Eye Antibotics for Dogs

If you are concerned about the condition of your dog's eyes, consult your veterinarian. Never purchase eye ointment for your dog unless given veterinary authorization. Whenever possible, purchase the eye ointment directly from your veterinarian to ensure that you are receiving an in-date, safe product; purchasing veterinary products online is never guaranteed.

  1. Terramycin

    • Terramycin (only sold under this brand name by Pfizer) is a commonly prescribed broad-spectrum ophthalmic antibiotic since it is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It contains both oxytetracycline and polymyxin B sulfate, with the latter being the most effective against gram-negative bacteria. Terramycin is typically used for superficial eye infections caused by organisms that are sensitive to oxytetracycline and polymyxin B, which covers a broad range of bacteria. Polymyxin B also has some secondary anti-fungal ability.

    Neo Poly Bac

    • Neomycin Polymyxin Bacitracin (commonly referred to as "Neo Poly Bac") is another popular antibiotic ophthalmic ointment. Veterinarians choose this antibiotic due to its broad effectiveness against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. It is also used for conjunctivitis. In particular, neomycin and polymyxin are mostly effective against gram-negative organisms while bacitracin is effective against gram-positive.

    Bacitracin Neomycin Polymyxin Hydrocortisone Acetate 1%

    • This ointment contains the same antibiotics (bacitracin, neomycin and polymyxin) as the previous ointment, but it also contains hydrocortisone. This is prescribed when the veterinarian is concerned about inflammation in the eye. Hydrocortisone is an anti-inflammatory steroid; by decreasing inflammation at the tissue level, any possible pain will also be alleviated.

      Whenever giving a steroid, consult your veterinarian about possible side effects with other medications. If your dog is on an oral or injectable steroid, the veterinarian may want to change the dose or medication used.

    Neo Poly Dex

    • Neomycin Polymyxin Dexamethasone is an ointment similar to the previous ointment as it contains a steroid (dexamethasone) that decreases inflammation. It does not contain bacitracin and thus loses much of its effectiveness against gram-positive organisms (although neomycin is effective against some gram-positive bacteria). This medication is prescribed when the veterinarian is confident that the problem is caused by a gram-negative organism.