Pink eye, known as conjunctivitis in the veterinary community, is quite common in dogs. Like pink eye in humans, conjunctivitis in dogs typically causes red, inflamed eyes. This gives the disease its nickname, “pink eye.” The scientific name, conjunctivitis, quite literally means inflammation of the conjunctiva.
Topical gentamicin, tobramycin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin or triple-antibiotic ophthalmic ointments and solutions are commonly prescribed. Some dogs will receive medications containing anti-inflammatory agents such as ophthalmic prednisolone or dexamethasone.
While non-infectious conjunctivitis is not a serious condition in and of itself, it won't clear up on its own without treatment, and it may point to a more serious health problem that needs to be addressed. Additionally, if left untreated, your dog could sustain a permanent eye injury or even vision loss.
eye infection - clear or green discharge from the eye. the whites of the eyes are often red, and the surrounding eye area swollen. pawing at the affected eye. squinting and blinking more than normal.
If your dog is showing signs of conjunctivitis, even if symptoms seem very mild, contact your vet as soon as possible. Left untreated conjunctivitis can lead to permanent eye damage.
In rare cases, a dog can give a human pink eye. Likewise, if you are suffering from pink eye, it's a possibility for you to transfer the infection to your beloved friend.
One popular method is using a warm, damp cloth to gently clean and soothe the eye area. Another option is using a saline solution to flush out any irritants. However, it is important to note that these remedies should not be used as a replacement for professional veterinary care.
Although over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops and ointments can soothe uncomfortable symptoms in humans, it is not recommended to use them for dogs without being advised by a veterinarian to do so.
A sticky, tenacious eye discharge could point to canine dry eye, a failure to make enough tears. Symptoms can also include mucus and inflammation. Dry eye may be the result of distemper, injury, a knock in the head near a tear-producing gland, or the dog's immune system attacking the tear gland tissue.
Recovery of Conjunctivitis in Dogs
The recovery time is usually only days before some improvement is seen in the case of allergen or fungal infections, although some viral or bacterial infections do take up to three weeks to clear.
Rinse your dog's eye and eye area with simple saline solution, which can be purchased from a veterinarian or pharmacy, or made with a teaspoon of salt water in a cup of warm water. Carefully instill into the corner of your dog's eye and dip a cotton ball in the solution and wipe away discharge from around the eye.
Over-The-Counter Drops. Fortunately, many eye drops for dogs are available without a prescription. But if your furry friend is experiencing chronic red eyes, lots of discharge, or cloudy eyes, or if you think his eye's been injured, see your vet as soon as possible.
Genteal Gel, Refresh tears, and Tears Naturale are all good choices. You can flush the eye with the eye wash and then wipe the eye with a soft cloth. If you are using artificial tears, apply 3 – 4 drops in each eye and allow your pet to blink.
Saline eye drops can be used to safely flush any irritants out of a dog's eye. These drops won't hurt and may provide some temporary relief to your dog's inflamed eye. Saline eye drops can be purchased from a pharmacy, online, or from a pet store and gently squirted directly into your dog's eye.
Healthy eyes are bright and clear, and the white of the eye is pure white. You can help keep them that way by gently wiping away discharge in the corners with a cotton ball or soft washcloth moistened with warm water. Make sure not to rub the cotton ball directly over the eye.
If your dog has colored green eye discharge, yellow eye discharge or another colored eye discharge, schedule a vet appointment immediately. Other signs of a potential problem include squinting, a red-looking eye, or if your dog is rubbing or pawing at his eye.
Regularly flushing your dog's eyes is a good practice to prevent irritation, keep eyes clean and reduce the risk of infection, especially if your dog is often in dirt, dust or water.
If a bacterial infection is found to be causing your dog's eye infection, antibiotics and eye drops will typically be prescribed. When allergies are the suspected cause of eye infections in dogs, the vet is likely to prescribe an antihistamine to help soothe your pup's eyes.
How long does conjunctivitis in dogs last? The duration of clinical signs depends on the underlying cause. With appropriate treatment, bacterial conjunctivitis is usually fully resolved within 5 to 7 days. Viral conjunctivitis can take up to 3 to 4 weeks for full resolution.
The medically correct term for dog eye gunk is discharge. Clear to whitish-grey eye gunk with a watery consistency is normal in most dogs. You may notice some dust in them as well.
This material is made from dried tears, oil, mucus, dead cells, dust, etc., and is typically clear or a slightly reddish-brown color. These “eye boogers” are usually most evident in the morning and are often perfectly normal.
Your dog's eye infection won't go away on its own, nor can you treat it from home. Untreated eye infections can spread into both eyes and even cause blindness. In very rare cases, a dog may require surgery for an eye infection.