What kind of eye drops can you use on your dog? Dogs are usually prone to eye problems, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t serious. Some eye problems can impair your dog’s eyesight, and even slight issues can be very unpleasant. This means that problems with your dog’s eyes should be treated as a medical emergency that requires a trip to the Veterinarian. In fact, you should contact your Vet as soon as your dog develops an eye problem.
There is a third eyelid called a Nictitating membrane that protects the eyes of dogs and is generally tucked beneath the lower lid, out of sight. The Nictitating membrane aids in the removal of debris from the eye and protects it from harsh environmental factors such as wind, dust, and contaminants in the air. It also aids in the distribution of tears in the eyes, which helps to keep your dog’s eyes moist. Even with the protection of the third eyelid and your dog’s natural tears, your dog’s eyes might still become inflamed or infected at any time.
The following are some of the dog’s eye problems that may require the use of eye drops to treat; allergies, glaucoma, and eye infections such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, eye trauma, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes), and other dog’s eye infections.
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However, when it comes to dogs, there are only a few eye drops you can use to reduce your dog’s discomfort and offer him the best chance of a quick recovery.
5 Kinds Of Eye Drops You Can Use On Your Dog
There are basically two categories of eye drops you can use on your dog:
- Medicated eye drops: usually prescribed by your Veterinarian for treating more serious eye problems.
- Non-medicated eye drops: mainly used to get rid of eye debris, soothe irritated and painful eyesand other eye allergies.
There are different kinds of eye drops you can use on your dog for different eye issues. They include:
Eye Washes For Dogs
Eyewashes are over-the-counter products that can be used to clean dirt and debris or foreign bodies out of your dog’s eyes. They are usually saline solutions. They can help heal wounds and also help treat moderate allergies by removing crustiness and mucus that collects in the corners of the eyes, making your dog feel more at ease.
Examples of some good eyewashes you can easily get OTC or online at Amazon are:
- Vetericyn Plus All Animal Eye Wash
- Cliny Universal Pet Eye Wash
- Vetericyn Eye Wash
- Vets Preferred Dog Eye Wash
- Burt’s Bees For Dogs Eye Wash
Antibiotic Eye Drops For Dogs
There are numerous antibiotic eye drops for dogs with conjunctivitis or pink eye and keratitis, and the specific drops your vet prescribes will depend on a number of factors. Bear in mind that most of these antibiotic eye drops prescribed by your vet are usually the same as those used by humans but are usually used in small doses and for a short period of time.
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Examples of some antibiotic eye drops you can use on your dog are:
- Polysporin eye drops
- Chloramphenicol eye drops
- Isathal eye drops
- Exocin eye drops
- Clorogen eye drops
- Ciprofloxacin eye drops
- Remend eye drops
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory (NSAID) Eye Drops
NSAID eye drops, which are prescribed by the Vet to prevent and treat inflammation, are frequently used to aid recovery in a variety of eye disorders, from surgical inflammation to conjunctivitis. Polysporin, Flurbiprofen, Ketrolac, and Acular eye drops for dogs are examples of NSAID eye drops that is used to treat itchy eyes caused by allergic conjunctivitis.
Steroid Eye Drops
Steroid eye drops are a kind of medicated eye drop for dogs that are commonly used to treat swelling and inflammation of the eye. Steroid eye drops will be administered if your dog has dry eyes in order to reduce inflammation, lubricate the eyes, and enhance moisture retention.
some steroid eye drops contain an antibiotic to treat the infection as well as a steroid to reduce inflammation. They are effective and can be useful if your dog has bacterial conjunctivitis. They include:
- Neobacimyx H
- Trioptic S
- Vetropolycin HC
- Neo-Predef Sterile Ointment
- Chlorasone
- Gentocin Durafilm
- Cortisporin
- Clorogen eye drops for dogs, etc.
Combined Eye Drops
An antibiotic may be needed to treat a bacterial infection in the eye, as well as a steroid to reduce inflammation, thus a combined eye drop will be administered. One example is Maxitrol eye drops for dogs, which contain two antibiotics and a steroid, making them suitable for treating infections, inflammations, and dry eyes at once. Other examples of combined eye drops for dogs are:
- Tobradex
- Vasocidin
- Poly-dex
- Cortisporin
- Cortomycin Eye Ointment, etc.
Depending on your dog’s condition, your veterinarian may recommend topical eye ointments instead of eye drops. Because of the consistency of the solution, you won’t need to use it as frequently as eye drops, but be sure to follow your vet’s instructions.
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How To Use Eye Drops On Your Dog
According to Carrington, here are the best tips on administering eye drops on your dog:
- First, read all instructions on the eye drop’s label. Not only do you want to make sure that you’re following all directions on the packaging, but you’ll also want to take note of any special instructions (for example, the temperature at which the eye drop should be stored).
- When applying eye solutions, remove the cap and place it on a clean environment. Invert the bottle completely, which will allow you to get one full drop when you squeeze the bottle. You don’t need any more than one drop.
- The best way to give dog eye drops is to first grab the dog by the muzzle. If you’re not very experienced with how to put drops in dogs’ eyes, it may be easier to come from behind the dog to create a significantly less stressful experience for both you and the dog.
- Then, pull the dog’s head back so that the animal is looking straight up. Use your thumb (or another available finger) to gently pry back the dog’s eyelid.
- Squeeze one drop of the eye drops into the dog’s eye. Release both the muzzle and your finger, allowing the dog to blink and spread the solution around. Don’t rub!
Finally, release the dog. The eye drop will spread widely over the eye due to his natural eye movement and blinking. If you want to know how to give a dog eye ointment, just follow the same steps. Again, don’t rub the cream or lotion into the eye; it will spread on its own. Make sure to reward with a treat so your pet knows he or she did a good job!.
Remember to wash your hands well before and after using eye drops.
Conclusion
There are so many kinds of eye drops you can use on your dog. Eye drops (including eye ointments) are particularly made to address a dog’s eye problems without causing harm to your dog’s eyes. Always consult your Vet before using any eye drop on your dog or pet. Also, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible if your dog develops negative side effects or his condition worsens during the course of the treatment.
I would not recommend using pharmaceutical eye drops in your dog’s eye unless your veterinarian has recommended them; the only thing you can use to rinse the eye safely without any consultation is normal saline eye wash. Some human eye drops can be used to treat specific eye issues in dogs, but a diagnosis and prescription are required first.