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7 Most Common
Dog Eye Problems
& Treatments
From “eye
boogers” to corneal ulcers, dog eye problems must be
evaluated and treated with a combination of conventional and holistic
medicine. Sometimes surgery is the right way to go,
while
other times homeopathic
or herbal
treatments are best. If the
eye problem is caused by an underlying disease, acupuncture
is often
effective.
Some dog eye problems are even a result of the overuse of manmade
drugs. Cataracts, for example, has been known to come from
the frequent use of steroids to treat skin problems. All the
more reason to integrate holistic vet care:
What are common symptoms of
an eye problem?
What preventive measures
can I take it my dog is prone to eye problems?
The 7 most common problems
& their treatments:
- Cataracts
- Corneal Ulcers
- Inflammation
(Infection)
- In-growing
Eyelids
- Injuries
- Irritation
- Pink
Eye (Conjectivitis)
Common
Symptoms of Dog Eye Problems
It should be fairly obvious if you dog is experiencing an issue with
her eyes. Common symptoms of dog eye problems include:
- Avoiding light
- Bulging eyes
- Closed eyes
- Cloudiness
- Discharge
- Excess tearing
- Redness
- Rubbing the eye
- Rubbing the face on the ground
As with most dog care issues, the cure always starts with prevention...
(back to top of Dog Eye Problems
& Treatments)
Preventive
Eye Care
Assuming your dog wouldn’t appreciate wearing goggles –
unless of
course he’s trying to be stylish to catch the eye of a dog
park sweetheart – preventive eye care is all about the
diet. If
prone to dog eye problems, consider:
- Adding leafy green vegetables, parsley,
any blue or purple berries, carrots, sesame seeds or sunflower seeds to
the diet
- Supplementing the diet with Zinc,
Bioflavonoids, Pycnogenols, Vitamin A, Vitamin C or Vitamin D
You should also use a natural eye cleaner such as i-Clenz to keep your dog's eyes clean and free from debree and excess discharge.
(back to top of Dog
Eye Problems & Treatments)
The 7
Most Common Dog Eye Problems & Their Treatments
The six most common dog eye problems are cataracts, corneal ulcers,
inflammation, in-growing eyelids, injury and irritation. If
your not sure about the severity of the problem or don’t feel
comfortable preparing and administering our recommended treatments,
please contact your holistic
veterinarian.
Cataracts
As with humans, dog cataracts is usually genetic and causes the clear
lens behind the pupil to become cloudy or white. The dog’s
vision will worsen over time to the point of blindness.

|
 |
| Immature Cataract |
Mature Cataract |
Before jumping to any conclusions, make sure that nuclear sclerosis is
not the culprit. Nuclear sclerosis is a common and normal
condition of aging, where a bluish gray (not cloudy or white) change to
the lens is seen. With this condition, vision can become
blurry but it does not lead to blindness or the more significant vision
problems caused by cataracts.
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| Nuclear
Sclerosis |
While cataracts is usually genetic, it can be a result of injury or
stem from chronic disease or immune problems. If stemming
from an injury, there are several homeopathic treatments available,
such as the use of poison hemlock. Contact your holistic
veterinarian to discuss.
For non-injury related cataracts, removing the lens surgically can
help, but unfortunately the eye will never return to normal.
Treating a chronic illness early and effectively through diet,
veterinary checkups and holistic treatments is the only way to prevent
the condition altogether.
Corneal ulcers
Corneal ulcers. Jeez – sounds pretty scary, huh?
It’s not as bad as it sounds or often looks, and, although bacteria can
complicate the
problem, dogs usually experience a full recovery. Corneal
ulcers are simply more complex dog eye injuries and are usually caused
by a cat scratch, thorn or other foreign object.
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| Corneal
Ulcer |
The injury can be very difficult to see and may require the use of a
special light to be diagnosed. A good sign that your dog
suffers from this problem is a lot of tears or a partially closed eye.
If you see an object stuck in the eye like a thorn or debris, your dog
will most likely need to receive anesthesia so a vet can remove the
object. If you see blood, the injury is probably more severe
and veterinary help should be sought immediately.
Treatments for slight irritations, shallow ulcers or uninfected
scratches include:
- Add to the diet:
- From ¼ to 1 teaspoon of Cod-liver Oil,
depending on your dog’s size
- From 100 to 400 IU of Vitamin E,
depending on your dog’s size
- Try an eye drop for dog treatment:
- Every 4 hours, apply a drop of
cod-liver oil directly onto the eye or into the lower lid
- Homeopathic remedies are also
available, such as Monkshood. Contact your holistic
veterinarian to discuss.
Inflammation
(infection)
If your dog’s eye or the area around the eye becomes inflamed, it is
usually a sign of infection. The best method for
treatment is
to clean it thoroughly and use an eye drop for dog formula.
To clean the eye area including the “eye boogers”, use a comforting
salt solution:
- Mix ¼ teaspoon of sea salt into a cup
of distilled water. Stir well, saturate a soft cloth or gauze
and carefully clean the area.
Once the area around the eyes is clean, apply one of the following:
- Mild irritation - 1 drop of almond oil
- Moderate irritation or inflamed eyes -
1 drop of castor oil (Jeff Foxworthy would probably want us to clarify:
Castor Oil, NOT Castrol Oil!)

