Many people think of conjunctivitis or "pink eye" as something only people get, but your dog can get it, too. Pink eye is caused by an inflammation of the inside of the eyelid and the front of the eye. Some causes of pink eye in dogs are bacteria, irritants, the herpes virus and Lyme disease. Symptoms include itching, red and irritated eyes, and discharge. Your dog's pink eye is relatively easy to treat, particularly if you catch it early.
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth
- Lukewarm water
- Artificial tears for humans with no preservatives
Instructions
Soak a washcloth in lukewarm water. Wring the washcloth out and gently wipe any discharge away from your dog's eye.
Look for and remove any foreign objects in your dog's eye.
Flush your dog's eye with lukewarm water or artificial tears for humans that have no preservatives. This is especially important if you were unable to see any foreign objects in your dog's eye.
Put a compress on your dog's eye. This can be a clean washcloth that has been soaked in lukewarm water and wrung out, then folded into a square. Hold the compress gently to your dog's eye--don't apply pressure. Be sure to use a different compress for each eye so you don't spread the infection.
Repeat Steps 1, 3 and 4 as necessary until your dog's pink eye goes away.