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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 if my dog is prone to eye problems?dog eye problems

The 7 most common problems & their treatments:
  1. Cataracts
  2. Corneal Ulcers
  3. Inflammation (Infection)
  4. In-growing Eyelids
  5. Injuries
  6. Irritation
  7. Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

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:dog eye problems
  • 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 dog eye problemsappreciate 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
dog eye problems
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.  Details about each along with their treatments can be found below.

If you're not sure about the severity of the problem or which one your dog has contracted, you can submit a picture along with a description of the issue to our My Online Vet MD service.  In addition to the picture, details should include:canine tumors
  • Your dog’s breed, age and gender
  • The progression of the growth of the spot in question (timeframe, change in color, etc.)
  • Advice you have received from others, if any
  • What you have done to try to fix the problem, if anything
One of our My Online Vet MD veterinarians will respond to you right away.

Here are some examples of My Online Vet eye problem questions asked (and pictures submitted) by other visitors...


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.

dog eye problems
 dog eye problems
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.

dog eye problems
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 or My Online Vet MD 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.

dog eye problems
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.dog eye problems

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!) dog eye problems
  • 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.dog eye problems  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 – i-Clenz from Native Remedies, as mentioned in the Preventive Section above, uses Eyebright as one of its main ingredients.  When applying directly to your dog's eyes (in contrast to using it to clean around the eyes), dilute the i-Clenz solution by adding 2 or 3 drops to about 25 ml of warm water and apply to the eye with a cotton swab.  Use a new swab for each eye.

Irritation

Does your dog like to pull a Superman dog eye problemsout 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)


For additional research, search our site...



Also see...

    Dog Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

    Finding the Right Veterinarian

    Pet Insurance Reviews



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