- Dry or ulcerated eyes - 1 drop of cod
liver oil
Eye-Heal and Newton Homeopathics Eye Irritation are also very effective in treating and preventing eye infections.
In-growing
Eyelids
In-growing eyelids are a dog eye problem that can be hereditary or the
result of continuous inflammation. With this condition, the
eyelids turn in and press the eyelashes against they eye. The
rubbing can cause a large (and sometimes white) ulcer.
To find out whether your dog’s eyelids are in-growing, gently
pull the
lids away from they eye and let them fall back. If the lids
continuously cuff back in on themselves, you know this condition is
present.
The most common treatment is a simple and effective surgery.
Puppies also respond well to homeopathic treatments such as Silicea or
herbal treatments like Goldenseal, which should be reviewed with your
holistic vet.
Injuries
Dogs will be dogs, which sometimes includes sticking their noses in
places better avoided. Dog eye injuries are sometimes the
consequence and come in many forms like scratches, cuts or bruising of
the eyeball. Several homeopathic remedies are
available, such as Comfrey for blunt trauma to the eye or Eyebright for
non-corneal injuries:
- Eyebright – Add 5 drops of the extract
(tincture or glycerin) and ¼ teaspoon of sea salt to 1 cup distilled
water. Mix well and store at room temperature. Put
2 to 3 drops in the affected eye 3 times a day.
Call your holistic veterinarian to discuss.
Irritation
Does your dog like to pull a Superman out of your car window like
ours
does? As much as they love it, it does increase the
likelihood that dust and debris will get into the
eyes. Dog
eye problems like cornea scratches and eye irritation can result.
For irritation, wash your dog's eyes out with the following:
- Doggie Tears Eye Drop for Dog Eye
Irritation - Mild:
- ¼ teaspoon of sea salt
- 1 cup distilled water
- Add the salt to the water and
stir. Keep at room temperature. Apply by either
dipping a cotton ball into the solution and squeezing drops into eyes
or buy using a glass or plastic dropper. Apply drops until
they run out of the eye.
- Doggie Tears Eye Drop for Dog Eye
Irritation – Moderate:
- For more severe irritation, add exactly
5 drops of tincture (alcohol extract) of the herb euphrasia officinalis
(also called Eyebright) to the Mild Doggie Tears Mixture
above. Use 4 times per day.
You can also try gently cleansing your dog’s eyes with calendula tea,
chamomile tea, eyebright tea or rosemary tea.
If your dog continues to keep his eye shut for most of the time, the
injury may be more serious and you should seek veterinary help.
Pink Eye
(Conjuctivitis) - we have a separate
page dedicated to this topic.
(back to top of Dog
Eye Problems & Treatments)
Back to Illnesses
& Remedies from Dog Eye Problems

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