your dog’s cornea, which can help reveal the presence of ulcers or other damaged spots on the cornea.
• Provided your vet is concerned that your dog’s tear ducts are not operating correctly, he or she may use reactive testing strips (called the Schirmer Tear Test) to investigate the amount of tear fluid being produced.
• If glaucoma is a possibility, your vet may use a device called a tonometer to measure the pressure inside your dog’s eyeball.
• In the event your vet needs to examine the retina, optic nerve or other parts located on the back of the eye, it may be necessary to administer medication. This will cause your dog’s pupils to dilate, thereby allowing your vet to visualize these structures.
• If a bacterial or fungal infection is suspected, your vet will likely obtain cultures, so that the causal agent can be identified and treated with the most appropriate medication.

Once your vet has determined the nature of your dog’s eye problem, he or she will present you with options for treatment.

Some dog eye infections respond best to topical medications, while others will require systemic medications to treat the underlying issue. Surgery may be the only way to address some problems, such as cherry eye or glaucoma.

Home Remedies for Dog Eye Infections

There aren’t any foolproof home treatments for most dog eye infections. Dog eye discharge home remedies can, at best, complement your vet’s recommended treatment. So before you consider a natural treatment, seek your vet’s advice first.

Veterinary care is simply necessary for most eye infections, and these home remedies are not intended as a substitute.

Some owners are inclined to use over-the-counter antibiotics or antibiotic eye drops (such as Terramycin ophthalmic ointment), colloidal silver (which is considered dangerous by the National Institutes of Health), boric acid washes or herbal treatments.

But none of these approaches is a very good idea – at least without first consulting your veterinarian (who will certainly recommend you come in for an evaluation first).

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are only effective for treating bacterial infections, and you won’t know that bacteria are responsible for your dog’s eye problems without seeing your vet first.

For that matter, you won’t know if the bacteria in question are even susceptible to the antibiotic without having your vet take cultures and conduct sensitivity tests.

The improper use of antibiotics can lead to problems with drug resistance, so most antibiotics should only be used in conjunction with a vet’s guidance.

Herbal Home Remedies for Dog Eye Infections

While it is possible that some herbal home remedies, such as rosemary, may provide legitimate medicinal value, few have been empirically studied – particularly as it relates to eye problems in dogs. This leaves these natural remedies questionable at best.

Additionally, some herbal treatments can cause troubling side effects. You’ll want to discuss the use of any of these herbal products with your vet before using them on your dog, so once again, you’ll find it necessary to solicit veterinary assistance.

Saline Eye Wash for Dogs

However, a common dog eye discharge home remedy is the use of a little saline eyewash to help flush your dog’s eyes and keep them moist while waiting to go to the vet. An eyewash might simply be a good idea to keep your dog comfortable while you are waiting for a vet appointment.

This may even solve the issue entirely if your dog’s eye irritation was just caused by dust or other debris that found its way into your dog’s eye.

Inspect Your Dog’s Eyes Regularly

It is important to inspect your dog’s eyes on a periodic basis so that you can spot problems early. You’ll also want to be sure to keep the fur around your dog’s eyes trimmed so that it does not cause irritation.

As is evident, there are things that you can do at home to ensure good overall eye health of your dog. However, the best thing you can do for your dog is learning to identify when there is a problem and taking them to the vet.

We cannot in good conscience recommend a dog eye infection home remedy for anything more than maintaining good eye health or for keeping your dog comfortable as you wait for an appointment.

Summing Up: Dog Eye Infection Home Remedy

We are sure you will agree that your dog’s health is paramount when you are deciding how to best treat their eyes. As you have seen in this article, there can be a number of problems that may afflict your dog’s eyes.

For this reason, it is simply too risky to attempt to diagnose and treat the problem on your own. If your dog exhibits symptoms that you think are worrying, a trip to the vet should be your first and only choice.

While home remedies can be possibly effective to keep your dog comfortable while you are waiting to see a vet, you should be extremely careful administering most of these treatments without proper guidance from your vet. Therefore, if you are in doubt, don’t do it, and seek medical advice first.

Has your dog ever suffered from an eye infection or some other problem? How did your vet treat it? Was the treatment successful? We’d love to hear about any home remedies for dog eye infections that you have found helpful in the comments below.

[wpdatatable id=68]