The animal’s eyes are a rather vulnerable organ, dust, dirt, various microparticles can get into it, which can cause irritation and inflammation. Clean, discharge-free eyes are an indicator of a dog’s health.
In order to prevent the development of infection and preserve the visual acuity of the pet until his old age, proper eye care is necessary.
Do I need to wash my dog’s eyes?
Unfortunately, dogs are not able to take care of their eyes on their own. Therefore, the owner has to deal with hygiene. He needs to know when the eye condition is considered normal, and when to start worrying, and how to carry out regular care.
Normal for the dog’s eyes are small accumulations of secretions in the inner corner. They may be slightly grayish or even colorless. The cornea and conjunctiva should be moistened, so it is natural to have a watery liquid-tears. Its presence indicates the normal functioning of the lacrimal glands. In this case, hygiene is carried out as needed.
Not only the eyes require attention, but also the adjacent areas of the skin, as well as the fur around them. Dogs with low drooping eyelids, bulging eyes, with a muzzle completely covered with thick hair covering their eyes need special care. In such breeds as Pekingese, sharpei, Japanese chinas, French bulldogs, the structure of the skull affects the shape of the nasolacrimal canals, the tear may leak, and its excess amount remains in the folds of the muzzle. Such breeds need regular care, which will avoid the accumulation of dirt, prevent infection and the development of inflammation.
Symptoms that require special attention
You need to examine your eyes every day, especially after walking. Flushing should become regular if it is necessary. If problems occur in the visual organ, the protective functions of the body are immediately activated, signaling the inflammatory process and causing unpleasant sensations in the pet. The owner should be alerted:
accumulation of pus, which glues the eyelashes when drying. The symptom is more often associated with bacterial infection, conjunctivitis or keratitis, improper growth of eyelashes;
- frequent blinking;
- rubbing the muzzle with paws;
- copious lacrimation;
- photophobia (squinting);
- redness of the mucous membrane and the appearance of red veins;
- swelling of the eyelids.
The most common disease is conjunctivitis, when the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, this problem is accompanied by abundant mucous, serous or purulent secretions. The cause may be accidental injury, dirt ingress, infection. The exact diagnosis is established only by a veterinarian.
Means for washing the dog’s eyes
There are many remedies for eye care. These include both medicines and means for hygienic care. In case of pathological symptoms, it is better to consult a veterinary ophthalmologist.
You can buy drops, lotions or napkins at a pet store or veterinary pharmacy. Their composition corresponds to the physiology of quadrupeds and does not require breeding. The instructions specify the required amount of the substance, suitable for age and weight. Of the most effective drugs: “Show Tech”, “CLINY”, “GlobalVet”. An excellent way to clean the area around the eyes are wet wipes, they prefer to take them with you on a trip or use them to treat skin folds for dogs of brachycephalic breeds.
If there were no funds for animals at hand, then you can use pharmacy products intended for people, for example, Sodium chloride 0.9%.
If there is absolutely nothing at hand, then you can use ordinary boiled water to wash your eyes.
What is wrong with washing the dog’s eyes
Boric acid, chlorhexidine, and potassium permanganate are NOT suitable for eye washing and can cause burns to the conjunctiva and cornea.
Folk remedies can also harm the condition of the pet’s eyes due to the unpredictable effect, lack of sterility and the presence of foreign impurities. Therefore, the infusion of chamomile, tea and aloe juice should be abandoned.
How to wash the dog’s eyes. Basics of eye hygiene
The regularity of washing depends on the condition of the pet, it is usually carried out every week, more frequent procedures are required with intense secretions. For the procedure, you will need the chosen means for washing, cotton pads, goodies for encouragement. In order to avoid aggressive behavior and a stressful situation, all manipulations are carried out slowly and smoothly.
Eye processing algorithm:
- The body and head of the animal are fixed. For small dogs, a towel or a blanket is suitable, large ones will have to be held by a leash. You may need an assistant. But some animals calmly react to hygiene, fixation and assistance in this case will not be required.
- A cotton pad is wetted in the prepared solution, and the eyes are rubbed in the direction from the inner corner of the eye to the outer. A separate cotton pad will be required for each eye.
- In the case of dried crusts, it will take more time to soften and remove them. The cotton pad is well wetted and applied to the problem area. Upon completion, the eyes are washed.
When using drops, you need to push the eyelids apart with two fingers and drop the necessary amount of the drug directly onto the eyeball or into the conjunctival sac. Do not forget to simulate blinking to distribute the medicine.
After the procedure, it is recommended to give the dog a treat to distract her from negative experiences.
How to carry out prevention?
The best way to prevent any disease is to follow preventive measures. To wash the eyes, you need to teach the animal from a young age, carry out the procedure calmly, without pressure on the puppy. You need to do this at the same time to develop a habit. At the end, always give an encouraging treat to get used to without coercion.
Some recommendations for the prevention of eye disease:
- during bathing, try to keep the shampoo from getting into your eyes,
- cut the wool in time so that it does not get into the eyes,
- rinse your eyes regularly with the most appropriate remedy.
We also remind you of the schedule of a preventive examination by an ophthalmologist:
- The first time at the age of 8 weeks
- Then at 12 months
- Then 1 time in 3 years
If you haven’t checked your pet’s eye condition for more than three years, it’s time to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. Is everything all right with your dog’s eyes? Excellent, our veterinarians will not only confirm your opinion with their examination, but also tell you how to take care of your eyes so that no problems arise in the future.