Eye issues are pretty common among dogs, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a big deal. Some eye injuries and problems can end up compromising your dog’s vision, and even relatively minor problems are often very painful. Show
This means that problems with your pup’s peepers should be viewed as a medical emergency, which will necessitate a trip to the vet. In fact, you’ll want to get your vet on the phone just about anytime your dog suffers from an eye issue. But there are a few things you can do to help minimize your dog’s discomfort and give him the best chance at a rapid recovery, and that includes keeping some dog-safe eye drops on hand. Below, we’ll talk about some of the best over-the-counter eye drops for dogs, outline some of the most common and noteworthy eye issues dogs experience, and share some general tips for protecting your pooch’s eyes below. In a hurry? Just need a quick recommendation? Remend Lubricating Eye Drops are designed specifically for pets and work well as a dog-safe eye rinse. Key Takeaways: Best Dog-Safe Eye Drops
Eye Problems in Dogs Are SeriousWe’ve already explained that eye issues are serious and that they’ll generally require veterinary attention. But this is the kind of thing that bears repeating, as many dogs end up suffering needlessly because their owners don’t recognize the seriousness of the issue. So, just be sure that you don’t shrug off eye issues. Image from Pinterest.There are a variety of reasons that eye issues are serious, but three of the most noteworthy include:
Bottom line: If your dog appears to be in pain or he’s suffered any type of significant eye injury, you’ll want to hop in the car and get to the vet pronto. On the other hand, if the issue is minor and your dog is acting like his normal, goofball self, you can likely wait until the morning to seek veterinary care. The Best Dog-Safe Eye Drops and Eye WashesWhile you’ll need to speak to your vet about your dog’s eye problem, there are a few doggie eye-care products that make sense to keep around. Some can help address the issue entirely (if, for example, your pup’s eyes are simply dry or he gets a bit of dirt in them), while others may help prevent a minor problem from getting worse. Pet-Care Pro Tip While eye washes and saline solutions are OK to use, K9 of Mine’s consulting veterinarian recommends that you refrain from applying medicated eye drops to your pet’s eyes, unless your vet explicitly instructs you to do so. Dogs with some types of eye wounds, such as scratched corneas, may suffer from serious consequences if treated with certain eye drops (such as those containing steroids or anti-inflammatories), causing them to heal slower and potentially even perforate. 1. Remend Lubricating Eye DropsAbout: Remend Lubricating Eye Drops are some of the only eye drops on the market that are designed specifically for pets, and they’re also effective and available without a prescription. Designed to lubricate and hydrate dry eyes, these drops can help dogs (and cats) suffering from chronic or temporary eye dryness. This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more Remend Lubricating Eye DropsDesigned specifically for use in pets, these drops can help hydrate your dog’s eyes.See on Amazon Features:
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2. Miracle Care Sterile Eye WashAbout: Miracle Care Sterile Eye Wash is a good option for owners who need to simply rinse out their pet’s eyes (or the surrounding area). This product isn’t designed to treat eye infections or injuries, but it makes a great addition to your pet first aid kit, and it is designed to soothe your pup’s peepers while washing away debris. This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more Miracle Care Sterile Eye WashA non-stinging eye wash that make a perfect addition to your canine first-aid kit.See on Amazon Features:
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3. ViscotearsAbout: Viscotears is a great product for treating dogs with dry eyes. It is actually designed for human use, but it is safe to use on your doggo’s eyes too. Note that this product won’t treat eye infections, nor is it appropriate for use in dogs with injured eyes. However, it is a good option for treating run-of-the-mill dry eye problems. This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more No products found. ViscotearsThese lubricating eye drops are designed for humans, but they’ll work for your dog too.See on Amazon A Note about Product Recommendations Note that there aren’t a ton of user reviews for Viscotears – a fact which generally causes us to avoid recommending a product. However, our consulting veterinarian is a fan of the product and recommends it to owners in the course of her clinical work. Accordingly, we feel 100% comfortable recommending it here. Features:
