How to Treat Eye Infections in Dogs

Dogs can suffer from eye infections caused by viruses or bacteria. When infected, a dog’s eyes may become itchy, swollen, red, and discharge fluid. Eye infections can lead to permanent damage and even blindness. It is crucial to bring your dog to a veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent the condition from worsening.

Ask the veterinarian about the difference between watery eyes and an eye infection. Watery eyes and other symptoms can be bothersome for dogs, but they are not always a clear indication of an eye infection. Your dog could have watery eyes due to foreign objects, allergies, scratches, or a condition known as dry eye. Other causes may include blocked tear ducts, eye ulcers, or even tumors, as well as genetic issues like bulging eyes or entropion (inward-turning eyelids).

• The only way to accurately determine if your dog has an eye infection is to visit a veterinary clinic for a thorough exam.

Have the veterinarian examine your dog's eyes. First, the vet will check the dog's temperature and observe its movement around the clinic to assess if there is any vision issue caused by an eye infection. The vet will then examine the dog's eyes using an ophthalmoscope, a tool that allows them to observe the structure of the eyes. This helps the vet identify any foreign bodies, tumors, or abnormalities in the dog's eyes.

• The vet will also examine the area around the dog's eyes to check for swelling or paralysis. They will then inspect the eyes to see if the sclera (white part) is red or if there are any abnormalities around the cornea, while also checking whether there is any unusual discharge from the eyes.
• The vet will observe whether your dog blinks normally and responds to movements in front of its face (such as a hand moving toward the dog). The vet will also check the reaction of the dog's pupils to light and darkness to ensure normal function.

Make sure the veterinarian performs eye tests on your dog. The vet may conduct several tests to confirm an eye infection in your dog. These tests include:

• Fluorescein stain: In this test, the vet will use a chemically treated paper strip to test the dog's eyes. The fluorescent dye will turn green in areas where the eye is damaged due to scratches or ulcers.
• Schirmer test: This test measures the amount of tears produced by your dog's eyes. In this quick and simple test, the vet will place a test strip on the dog's eye to measure the tear production. This will help the vet determine if the tear production is normal or if it has increased or decreased significantly due to an eye infection.

Use a warm cloth to wipe away discharge from your dog's eyes. It’s recommended to gently clean any crusted discharge around the infected eye with a warm cloth.

• However, avoid wiping directly on the dog's eye, as this could potentially scratch the cornea and cause further damage to the eye.

Rinse your dog's eyes with saline solution. A saline solution can help wash the eyes and reduce irritation. You can use an eye dropper to apply the solution to the dog's eyes 3-4 times a day.

Administer antibiotics prescribed by the vet. The veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics to treat your dog's eye infection. These antibiotics could be in the form of eye drops or ointment that you need to apply to your dog’s eyes 3-4 times daily.

• The vet may also prescribe oral antibiotics, which you will need to administer with food.
• When applying the eye drops or ointment, follow these steps:
  • Ask someone to help keep the dog still.
  • Prepare everything in advance.
  • Gently hold open the dog's eyelids.
  • Approach the eye from behind to prevent the dog from turning its head.
  • Avoid touching the tip of the dropper or ointment tube to the dog's eye surface.
  • Allow the dog to blink to evenly distribute the ointment.
  • Repeat the procedure as directed by the vet.

Use an Elizabethan collar if the dog tries to scratch or rub its eyes. It’s crucial to protect the dog’s eyes from further injury. If your dog attempts to scratch or rub its eyes with its paws or against surfaces, it might be best to use an Elizabethan collar (also known as a cone collar) to prevent the dog from causing more damage to its eyes.

• You should also avoid allowing the dog to stick its head out of the car window while driving, as dust and insects could get into the infected eye and aggravate the irritation.

Avoid exposing your dog to dusty environments. It’s important to keep your dog away from dusty rooms or areas while its eye infection heals. Avoid taking your dog to places with heavy dust to prevent worsening the eye infection and promote faster recovery.