Eye Care for Your Dog

Itʼs important to pay careful attention to your dogʼs eyes. A normal eye should be bright
and clear. Dogs occasionally need cleaning of their eyes if debris or discharge is present.
Some dogs may require more eye care maintenance than others because of underlying
factors such as eye conformation, genetics and underlying medical conditions.

Keeping an “Eye” Out

Certain breeds of dogs may be more prone to developing eye problems. Dogs with droopy
eyelids (e.g. Bloodhounds and St. Bernards) may be more prone to drying and
inflammation of the eye. Other dogs such as Labradors, Cocker Spaniels and Sharpeis
may be more prone to corneal ulceration because of overlong or extra eyelashes or fur
that is constantly rubbing and irritating their eyes. Likewise, dogs with bulging eyes or
pushed in faces such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers and Pekingese may be more
prone to eye problems such as dry eyes.

Cleaning the Eyes

To clean your dogʼs eyes moisten a cotton ball with clean water or sterile saline solution.
Gently wipe away any debris or discharge from both eyes. There are commercial
preparations of sterile saline eye solutions or eye wipes formulated for dogs. Alternatively,
one can use an over the counter sterile saline eye solution for people. Never use gauze or
paper towels to clean the eye as these can potentially scratch the cornea. (The cornea is
the clear membrane that covers the eyeball surface.)

Trimming Excess Fur

Dogs with excess fur and hair around the face can rub the eye causing eye irritation and
potential ulceration of the cornea. If you notice fur keeps getting in your dogʼs eye,
carefully trim the offending hairs around its eyes and face using blunt-tipped scissors. Be
sure to cut the hair parallel to your dogʼs eyelid to avoid accidental eye injury.

Removing Tear Stains

Dogs with underlying allergies or eye irritations may produce more tears than normal to try
to relieve the dry and irritated eyes. Although purely cosmetic, the excess tears can
sometimes leave an unsightly stain on the fur surrounding the eyes and muzzle. This is
most noticeable in white coated breeds of dogs.
The tears contain porphyrin pigments, which leave a characteristic red or reddish brown
stain on the fur. It is important to seek veterinary care to treat the underling cause of
excess tear production. Tear stains on the fur can be removed with dog formulated tear
stain removal products. Tear stain removal products should be applied to the fur only and
never the eyes.

Signs of Eye Problems

It is important to inspect your dogʼs eyes regularly and clean them as needed. If you notice
anything out of the ordinary about its eyes while cleaning such as discharge, excessive
tearing, squinting, refusal to open the eye, redness or cloudiness, seek veterinary
attention. This may be signs of an eye infection. Fortunately, the eyes are resilient and with
early detection and diligent eye care maintenance, most eye problems can be resolved
with medical treatment.