In this article...
- Typical Causes of an Eye Infection;
- Typical Signs that Your Dogs or Cats Eye May Be Infected;
- Typical Signs of Pink Eye - Conjunctivitis
- Contagiousness of Eye Infections
- Treating and Curing Eye Infections
- Topical Treatments
- Ingested (Dietary) Remedies
- Duration of Treatment
- When To Get Your Dog or Cat to Your Veterinarian
1.0 Typical Causes of an Eye Infection
- Allergies (i.e. environmental allergies);
- Bacteria;
- Debris - foreign object in the eye – i.e. particles of grass, dirt, etc.
- Debris and /or irritation can occur very simply:
- The dog putting his/her head out a vehicle window when the vehicle is in motion;
- Running through tall grasses – a small particle of grass seed may get into a dog’s or cat’s eye;
- Sand/dirt whipped up and airborne by a strong wind;
- Sticking his/her head into an animal burrow/hole, etc.;
- Trauma to the eye;
- Viruses.
2.0 Typical Signs that Your Dogs or Cats
Eye May Be Infected
Eye May Be Infected
- Thick mucus-like discharge from the inner corner of the eye – colour of the discharge often has a slight green tinge;
- Inflammation – redness of the eye;
- Dog or cat may try to rub his/her eye frequently with his/her paw, or against the ground, furniture etc.;
- Squinting;
- Cloudiness of the eye;
- Inability to open the eye partially or completely.
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3.0 Typical Signs of Pink Eye also known
as Conjunctivitis
as Conjunctivitis
Pink eye/Conjunctivitis is a little different than other types of eye infections. Symptoms of pink eye include:
- Severe itching of the entire eye area;
- Pronounced pink coloration of the dogs eye area;
- Your dogs eye may be severely bloodshot;
- Surrounding eye tissue including the eye-lid will be inflamed;
- Dogs with pink eye will often try to use their paw to scratch and remove discharge from their eyes;
- Your dog may seek out dark places out of direct light and sun light - when he/she would normally rest in brighter areas;
- Your dogs tear ducts may have increased tear production;
- Increased discharge coming from the dogs eye, may collect around the eye area and make it difficult for your dog to blink or open his/her eye.
4.0 Contagiousness of Eye Infections
Eye infections are very contagious.Use great care when touching/treating an infected eye. If your dog has one eye that is infected and one eye that is not infected – if you are not careful you can end-up accidentally introducing the infection to the non-infected eye.
- Make sure you wash your hands after touching/treating the infected eye;
- Don’t use the same cotton swab, cloth etc. on both eyes – use a fresh cotton swab, cloth etc. for each eye;
- Make sure the eye-dropper, ointment or medicine applicator does not touch the eye – if it does wash the tip before reusing or applying to the other eye;
- Wash your hand thoroughly after touching, treating the infected eye.
5.1 Pink-Eye also known as Conjunctivitis is Highly
Contagious, and Zoonotic
Contagious, and Zoonotic
- Is zoonotic - transferable from:
- Human to dog when the infection is bacteria-based pink eye;
- Dog to dog;
- Insect to dog;
- The bacterial form of pink eye is the most common form of conjunctivitis;
- The viral form of pink eye is an air borne virus that is particularly common in the winter when the air is damp and humid;
- The third most common cause of pink eye is triggered by environmental allergies which can cause irritation of the sinus and inflammation of the mucus membranes of the eye - in which case the cure involves addressing both the conjunctivitis and the environmental allergy
5.2 Eye Infections Worsen Very Quickly
If you think your dog or cat has an eye infection - take action ASAP as eye infections can advance very quickly. On the first day you may notice a little discharge and by the next day the infection can be fully developed! Especially if your dog’s or cat’s immune system is suppressed. The following are some very typical substances that can contribute to a suppressed immune system:
- Antibiotic;
- Inoculations;
- Steroids;
- Stress;
- Chemical-based insect and parasite preventatives, treatments;
- Species inappropriate diet and related additives;
- Chemical-based food preservatives, colorants, etc.
- Grains – especially cornand soy;
- Exposure to environmental chemicals and toxins, including;
- Chemical-based household cleaners – use pet friendly cleaners instead;
- Herbicides and pesticides – grass is good for dogs to eat, but only if it has not been treated with herbicides and pesticides!
- Road salt;
- Etc.
6.0 Treating and Curing Eye Infections
Step 1 - Topical Treatment
Clean Your Dog’s or Cat’s Eye Right Away
Use this Saline Solution
- Combine;
- ½ cup warm water (distilled water if you have it on hand) with;
- ½ tsp salt;
- Stir;
- Apply some of the solution to a cotton ball;
- Use the cotton ball to wipe your dog’s or cat’s eye.
Apply a Topical Treatment, Curative to The Infected Eye
Choose One of the Following Standard Treatments
For use if the infection is not severe. These treatments are to be Applied 2 to 3 times per day...
6.1 Herbal Treatments
Chamomile Tea
- Brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm;
- Use the liquid, drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears, or;
- Place a cooled tea bad against the eye several times a day until the infection clears.
Eyebright Tea (cooled to warm);
- Brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm;
- Use the liquid, drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears, or;
- Place a cooled tea bad against the eye several times a day until the infection clears.
Green Tea - decaffeinated (cooled to warm)
- Brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm;
- Use the liquid from the green tea, drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears, or;
- Place a cooled tea bad against the eye several times a day until the infection clears.
Rooibos Tea (cooled to warm)
- Brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm;
- Use the liquid from the rooibos tea - drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears, or;
- Place a cooled tea bad against the eye several times a day until the infection clears.
6.2 Nutraceutical Treatments
Distilled Water and Organic Unpasturized Apple Cider Vinegar (room temperature)
Not for use with pink-eye
- Combine;
- 2 tbs distilled water with;
- 4 drops of organic unpasturized Apple Cider Vinegar;
- Stir well;
- Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears.
Distilled Water and Fresh Lemon Juice (room temperature)
Not for use with pink-eye
- Combine;
- 2 tbs distilled water with;
- 4 drops of fresh squeezed lemon juice;
- Stir well;
- Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears;
Distilled Water and Unpasturized Organic Honey (room temperature)
For use with an infected eye and pink eye
- Combine;
- 2 tbs distilled water with;
- 2 tbs unpasturized organic honey;
- Stir well;
- Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears.
Distilled Water and Oregon Grape Tincture (room temperature)
For use with an infected eye and pink eye
- Combine;
- 1 once distilled water with;
- 4 drops of Oregon grape tincture
- Stir well;
- Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears.
6.3 Extra Strength Treatments
For use if the infection is more severe and/or tenacious. These treatments are to be Applied 2 to 3 times per day...
Colloidal Silver Water
- Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears;
- See this article to understand:
- What colloidal silver is;
- How it works;
- How to select a quality product.
Extra Strength Herbal
- Combine:
- ½ cup of distilled water;
- 5 drops of one of the following teas (brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm);
- Calendula;
- Camomile;
- Eyebright;
- Red Clover;
- St. John’s Wort
- ½ tsp of salt;
- Optional ingredient - 1 tbs 100% aloe vera juice
- Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears;
