Many dogs have allergies to environmental organisms such as tree or weed pollens, mold or mildew. Allergies can lead to many different symptoms, including coughing, sneezing, wheezing and eye discharge. If your dog starts showing any of these symptoms, it may be an allergy or a more serious infection. Always check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog is properly diagnosed. If allergies are the cause, Optrex is sometimes used to relieve a dog's symptoms, but it is not an official canine product.
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Description
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Optrex is an allergy eye drop. It helps to soothe itchy eyes, providing relief and helping limit discharge. Optrex is best used at the onset of allergy season and during periods when pollen levels are high, generally from April through September. By using Optrex just before being exposed to an allergen, you will limit the discomfort experienced from allergies resulting from hayfever, asthma or a household allergy. It is a popular remedy for dog eye allergies in Europe, but is not recommended for this purpose in the Unites States.
Directions
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If you decide to use Optrex after consulting your veterinarian, make sure to be on guard for any adverse effects. Make sure to have clean hands when administering Optrex, otherwise you may introduce other bacteria into your dog's sensitive eye areas. Clean excess hair and dirt around the eyes with a moistened cotton ball. Apply the drops in the lower lid--apply no more than two drops in each eye. If possible, close the eye and allow the Optrex to absorb into it. This may be difficult on your dog, but it does increase the medicine's effectiveness.
Suitability for Dogs
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The active ingredient in Optrex is cromoglycate, which has shown to reduce allergic coughs in dogs in a study cited in the "British Journal of Pharmacology." Dogs have many of the same biological features of humans, which is why they have been frequently used in pharmacological research. Any allergy is the result of a release of histamines, which are proteins used to fight what the body interprets as a threat. This works in dogs very similarly as it does in humans.
Veterinarian Recommendations
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There is no official prescription for canine Optrex, therefore it is difficult to find any data beyond anecdotal information about dog owners being instructed to use Optrex on their dogs. While there is no official site that provides a veterinarian's professional thoughts on the subject, there are also no warnings against using Optrex on dogs.
Other Eye Wash Ideas
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Angel Eyes is a stain remover and wash. It isn't designed to deal with an allergic reaction such as hayfever in your dog. While cleaning your dog's eyes with this can clear the eyes of excess mucous, it will not limit the release of histamines.
Instead of Optrex or Angel Tears, some veterinarians recommend to use a warm tea compress on a dog's eyes. The caffeine will help reduce any swelling and the warmth will sooth the itchy dryness of the eyes.
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