First, moisten the cotton ball with saline, and then hold it on your dog's eyelids for a few moments to soften the crusts. Once they're soft, use the cotton ball to gently wipe the crust away.
“A soft, wet cloth can be used to gently wipe away the discharge,” Dr. Kimmitt advises. You can also use a veterinary eye cleaning product to combat dog eye discharge — just make sure it doesn't contain any alcohol.
Mucus, yellow-green pus, or a watery eye discharge can all be signs of conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the lining of your dog's eye. There's a wide range of causes for conjunctivitis, from allergies, injury, birth defects, and tear duct problems, to foreign matter, dry eye, distemper, or even tumors.
This is because a dog's tears contain a substance called porphyrin, which becomes a pigment of this hue when exposed to air and allowed to dry. If your dog is not in any discomfort from this, all you need to do is: Try to wipe their eyes regularly.
To clean crusty or irritated eyes, you can make a soothing saline solution by mixing ¼ teaspoon sea salt and 1 cup of distilled or filtered water. For irritation or injury, pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon eyebright (a herb). Add ¼ teaspoon salt and let steep for 15 minutes.
Clear to whitish-grey eye boogers with a watery consistency are normal in most dogs. You may notice some dust in them as well. Be aware that discharge can change in appearance. If your dog's eye gunk looks more pus-like, with a tendency to crust, this could be a sign of a bigger problem.
If your pet gets something in her eye, it's safe to use plain saline solution to rinse the eye out, but avoid any contact lens solution labeled as enzymatic or cleaning solution.
Refresh Optive Lubricant Eye Drops. About: Refresh Optive Lubricant Eye Drops are another option for doggos with dry eyes. Like Viscotears, Refresh Optive Drops are actually designed for human use, but they're safe for your pooch too.
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.
Systane Ultra Lubricant Eye Drops, 0.33 Fl Oz
I used these drops after visiting my doctor. They are the best feeling drops I have ever tried. I have even used them on my dog who has a chronic eye problem.
Herbal eye drops can be administered to your dog. Use a formula consisting of 1 cup of water, ¼ tsp of salt and 10 drops of one of the following: Eyebright. Calendula.
Bandages, gauze, and an antiseptic cleaning solution are just a few examples. Betadine is a fantastic item for your pet fit aid kit. It is completely safe for dogs, even if they lick the injured area and swallow some Betadine.
Vinegar Rinse
Vinegar, in particular apple cider vinegar, has long been used for first aid. Vinegar has been used to treat minor dog wounds because not only does it have the ability to disinfect the area, and wash away unwanted fur and debris, it also has a soothing effect on the dog's coat.
Dettol Can Be Toxic To Animals.
One great thing about Betadine is that it is completely harmless if it's ingested. If you are applying this solution on the part of your dog that they're able to reach, you won't have to worry about any additional problems if they get a little bit of the solution in their system.
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.
Treating Dog Eye Infections at Home
Home remedies such as non-medicated sterile saline rinses can flush the eye but are only a short-term solution if your dog already has an infection. Saline rinses are a good idea if you're seeing just a little clear discharge and a little redness.
The most common clinical signs of conjunctivitis include discharge from the eyes (cloudy, yellow, or greenish), squinting or excessive blinking, and redness or swelling around the eyes. Conjunctivitis often involves both eyes, but only one eye may be affected in certain conditions.
There are two commonly used ophthalmic medications to stimulate tear production, cyclosporine (brand name Optimmune®) and tacrolimus. Both are easily placed in the eyes once or twice daily. These drugs are very safe and most pets improve dramatically with their consistent use.
Chloramphenicol Precautions
While this medication can be appropriate for use in both dogs and cats when prescribed by a veterinarian, cats can be more susceptible to experiencing adverse reactions and therefore may need to be monitored more closely.
NO! It is not FDA-approved for dogs, and it might cause catastrophic damage to your dog's eyes. If your dog is experiencing irritated or itchy eyes, consult your vet and they can recommend a pet friendly eye drop. Learn more below about why Visine is not safe for pups.