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4. Refresh Optive Lubricant Eye DropsAbout: Refresh Optive Lubricant Eye Drops are another option for doggos with dry eyes. Like Viscotears, Refresh Optive Drops are actually designed for human use, but they’re safe for your pooch too. In addition to hydrating your hound’s eyes, these drops help soothe and prevent the damage long-term, on-going dryness can cause. This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more Refresh Optive Eye DropsSoothing eye drops that are designed for humans but suitable for doggo use too.See on Amazon Features:
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Pet-Care Pro Tip: What About Tear Stains? Tear stains are a common eye problem – especially among many white dog breeds. However, unlike many of the other ailments and injuries we’re discussing here, tear stains aren’t dangerous, nor will they cause your dog any distress. They simply look kinda grody. And fortunately, you can usually treat this on your own (though you should talk about them with your vet during your pet’s next appointment). We’ve talked about the entire tear-stain issue at length before, so we’ll cut to the chase here: You want to pick up Burt’s Bees Tear Stain Remover. It’s the only dog-safe, non-toxic, and effective tear-stain treatment we’ve found on the market. Four-Footer First Aid: What You Should Do If Your Dog Has an Eye ProblemDogs can suffer from a variety of different eye problems, so proper first aid will vary from one case to the next. We’ll walk you through a couple of different scenarios and explain the best course of action below. Your Dog Suffers a Traumatic Eye InjuryIf your dog suffers a major eye trauma, you’ll want to cover it with a soft bandage and head to the vet or emergency vet clinic immediately. This would include things like the eye being punctured by a stick, blunt trauma to the eye region, or large amounts of debris getting into the eye. If anything is sticking out of your dog’s eye, you’ll want to try to cover it with a paper cup or something similar, to prevent further injury. Your Dog’s Eyes Are BleedingIf you see bleeding into the eye, head over to the vet at once. This includes bleeding in the sclera — the white portion of the eye — or bleeding in the actual eyeball (in which case, you’d likely see the blood in or around the pupil). Your Dog’s Eyes Appear BlueishIf the cornea of your dog’s eye has a blueish tint, you’ll want to seek immediate veterinary assistance. This can indicate corneal edema, which means that severe inflammation is occurring. Note that a blue-tinted pupil is generally not a medical emergency; it typically indicates nuclear sclerosis or cataracts. Dog cataracts will require veterinary care, but not “drop-everything-and-head-to-the-vet” level care. Your Dog Experiences a Minor Eye Trauma (Debris in the Eye)If your dog suffers a minor eye trauma, such as getting some dirt or debris in her eye, you can wash it out with distilled water, and then head to the vet. If you do not have distilled water on hand, bottled water or sterile saline will also work in an emergency. You probably don’t need to drive to the pet ER in the middle of the night, but you’ll want to obtain veterinary care first thing in the morning. Your Dog Has an Eye InfectionIf your dog appears to have an eye infection or some type of discharge, you’ll want to gently rinse the eye and the surrounding area and seek veterinary assistance within about 12 hours (you needn’t head to the vet in the middle of the night unless your dog appears to be in serious pain). Use sterile saline, distilled water, bottled water, or boiled-and-cooled tap water to rinse out the eye, and then gently wipe the area clean with some a sterile bandage. Your Dog’s Eyes Appear Irritated or RedIf your dog’s eyes just seem slightly irritated or dry, you can use some lubricating, dog-safe eye drops. However, you’ll still want to contact your vet and solicit his or her advice. Your vet will likely recommend coming in for an exam, but you probably won’t have to drop everything and jump in the car. Just remember that any type of eye issue necessitates a call to your vet. As mentioned earlier, eye problems can be very painful, and they can go from “no big deal” to “VERY big deal” in a matter of hours. Additional Dog Eye-Care SuppliesIn addition to the eye drops and eye washes discussed above, it’s a good idea to keep some basic eye-care supplies in your dog first aid kit or medicine cabinet at all times. Sterile SalineIt’s always a good idea to have some sterile saline on hand. This is the best liquid available for flushing debris from your dog’s eyes, such as may occur