Like humans, dogs can experience eye allergies, infections and other conditions that require treatment. Depending on the severity of the condition, topical remedies such as over-the-counter or prescription eye drops may be recommended.
Before beginning any treatment for your furry friend, it is best to get a professional opinion to provide the best solution for the problem.
Types of eye drops for dogs
Selecting the right product for your pet is crucial in resolving their eye-related problem. Some situations may only require saline eye drops, while others may need prescribed medication.
Check with your vet before beginning treatment to make sure the eye drops you use are appropriate — the wrong product can sometimes cause more harm than good for your dog’s condition.
Your veterinarian may recommend topical eye ointments as an alternative to eye drops depending on your dog’s condition. You likely will not need to apply an ointment as often as you would eye drops (because of the product’s consistency), but be sure to follow your vet’s instructions.
Eye drops (and ointments) are specially formulated to target the problem without harming your dog’s eyes. If your dog experiences negative side effects or a worsening condition, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Dog eye allergy treatment may include eye drops, but there are specific formulas designed for use in canines. Due to the nature of dog eye problems, there can be many causes behind tearing, discharge, or dryness, so its important to find the cause before treating the issue. In general, things made for humans or other animals should not be safe for dogs, and you should always ask your veterinarian before using over-the-counter medications or treatments on your pet.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, commonly known as KCS or dry eyes, causes corneal swelling due to lack of moisture. When dogs have dryness in their eyes, their body often makes excess tears to lubricate and relieve the discomfort. Any dog can develop this condition, but certain breeds are more prone to it.
Special allergy eye drops for dogs are available. Formulas with steroids are available for eye issues, such as cataracts or glaucoma. Prescription strength, medicated dog eye drops for moisture and pain relief are also available.
Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is the inflammation of the conjunctiva in a dogs eye. Leading to redness and discharge, this eye issue is usually caused by a viral infection, like parvovirus, but can also be a side effect of eye trauma, tumors, immune disorders, or clogged tear ducts. Since there are so many potential causes behind pink eye in dogs, its important to have a veterinarian evaluate your pet and come up with a treatment plan for both the condition and the cause.
Before giving your dog the eye drops, clean the eye area. Use one hand to hold your dogs hand still and pull her eyelid down, using the other hand for the dropper. Youll want to hold the bottle close to her eyeball for application but do not let it touch, as this can contaminate the dropper with bacteria from your dogs eye infection.
Conditions that may require eye drops
Dogs’ eyes are protected with a third eyelid called a nictitating membrane that’s normally hidden under the lower lid where you can’t see it. The nictitating membrane helps remove debris from the eye and provides a defense against harsh conditions such as wind, dust and pollutants in the air. It also helps distribute tears in the eyes to keep your dog’s eyes moist.
However, even with the shield of a third eyelid and the natural tears your dog produces, your dog’s eyes may get irritated or infected. Some of these problems may require eye drops to heal. These problems include:
Allergies are often triggered by environmental irritants or sensitivity to products such as shampoos and even some household cleaners. Sometimes identifying and removing the irritant from your dog’s surroundings relieves their symptoms. Eye drops may be recommended if allergies are severe or stick around after eliminating the source.
If your dog has glaucoma, your veterinarian may recommend anti-glaucoma eye drops such as dorzolamide (Cosopt or Trusopt) or timolol (Timoptic and Betimol) to help treat the condition. In some cases, surgery may be needed in addition to eye drops.
Some other conditions that may be treated with eye drops:
| For dog owners: |
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| Dogs and their owners struggle with allergies, including itchy, watery eyes. If you have allergy-related eye issues, talk to a local eye doctor. They can provide solutions to clear up those eyes so you and your best friend can see the ball clearly during a game of fetch or snooze comfortably on the couch at home. And be sure not to mix up your dogs eye drops with your own. If you accidentally used your dogs drops and experience any irritation, contact an eye doctor to find out what you should do next. |
FAQ
Can I put allergy eye drops in my dogs eyes?
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.
What eye drops are good for dogs with allergies?