Cleaning the secretions from your dog's eyes is an important aspect for the safety and health of your faithful friend. Before starting, however, you must understand the causes of these deposits; this type of dirt can in fact be a sign of some serious pathology that requires treatment by the veterinarian. Once the cause is found, you can proceed with cleaning using a damp cloth or eye wash specifically for dogs.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Establish the Cause
Step 1. Contact your vet
If your furry friend has secretions coming out of his eyes, you need to make sure it's not some serious health problem. Before trying to treat the condition on your own, make an appointment with your vet to determine its etiology. While you need to evaluate your symptoms, you should never try to address the problem on your own.
- Take note of the symptoms and take your dog to the vet for a checkup.
- If you see any foreign objects stuck in the eye, go to a veterinary emergency room immediately.
Step 2. Take race into consideration
Those with brachycephalic heads, such as pug, bulldog, boxer, and Pekingese, are more likely to have eye discharge due to their flat snouts, bulbous bulbs, shallow eye sockets and may therefore suffer from some disorder associated with tear drainage. and / or eyelids not functioning properly. The Saint Bernard, the terrier, the beagles, the cocker spaniel and the Saint Hubert have the skin of the muzzle less firm and therefore the eyelids tend to rotate outwards (ectropion); these breeds tend to suffer more easily from "cherry eyes", a disorder that causes the gland of the nictitating membrane to prolapse, causing it to come out of its natural position.
Step 3. Determine if your dog has epiphora
It is an excessive tearing of the eyes that dirties the hair and skin with sticky spots. If your faithful friend's eyes are watery and watery a lot, it could be this condition. There are many factors that can cause epiphora, such as allergies, corneal ulcers, inflammation, abnormal eyelashes, tumors, glaucoma, and poor drainage from the tear ducts.
If you are concerned that the dog may have contracted this condition, have him examined by the vet as soon as possible
Step 4. Find out if he has conjunctivitis
If you notice yellow or greenish pus or watery secretions leaking, this could be a sign of this disorder, which occurs when the lining of the eyes becomes inflamed. it is caused by a wide variety of factors, such as allergies, distemper, tumors, injuries, birth defects, dry eyes, tear duct problems, or even the introduction of foreign material.
If your pet shows signs of conjunctivitis, take him to the vet right away for a checkup
Step 5. Examine him to see if he has dry eyes
If the secretions appear sticky and persistent, they may have this disorder, as the typical characteristics are inflammation and mucus formation. Dryness can be caused by injury to the lacrimal gland, the autoimmune response, or distemper. If the animal has dry eyes, there is a serious risk of corneal infections and / or ulcers; if you seem to be suffering from this discomfort, make an appointment with your vet to assess the cause of the problem and prevent future problems, such as infections.
Part 2 of 3: Wipe the Eyes with a Damp Cloth
Step 1. Keep him calm
Most dogs do not feel uncomfortable having secretions wiped from their eyes, but not everyone. If your four-legged friend is particularly sensitive, you should get help from another person; having someone who is already familiar with the animal by your side can make the procedure much easier.
Step 2. Dampen a soft cloth or sponge
If the secretions are not due to some serious pathology, such as epiphora or conjunctivitis, you can proceed in this way; use water at room temperature, wet the cloth and squeeze it to remove excess liquid, thus avoiding it from being too saturated.
- Do not use water that is too hot or cold, otherwise you may cause further irritation to the eyes.
- Do not use a napkin or paper towel as both can melt when wet and may leave residues that are dangerous for the dog.
Step 3. Remove dirt with gentle movements
Take the damp cloth or sponge and gently wipe the secretions with several light motions; if necessary, you can rinse and wring the cloth between strokes.
Step 4. Do not use soap or shampoo
In most cases, you shouldn't use any kind of detergent, soap or shampoo for this type of cleaning, otherwise you can irritate the pet's eyes; use only water and avoid chemicals altogether.
Step 5. Clean your eyes with sterile dog eye solution
If your faithful friend suffers from any chronic or severe condition that causes excessive discharge of secretions, your vet may recommend that you use a specific sterile product. Gently moisten a cotton ball or swab with the solution, being careful not to soak it too much, and start cleaning your eyes starting from the inner corner out.
Use a different cotton ball for the other eye; if you used the same for both, you could spread bacteria, viruses and infections from one to the other
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Eye Problems
Step 1. Do not allow the pet to keep its head out of the car window
Although it may seem very funny, this gesture is actually very dangerous; the wind can blow dirt into your eyes causing irritation or even an infection.
Step 2. Keep your dog's eyes and face clean
The fur surrounding the eyeballs can be an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria and viruses, which in turn quickly trigger an infection. Make sure you bathe your pet regularly and clean his eyes with a damp cloth or a specific sterile wash.
Step 3. Trim the fur around the eyes
By keeping it short you can prevent possible irritation and the development of diseases of viral or bacterial origin. Ask a person familiar with the pet to hold it while you trim the fur using a pair of blunt-tipped scissors. If your dog is uncomfortable during the procedure, don't try to do it indoors, but take him to the vet to do the grooming around the eyes.