when he’s romping around on the beach or riding in the car with the window down (incidentally, this really isn’t a good idea, but we’re all guilty of letting Rover feel the wind in his cheek flaps from time to time). Just note that sterile saline ceases being sterile once you open it and use it, so it’s a one-time use thing. Still, even though that may seem a little wasteful, sterile saline remains the very best liquid for flushing your dog’s eyes. Nevertheless, in a pinch, you can use distilled water or boiled-and-cooled tap water. Of course, if you’re on a camping trip or some other far-off location and faced with a dog who has sand in his eyes, you will have to use whatever water source you have. But this will increase the chances that he’ll develop an infection. Gauze and BandagesYou’ll want to have some soft gauze bandages on hand if your dog ever suffers a problem more serious than some dirt in his eyes. This way, you’ll be able to protect the wounded area while you get him to a vet. You’ll also need a roll of gauze, which will help keep the bandage in place. Hopefully, you already have these items in your canine first-aid kit, but if not, go ahead and buy some and stick it in your medicine cabinet. Common Eye Problems in DogsBefore you begin trying to soothe your dog’s eyes, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the most common eye problems from which dogs suffer. Below we’ll discuss a few of the most noteworthy issues (just note that this list is not exhaustive):
Dog Breeds That Are Predisposed to Eye ProblemsUnfortunately, like many other health conditions, eye problems tend to be common in some breeds — particularly those with protruding eyes, hairy faces, or drooping eyelids. Obviously, things like eye injuries can happen to any four-footer, but owners with one of the following breeds must be especially observant of their dog’s eyes and watch out for the first signs of trouble.
Preventing Eye Wounds: Canine Goggles to the Rescue!As we mentioned at the outset, the best way to treat eye injuries is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Many eye injuries can be avoided by simply employing some common sense. Don’t let your dog ride in the car with his head hanging out the window, don’t let your dog get too close to unfamiliar cats who may scratch him, and use caution when allowing your dog to run through forests and similar places where hazards abound. It’s also a good idea to hook your dog up with some protective goggles. Dog goggles (or glasses) not only help provide protection from things like sticks, dirt, and debris, but they can also protect your dog from splashing water and other irritating (if not exactly dangerous) things. Many of the best dog goggles even provide UV protection, which may help prevent cataracts from forming. *** Hopefully, you now understand that eye issues are no small matter and that you’ll want to do everything you can to protect your pooch’s peepers and address any wounds, infections, or other problems promptly. But while you’ll likely need your vet’s help to deal with any significant issues, it is still a good idea to keep some dog-safe eye drops at the ready. Has your doggo ever suffered from an eye problem? How did you treat it? Did your vet prescribe anything that was particularly effective? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below! What eye drops can I use for my dogs eye infection?Common eye drops for dog conjunctivitis and bacterial infections include ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, tobramycin, or triple-antibiotic ophthalmic ointments.
How can I treat my dogs eye infection without going to the vet?Saline eye drops can be used to safely flush any irritants out of a dog's eye. These drops won't hurt and may provide some temporary relief to your dog's inflamed eye. Saline eye drops can be purchased from a pharmacy, online, or from a pet store and gently squirted directly into your dog's eye.
What can I do at home for an eye infection in my dog?Saline Solution
Trim long hair around the eyes. You'll also need to wash the area multiple times per day. Make a saline solution using 1/4 cup warm water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Dip a gauze pad or clean cloth in the solution, and wipe the eye area starting from the snout (corner of eye) outward, toward the ear.
Can I use human eye drops for my dog's eye infection?Never Use Human Medications for Dogs
Importantly, medication for humans, including eye drops, are generally not the same for dogs. You should never treat your dog using human medication without consulting a pet care specialist first. Using the wrong eye drops could cause significant pain, damage and blindness.
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