Dogs can contract eye infections of viral or bacterial origin, which cause itching, swelling and redness with possible leakage of pus; this type of infection can damage your pet's eyes and even cause blindness. Take your dog to the vet right away for an official diagnosis and medical treatment to prevent the infection from getting worse.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Getting a Diagnosis from the Vet
Step 1. Ask your doctor about the difference between secretions and eye infections
Although the release of secretions and other irritating symptoms can be unpleasant and uncomfortable for the animal, they are not certain indications of infection; your dog may have discharge from some foreign substance, allergies, a scratch in the eye or a condition known as dry eye. He may also have blocked tear ducts, an ulcer, an eye tumor, or even some genetic disease involving eye bulging or entropion.
The only way to know for sure if your dog has an infection is to take him to the vet for a checkup
Step 2. Let the doctor examine his eyes
He will first measure the dog's body temperature and observe how he walks or moves in the room; this study tells him if he has any vision problems due to the infection. He will also examine the irritated eye or eyes using an ophthalmoscope, an instrument with light that allows you to see the structure of the eye, as well as possible foreign bodies, tumors or abnormalities.
- Doctors also look at the eyes for disease or ailments, such as swelling or paralysis, then check if the sclera or eyeball tissue is red and see if the secretions are colored or thick.
- Also check if the dog blinks normally and if it responds to movements in front of its muzzle, such as a hand being moved in front of its eyes; it also ensures that the pupils react normally to light and dark.
Step 3. Make sure your doctor performs dog eye tests
You can subject the animal to these tests to confirm the presence of the infection; the main findings are:
- Study of the anterior segment with fluorescein. In this test, the veterinarian places a chemically treated strip of paper on the dog's eye; fluorescein (the chemical) stains areas injured by a scratch or ulcer green.
- Schirmer test. It is used to measure tear production; it is a simple and quick test which consists in placing a strip on the eye to calculate the amount of tears. In this way, the vet can determine if the production is normal, if it has significantly increased or decreased due to the infection.
Part 2 of 2: Treating the Infection
Step 1. Use a warm washcloth to wipe secretions from the dog's eyes
You must remove any material that accumulates around the infected eyes using a slightly warmed towel.
However, you shouldn't use the cloth to clean the eyes itself, as you could scratch the bulbs and even damage them
Step 2. Rinse your eyes with a saline solution
Salt helps rid them of dirt, bacteria and reduces irritation; use a dropper to instill the solution three or four times a day.
Step 3. Give him the antibiotics prescribed by the vet
These doctor-recommended medications help treat the infection; they can be in the form of drops or ointment and you should apply them to the diseased eye three or four times a day.
- Your vet may also prescribe oral medications, which you should give your dog along with food.
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Follow this procedure when giving your pet drops or ointment medications:
- Get help from someone to hold the dog still;
- Keep everything close at hand;
- Open the dog's eyelid;
- Approach from behind so that the animal does not run away;
- Do not touch the surface of the eye with the tip of the dropper or bottle;
- Let the dog blink to spread the drug throughout the eye;
- Repeat the procedure respecting the prescribed intervals.
Treat Dog Eye Infection Step 7 Step 4. If your dog tries to scratch or touch his eyes with his paw, have him wear an Elizabethan collar
It is important to protect them from the risk of scratches or rubbing; if you find that he wants to rub them with a paw or against some other surface, you must put one of these collars on him to prevent it from causing further damage.
You shouldn't allow them to keep their head out of the window when traveling in a car, as insects or other dirt could get into their eyes, causing infections and irritating them even more
Treat Dog Eye Infection Step 8 Step 5. Keep it away from dusty environments
Avoid staying in dirty rooms or other areas when recovering from an eye infection. You should also prevent it from exposing itself to dusty environments in order not to trigger any possible infection.
