Dog Pink Eye Treatment

The most common eye problem in dogs is conjunctivitis or dog pink eye as it is called. Pink eye is the inflammation of the inside of the eyelids and the front eye. There is no major difference in pink eye in humans and dogs. It is not a severe condition unless not treated on time. If left untreated, it can become a serious condition which can affect the dog adversely. If the eyes are not swollen, you can treat the pink eyes in dog by yourself at home. Wipe the dog’s eyes with a soft cloth dipped in lukewarm water. A cotton ball dipped in lukewarm water also works well. You will have to clean the eyes twice or thrice a day to get rid of the discharge that comes out of the eyes.

Symptoms of Dog Pink Eye

A dog afflicted with pink eye will have bloodshot eyes accompanied with inflamed and irritated eyelids. This infection causes the eye lids to get puffy and the surrounding tissue gets inflamed. Due to the inflammation, the dog may not be able to open its eyes or blink. You may also observe pus-filled, thick, discharge from the eyes. Simply observing the eye color is not enough to diagnose if the dog has been infected with pink eye. Pink eye can cause severe itching as a result of inflammation. You may notice your dog wiping its eyes with its paw or scratching its eyes. You will also notice tears in the dog’s eyes. There is an increase in the amount of fluid that the tear ducts produce.  This is because the eyes also try to flush out toxins.

Dog Pink Eye Home Remedies

It is important to assess the condition of your pet’s eyes before you start any home remedies for dog pink eye. If you observe any foreign object in or around the eyes, flush your dog’s eyes with lukewarm water. Make sure the water is only lukewarm else it may cause damage to the eyeballs. Use a soft cloth to wipe the area around the eyes to clean any extra discharge or remove any foreign material. If both the eyes are infected make sure you use different cloths for both the eyes. If you don’t see any improvement or these remedies are not working, you should contact vet immediately and start administering the prescribed treatment. If your vet diagnoses canine pink eye, he/she may prescribe some antibiotics for the treatment.  Antibiotic drops and pills will definitely provide relief to the dog’s eyes. Many vets also recommend herbal drops for dogs that frequently get pink eye. This is a natural treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis in dogs.

Home Remedy for Dog Conjunctivitis

Just like human beings, dogs too can suffer from conjunctivitis, which is also known as pink eye. Conjunctivitis in dogs is quite similar to humans, as the infection affects the mucus membranes around the eyes, causing the eyes to feel extremely itchy and sore. The whites of the eye usually turn pink and the flesh surrounding the eye swells. At times, the symptoms of this condition are more subtle. Your dog could be producing a higher amount of tears, may flinch, wince or squint without any apparent reason or may just want to sleep all day long. Conjunctivitis can be the symptom of a problem in dogs or at times, it could also be the main problem. Therefore, if you ever realize that your dog is suffering from the pink eye, it is best to check with a doctor without any delay. A veterinarian may prescribe some antibiotic eye drops, which need to be applied every few hours. There are artificial tears, eye ointments and pills which could also be used in the treatment of this condition.

However, most pet owners prefer opting for dog conjunctivitis home remedies, in addition to conventional treatments, to speed up the healing process. Given below are some simple dog conjunctivitis home treatment options:

Organic apple cider vinegar is believed to work wonders on dogs suffering from eye infections. For a small dog, mix one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar, with a tablespoon of water and rub the mixture on the back of your pet’s neck using a piece of cotton. In some cases this home remedy for dog conjunctivitis can completely cure the problem. However, there have been many reports stating that apple cider vinegar only improves the condition, by reducing the pain and the inflammation. Wipe your pets eyes regularly, using cooled water that has already been boiled. Dip a ball of cotton wool in cold water and allow it to soak generously. Then, wipe your pet’s eyes, one by one, using different pieces of cotton for each eye. Do not leave the dog’s eyes wet; please make sure that you pat them dry. Colloidal silver has been considered an excellent home remedy for dog pink eye. It needs to be applied directly into the dog’s eyes, just like any other normal eye drops.

There are several other home remedies that can be used, to treat conjunctivitis in dogs, like essiac tea, a combination of lavender oil and chamomile tea, salt water, honey, green tea bags, honey as well as a combination of rosemary and tea tree oils. However, not all home remedies may be suitable for your dog. Before trying any home remedy for dog conjunctivitis, it is best to check it’s feasibility with a doctor.