How to safely clean your dog's eyes
It’s not uncommon for man’s best friend to experience eye issues, with breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and great danes being more prone to them. Common canine eye issues include:
- Corneal damage
- Sore dry eyes
- Pink eye
- Eyelid mass
- Cataracts
If your dog is experiencing any of these problems, you might have to clean out their eyes with an eyewash to stop it from becoming worse.
How can I tell if my dog is having eye issues?
Eye issues can be painful, irritating, and uncomfortable for a dog. They may experience:
- Squinting or twitching eyelids
- A swollen eye they cannot open
- Eye discharge
- Bleeding
- Red inflamed membranes in and around the eye.
None of these symptoms will make your dog want you to touch its sore eye, however, you may need to clean it with a sterile eyewash.
We have created this guide so that you know how to clean your dog’s eyes safely with our Sterowash eye and wound wash.
Why should I clean my dog's eyes?
Cleaning your dog’s eyes regularly may have been advised by a veterinarian, or you might have decided to do it yourself home. However, it can be difficult to know how to do this if you have never done it before.
Regularly flushing your dog’s eyes with an eyewash is good practice to prevent irritation, keep eyes clean and reduce the risk of infection, especially if your dog is often in dirt, dust, or water.
How do I clean my dog's eyes?
To clean your dog’s eyes, you need to flush it out several times with properly formulated eye drops, to clear out any irritants or debris. If you decide to clean your dog’s eyes before going to the veterinary clinic, there are just 5 simple steps you should follow to do it safely:
- Wash your hands and contain your dog
Wash your hands before handling your dog’s eye so that you don’t transfer any bacteria to your dog. Then find an area where your dog will not be distracted and can be safely contained. You can put your dog against a wall or a piece of furniture to limit his movement or wrap a towel around a small dog to get it to hold still if necessary.
- Have an assistant to help
If you have an assistant, they can help hold the dog by wrapping their arm under the dog’s neck and holding its head over their shoulder.
- Flush the eye
Whichever eye needs treating, hold it open with one hand and apply a steady stream of a sterile eyewash solution. Put the bottle near, but not in, your dog’s eye and squeeze the bottle gently. Be sure that the bottle is angled downward, so that gravity will assist you in flushing out any debris.
- Clean up
Catch excess solution with a towel or cloth. Clean up the area and wash your hands after handling your dog.
- Get medical advice
If the issue does not subside or it gets worse, you should go to a veterinary practice so that they can assess the eye. Eye issues can be more serious than they look, and infections can compromise your dog’s vision.
Using an eyewash that is made of a sterile solution is recommended for veterinarian and home use when cleaning a dog’s eyes. Our Sterowash Eyewash is a sterile sodium chloride solution and is specifically balanced to ensure there is no irritation when it is absorbed. It is perfect for flushing out any irritants or eye discharge in a dog’s eye and is used in vets across the country.
As we know, pets can get dirty. This is why, if you're a veterinarian, your clinic needs be kept clean at all times. Find out more about a veterinary clinic cleaning protocol and what to consider when creating one.
If you are interested in other veterinary products, including conforming, cohesive and adhesive bandages, microporous and adhesive tapes, and wound dressings, be sure to check them out on our Veterinary Medical Supplies page.
Are you a pet owner?
If you are a pet owner, you can find out how to pet-proof your home in our blog '5 household hazards you need to consider before getting a new dog', as well as what should be included in a pet's first aid kit.
Accidents can happen at any time. To find out more read our blog on Where Everywash Stations are Required.
If you would like a consultation with one of our experts about any of our veterinary products be sure to get in touch:
Phone: 0161 902 3030
Email: enquiries@steroplast.co.uk
If you would like more information about any of the products mentioned in this post, you can request a call back with one of our experts or get in touch using the form below.
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