Can Visine Be Used for Dry Eye in Dogs?

Dry, itchy eyes can make humans miserable, and dogs are not immune from this same condition. A dog with eye dryness or irritation should be treated right away, though reaching for Visine is not likely to be the answer.

  1. Visine

    • Visine is a product that is designed for humans that suffer from dry, irritated, and red eyes. It works by narrowing the blood vessels in the eye.

    Eye Problems in Dogs

    • Dogs can have eye problems just like humans do. It usually means that the dog has an underlying condition, such as conjunctivitis, or is responding to a stimulus, such as a foreign object or allergy. Some dogs actually have problems with producing enough tears, which will lead to very dry eyes.

    Dogs and Visine

    • Petplace.com advises not to use Visine to treat your dog's dry eyes. It will only work to narrow the blood vessels and will not offer any real benefits to the dog. In some cases, it could even be harmful to your dog's eye, so opt for a safer alternative instead.

    Alternative to Visine

    • To offer your dog immediate relief from dry eyes, consider purchasing a saline eye wash, available at any drug store. It should be sterile, buffered saline. These eye drops can clean and moisturize your dog's eyes; however, they will not treat soreness or inflammation or get to the source of the problem.

    Veterinary Care

    • If your dog is having problems with dry eyes or appears to have any type of eye problem that is causing it discomfort, redness or pain, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away. Many conditions are easily treated, which can bring real relief to your dog---much more than a squirt of Visine would do.