How To Treat An Eye Infection In Your Dog

21 July 2017
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It can be irritating to get an eye infection as a human, so imagine the pain your dog may be in if he has one. Your dog may be scratching or pawing at his face and eyes to help relieve the irritation, which could be an infection, or it could just be a minor issue such as a bug or dirt in the eye. See below for helpful tips about eye infections such as signs/symptoms and ways to help alleviate the pain. 

Signs/Symptoms Of An Eye Infection

  • Oozing. Your dog's eye may be oozing thick yellow or white colored discharge.
  • Red Eyelids. Red or swollen eyelids may exist, either on the inside or the exterior of the eyelid, or even keeping the eyelid closed.
  • Cloudy Eyes. Cloudy eyes or discolored eyeballs (red or yellow) could be a sign of an infection.
  • Pawing. Pawing at the eyes excessively or scratching the eyes, possibly rubbing them on you or the floor.

If your dog has tearing or watery eyes, it could be a sign of a minor irritation such as dirt or a bug in the eye. Your dog's tear drops should help remove the object, but if your dog continues tearing, you can use a warm washcloth to help remove the object. Simply place the warm washcloth over the eye and gently massage the eye and the tear duct to help remove the object. You can use a warm washcloth to help alleviate the pain of an eye infection as well and to keep the eye area clean.

Treatment Of An Eye Infection

If you notice any signs of an eye irritation or infection in your dog that persists, take him to your veterinarian immediately for a checkup and to have it diagnosed by the veterinarian. Your veterinarian may prescribe eye drops to clear up the infection. If your dog is prone to more eye infections, or has had chronic eye infections, he may suggest vitamin supplements to help prevent infections.

Preventative Tips

  • Keep hair around the eyes trimmed back to prevent dirt and other objects from getting into your dog's eyes.
  • Clean up mucous from your dog's eyes with a warm washcloth to prevent the mucous and other moisture from getting infected.
  • Use a warm washcloth to remove crusted discharge. Hold the washcloth in place to soften the crusty pieces - don't just pull it off, which may be painful.

If you notice any issues in your dog's eyes, take him to a veterinarian, like one at Northwest Animal Hospital, right away. Chronic eye infections or eye infections that go without treatment could cause other issues such as blindness in your dog.