Dogs are our most loyal companions. They bring happiness, protection, and love. As their caretakers, it falls upon us to help them stay safe, happy, and healthy as well.
One common issue dogs face is eye problems. These not only bring a lot of issues with their vision, but they also bring pain and discomfort to our dogs.
This is where eye drops come in. Dogs can use eye drops, and they’re often the most effective treatment option for eye problems. Plus, they’re relatively easy to apply. However, eye drops are medications. This means that you have to consult with our vets before applying them to your dog’s eyes.
With that, we’re here to talk about eye drops for dogs, including the benefits and risks.
Are Eye Drops Bad for Dogs?
Eye drops can be good for dogs. These medications aim to help your dog with the issue they have with their eyes. Since dogs are prone to infections and problems with their eyes, eye drops are often the first treatment option used to help.
Here are the benefits you can expect:
Lubrication
Eye drops provide lubrication and moisture for your dog’s eyes. This type of dog eye drops is often used to help lubricate the eyes and relieve irritation. For dogs with dry eyes, lubricating eye drops can be a great way to promote recovery and ease the symptoms.
Treatment
Dogs can also use eye drops for pain relief. Eye drops come in different types, and each of them caters to a specific situation, like eye infections. For instance, antibacterial eye drops help treat bacterial eye infections in dogs.
Eyewash
By using eye drops, your dog’s eyes can be cleansed of dirt, dust, pollen, and other tiny substances that may cause complications. This is helpful for dogs who love exploring outdoor areas. Still, it’s important to keep your dog’s eyes clean by wiping away any debris with a soft, damp cloth.
What Eye Drops are Good for Dogs?
Eye drops treat a number of different issues and irritations in dogs. These simple medications can go a long way in making your dog comfortable and happy. However, each has a different purpose, and the correct one must be used.
Antimicrobial Eye Drops
Using antimicrobial eye drops hinders the development of microbes in your dog’s eyes, helping them recover. These are the types of antimicrobial eye drops for dogs:
Antibacterial Eye Drops. These eye drops can help inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause infection and swelling in dogs’ eyes by breaking down their cell walls and interfering with protein synthesis. One common condition they treat is conjunctivitis.
Antifungal Eye Drops. These are eye drops for dogs that use antifungal agents to target fungi in eye infections. By getting in the way of their growth, antifungal eye drops effectively treat infections.
Antiviral Eye Drops. Antiviral dog eye drops contain antiviral properties that target DNA and RNA, stopping the replication of viruses. These help relieve any issues caused by viruses, such as swelling and redness.
Anti-Inflammatory Eye Drops
Eye inflammation is often a common symptom of various underlying diseases. This is where anti-inflammatory eye drops for dogs come in. Common types include NSAIDs and steroidal eye drops.
These eye drops can help relieve your dog’s redness, irritation, and swelling. It also hinders any resulting complications that may arise from untreated eyes. These dog eye drops are commonly used for allergies, uveitis, and corneal inflammation.
Lubricating Eye Drops
Lubricating eye drops mimic the natural tear film of the eye. These eye drops are also known as artificial tears because they help create wetness and moisture in the eyes. They are essential for helping the cornea and conjunctiva become moist, which furthers overall comfort.
The lubrication caused by these eye drops can provide relief from dryness and irritation. Dogs with significantly lower tear production can benefit the most from this. But while it does provide overall relief, lubricating eye drops are usually not the main treatment option in many cases.
Saline Eyewashes
Saline eyewashes are solutions used to clean your dog’s eyes. These should not be considered a general solution to all eye issues, as eyewashes can only be used to take away dirt and dust from your dog’s eyes.
Aside from this, saline eyewashes can help remove the crustiness and gunk that your dog’s eyes might have. This can prevent any infection and irritation that might result from the debris. Using this as a form of general maintenance is the most recommended use for dogs.
Glaucoma Eye Drops
Glaucoma is a condition in which the dog’s eye experiences increased intraocular pressure, which can damage the retina and optic nerve. Glaucoma eye drops work to treat this specific issue, helping alleviate the pain by lowering the pressure within the eye.
Tear Stimulants
Some dog eye drops are used to help dogs produce more tears. This works by stimulating the tear-producing glands. Common examples are cyclosporine and tacrolimus.
How to Know if Your Dog Needs Eye Drops
Eye issues and problems start with symptoms that are often simple in nature. In many cases, these symptoms can worsen, needing the help of medications like eye drops. Here’s how you can know if your dog needs eye drops:
Redness or Swelling. Continued redness and swelling can mean inflammation in your dog’s eyes.
Discharge. If your dog has any discharge, it may be a sign of irritation and infection. If this goes on for a few more days, then this might be a sign your dog needs eye drops.
Excessive Blinking or Squinting. If your dog is blinking or squinting more often than before, then there might be something causing irritation. It can range from simple allergens to serious eye issues.
Constant Pawing or Scratching. Paw scratching can indicate that your dog is experiencing discomfort and irritation. Prolonged activity can lead to physical injuries that would require more than eye drops to cure.
Cloudiness or Color Changes. If your dog’s eye color changes or becomes cloudy, possible explanations can be glaucoma or cataracts.
Potential Side Effects of Eye Drops for Dogs
While dog eye drops are a big help in treating the issue and relieving pain, there can be some potential side effects to take note of. So, when you apply eye drops to your dog, be sure to monitor its condition.
Common Side Effects
In some cases, your dog might feel irritation in its eye along with a few episodes of pawing and scratching. Some dogs may have red or swollen eyes, while others may also be sensitive to bright light.
While it can look like it’s part of the process, be sure to keep watch. If this goes on for longer, then call our pet ophthalmologists right away.
Severe Side Effects
A potential side effect of canine eye drops is allergies. Some dogs may be allergic to the components within the eye drops, resulting in redness, swelling, itching, and possibly hives. Others can also experience extreme pain and a worsening condition.
“Keeping your dog’s eyes clear lets keep them seeing more of the world.”
- Dr. Soheyl Simaei
Final Thoughts
Dogs can use eye drops, but only when the appropriate one is used. There’s no one-size-fits-all dose for dogs, as each type has its own specific purpose for your dog. With our help, you can find the best eye drop for your dog.
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