How to clean a dog's eyes

When we look into our dogs' eyes, their bright and lively eyes seem to be able to speak, conveying dependence and trust. However, once there are problems such as increased eye secretions, redness, and tearing in our dogs' eyes, their originally clear eyes are shrouded in a "haze", and our hearts tighten as well. The eyes are important organs for dogs to perceive the world. Cleaning their eyes is not only a need for maintaining hygiene but also a crucial part of protecting their eye health. This process requires us to rely on professional knowledge, and with full patience and love, carefully care for our dogs' eyes, allowing them to regain bright and healthy eyes and continue to see the beauty of the world with clear eyes.

Before cleaning a dog's eyes, it is necessary to understand the physiological structure and common problems of a dog's eyes. A dog's eyes are composed of parts such as the eyeball, eyelids, conjunctiva, and lacrimal gland. The lacrimal gland is responsible for secreting tears. These tears can not only moisten the surface of the eyeball, maintain the transparency of the cornea but also have a certain bactericidal effect. Under normal circumstances, tears will be discharged through the tear ducts. However, when a dog's eyes are irritated, infected, or there are certain congenital diseases, the balance of tear secretion and discharge will be disrupted, and then eye problems will occur. For example, in some short-nosed dog breeds like bulldogs and Pekingese, due to their special facial structure, the tear ducts are relatively narrow, and it is easy to have poor tear drainage, resulting in serious tear stains. For long-haired dog breeds such as Shih Tzu and Maltese, the long hair may irritate the eyes, causing symptoms such as tearing and redness. When we see our dogs suffering from eye discomfort due to these problems, our hearts are filled with heartache, and we are eager to solve the troubles for them.

Preparing suitable cleaning tools is the foundation of cleaning a dog's eyes. The most commonly used tool is a pet-specific eye wash. The pH value and osmotic pressure of this kind of eye wash are similar to a dog's tears, which can gently clean the eyes without causing irritation. Avoid using human eye drops or plain water to clean a dog's eyes because the ingredients of human eye drops may not be suitable for dogs, and plain water cannot effectively sterilize and may cause infections due to water quality problems. In addition to the eye wash, clean cotton balls or soft cotton pads are also needed for wiping around the eyes. The cotton balls or cotton pads should be soft in texture to avoid scratching the dog's eyes and the skin around the eyes. Before cleaning, soak the cotton balls or cotton pads with the eye wash to ensure the cleanliness and suitability of the tools and make full preparations for the cleaning work.

When cleaning a dog's eyes, the correct operation method is crucial. First, keep the dog quiet and relaxed. Gently hold the dog and talk to it in a gentle tone, stroking its head and body to make it feel safe. If the dog resists, family members can help fix its body and head, but the movements must be gentle to avoid scaring the dog. Then, gently lift the dog's upper eyelid with one hand, and use a cotton ball or cotton pad soaked with the eye wash in the other hand to gently wipe from the inner corner of the eye outward to remove eye secretions. For stubborn secretions, let the eye wash stay in the eye for a while to soften the secretions before wiping. Pay attention to the force during wiping to avoid damaging the dog's eyes with excessive force. If there are foreign objects in the dog's eyes, drop the eye wash into the eyes to let the foreign objects flow out with the liquid, or gently dip out the foreign objects with a cotton ball, but never pick them out directly with your hands. In the whole cleaning process, every action should be carried out carefully, just like taking care of an extremely precious treasure, for fear of causing harm to the dog by accident.

Regularly cleaning a dog's eyes helps prevent eye diseases. Generally, healthy dogs can have their eyes cleaned 1 to 2 times a week. For dogs prone to eye problems, such as short-nosed breeds and long-haired breeds, the cleaning frequency can be appropriately increased. In daily observation, if there are abnormalities in the dog's eyes, such as a sudden increase in secretions, redness, continuous tearing, and frequent scratching of the eyes, clean them in a timely manner and take the dog to a pet hospital for examination as soon as possible. Because these symptoms may be manifestations of eye infections, conjunctivitis, keratitis, and other diseases. Early detection and treatment can prevent the condition from worsening. Every time we find abnormalities in the dog's eyes, the owner is extremely anxious, and we just hope to find the cause as soon as possible and make the dog's eyes healthy again.

In addition to cleaning, daily eye care cannot be ignored. Regularly trim the hair around the dog's eyes to avoid hair irritating the eyes. Pay attention to the dog's diet, choose nutritionally balanced food, and avoid feeding overly greasy and spicy food to prevent eye problems caused by internal heat. Also, let the dog get enough rest and proper exercise to enhance its body immunity and reduce the chance of eye diseases. Every time we trim the hair for the dog and carefully prepare food, it is our careful protection of its health.

Cleaning a dog's eyes is a delicate expression of the owner's love for the dog. From understanding the eye structure, preparing tools, to mastering the correct cleaning method and daily care, every link embodies our deep love for the dog. When we see the dog's eyes regain their brightness and clarity under our careful care and interact with us with lively eyes again, all the efforts and dedication turn into full happiness and satisfaction. Because in our hearts, the dog's health and happiness are the most precious gifts, worthy of our careful care for every detail of their bodies with professional knowledge and endless love, and accompanying them through every wonderful moment.