How to get rid of dog eye irritation?

When a dog's eyes are irritated, the originally bright eyes become red and swollen, and tears flow. Their uncomfortable appearance makes every dog ​​lover feel distressed. As the guardian of the dog's life, it is our important responsibility to understand how to eliminate the irritation of the dog's eyes to ensure their health and happiness. ​

The structure of the dog's eyes is delicate and sensitive. Its cornea, conjunctiva and other tissues are always exposed to the external environment and are easily affected by various factors. Allergies are one of the common causes of dog eye irritation. Dogs may be allergic to pollen, dust mites, mold, and even certain foods. When they come into contact with allergens, the immune system will identify them as foreign "enemies" and activate the defense mechanism. The eyes, as a more vulnerable part of the body, are the first to be affected. Every pollen season, many dogs will frequently blink and rub their eyes, the skin around their eyes will become red, and the secretions in the corners of the eyes will increase. That is the allergy. Seeing that the dog's eyes are uncomfortable due to allergies and they keep scratching their eyes with their paws, we wish we could bear this pain for them.​

Foreign objects in life often cause trouble for dogs' eyes. Dogs are lively and active by nature. They like to run in the grass and play in the sand. This makes it easy for foreign objects such as dust, sand, grass clippings, and even small insects to enter their eyes. Once a foreign object invades, the dog's eyes will instinctively secrete a lot of tears to try to flush the foreign object out, accompanied by frequent blinking and rubbing of the eyes. Imagine the stinging feeling when a foreign object enters our eyes. Dogs are also experiencing the same discomfort, but they cannot express it in words and can only convey their discomfort through these behaviors. ​

Infection is a factor that cannot be underestimated. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi may target the dog's eyes and cause various eye infections, among which conjunctivitis is the most common. When a dog's eyes are infected, the eyes will be obviously red and swollen, the secretions will increase, and in severe cases, the eyelids may even stick together. Puppies are more susceptible to infection because their immune systems are not yet fully developed. Seeing the puppies' clear eyes become cloudy due to infection, we are filled with heartache and are eager to help them recover as soon as possible. ​

Some special dog breeds, such as short-nosed bulldogs, pugs, and Shih Tzus, have bulging eyes and shallow eye sockets due to their unique facial structure. They are not only more likely to be exposed to foreign objects, but also have too many skin folds around their eyes that can easily harbor dirt and bacteria, making them a high-risk group for eye irritation problems. These cute little guys seem to be naturally more susceptible to eye problems and need more attention and care from us. ​

When we find that the dog's eyes are irritated, the first thing we should do is to observe carefully. Pay attention to whether the dog's blinking frequency has increased significantly, whether the amount of eye secretions has increased or decreased, whether the color of the secretions is clear and transparent, slightly yellow or yellow-green, whether the conjunctiva of the eye is red, whether the eyelids are swollen, and whether the dog shows signs of pain, such as resistance to touching the area around the eye. These details are crucial to judging the severity of the dog's eye problems and possible causes.​

If the dog's eye irritation symptoms are relatively mild, we can try simple care at home. Prepare a clean, soft, wet cloth, soak it with warm water, and gently wipe it from the inner corner of the dog's eye to the outer corner of the eye. The action must be gentle, just like treating an extremely precious treasure, for fear of hurting the dog. During the wiping process, some secretions and foreign matter such as dust around the eyes can be removed, relieving the discomfort of the dog's eyes. ​

However, once the dog's eye irritation symptoms continue to not ease, or there is a tendency to worsen, such as increased redness and swelling of the eyes, thick secretions and abnormal colors, the dog frequently scratches the eyes and even has systemic symptoms such as fever and mental depression, we must take the dog to the veterinarian immediately. Veterinarians have professional knowledge and equipment to conduct a comprehensive and detailed examination of the dog's eyes. They may use a slit lamp to check whether there is damage to the cornea, conjunctiva and other parts of the dog's eyes, use scrapings to determine whether there is infection and the type of infection, and may also perform allergen testing to clarify the cause of the allergy. Based on the results of the examination, the veterinarian will develop a personalized treatment plan for the dog. For example, for bacterial infections, antibiotic eye drops or ointments will be prescribed; for allergic reactions, anti-allergic drugs and some anti-inflammatory eye drops may be used to relieve symptoms. ​

Preventing eye irritation in dogs is also critical. Keep the dog's living environment clean and hygienic, clean the room regularly, remove dust, and use an air purifier to reduce the content of allergens in the air. For dogs with long hair, comb the hair around the eyes regularly to prevent the hair from irritating the eyes. When taking the dog out, try to avoid dusty and overgrown areas to prevent the dog from coming into contact with possible foreign objects and allergens. For dogs prone to allergies, you can also consider changing to hypoallergenic dog food and using special hypoallergenic dog bed mats. ​

It is also essential to take your dog for regular eye examinations, especially for those dog breeds that are prone to eye problems. Early detection of potential eye problems can take timely measures to intervene and prevent the problem from worsening. In daily life, we should also pay more attention to the behavior and changes in the eyes of dogs, and use our love and care to build a solid line of defense for the health of dogs' eyes.

Dogs are our best friends in life, and they give us loyalty and companionship without reservation. When their eyes are irritated and suffer, we have the responsibility to do our best to help them relieve the discomfort. Let us always pay attention to the health of dogs' eyes, and use practical actions to protect the clear and bright "window of the soul" for them, so that dogs can continue to use their bright eyes to happily explore this beautiful world and accompany us to spend more warm and beautiful time.