Dog Eye Irritation from Hand Soap

by | May 10, 2019 | Ask A Vet, Eye Issues | 0 comments

by Solange
(Los Angeles, CA)

Sheila's eye, open -1

Sheila’s eye, open -1

Sheila's eye, open -1

Sheila's eye open - 2

Late last night I used a conditioning hand soap with lavender essential oil in it on my dog b/c I heard that washing your pet with lavender scent can help repel pests (we hike a lot). I was putting some of the liquid soap into my hand while my dog was looking up at me in the bathtub, and a tiny bit leaked through my fingers and into her eye!

I grabbed the small container I use to wash her with, stuck it under the faucet and dumped clear water several times over the eye, but not before she had rubbed it a few times with her paw. Upon rinsing her off, I washed her eye off again with a washcloth, as she was still squinting.

This morning, she woke up and it was all puffy, red and swollen. The cornea itself is fine, she can see, it’s just the flesh around the eye that is really red and puffed. I ran to the pharmacy and used some saline eye wash on her.

I’m horrified. I am not sure whether I should take her to the vet or if it’s something that the eye needs to flush out naturally.

She can open it, so it’s not completely swollen shut, and she’s stopped rubbing it since I applied the solution.

I feel like a horrible person. My dog is the most important thing to me in my life. Please help!

Comments for Dog Eye Irritation from Hand Soap

Jul 07, 2011My Online Vet Response for Dog Eye Irritation from Hand Soap
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Solange,
If Sheila is still squinting with puffy, red eyes, I would be concerned that she may have scratched her cornea by rubbing her eye(s) trying to rub out the soap. A visit to your veterinarian would be best.

Frequent flushing with saline is a great method to clean the sensitive tissues surrounding the eye, but if she has some type of allergic reaction to the lavender, versus just an irritation from contact, that is why she is so inflamed and the saline flushes have not helped.

A conventional veterinarian will determine with a corneal stain if Sheila has scratched her cornea. If there is no scratch, then a prescription for cortisone eye ointment will be the quickest way to give her relief and help the redness go away. If she has scratched her cornea, you can use drops to help her eye to heal. Apply 2-3 drops in the eye three times daily for 5 days.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Related Pages:
– Dog Eye Problems,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Eye Problems Section

Oct 13, 2011Update on Sheila
by: Anonymous

Thank you for your help! Sheila is healthy and happy and fine! And her cornea is unscratched!We did some ointment for a week or so and all is good as new!

Oct 13, 2011My Online Vet Response for Dog Eye Irritation from Hand Soap
by: Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Hi Solange,
Thank you so much for posting an update on Sheila. I am glad that she is back to normal now after treating her eye irritation.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Click here to go back to the Ask a Vet Online Library of questions.

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