Pink Eye in Dogs
What it is and how to treat the infection
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Treating pink eye
It’s never nice to see your furry friend suffering from an illness, especial such a frustrating and painful condition like pink eye. If your pet does develop a case of dog pink eye, here are a few of the ways you can help them get better.
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Bacterial
In most cases a vet will prescribe a series of antibiotic eye drops to be applied over a series of days or weeks. If you think your dog may have contracted pink eye then be sure to take them straight to the vet so you can get the necessary medicine. Eye drops for dogs can cause anxiety in humans as it’s easy to be worried about the difficult task of actually applying them. Here are a few tips that will help when it comes to using antibiotic eye drops for dogs:
- Get the help of a friend who is familiar with your dog. If you have someone to hold them still or keep them calm, it will be a lot easier to get the drops where they need to be and not all over the floor.
- Be sure to wash your hands and use clean wipes to remove any residue.
- Move slowly towards your dog’s eye and make sure you’re applying the drops to the inside of the lower eyelid. This will help to spread the doggy eye drops evenly.
- Reward your four-legged friend with a treat to show them they did a good job after you have applied the drops. This will also help them get used to the routine.
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Viral
When it comes to viral conjunctivitis it’s often just a case of tending to the symptoms and keeping your dog comfortable while their immune system deals with the virus. Your vet may sometimes prescribe a series of steroid-based eye drops if the condition is particularly bad. The main thing to focus on is keeping your dog’s eyes clean and free from discharge by regularly using a warm, clean cloth to gently wipe them.
Sometimes the discharge produced can turn crusty but it is important never to use your fingers or any hard objects to scrape it away, or you could risk causing permanent damage to your dog’s eye.
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Can dogs catch pink eye from humans?
Yes. Canines are quite susceptible to the types of viral infections and bacteria associated with pink eye. If you are showing the signs of pink eye then there is a risk that you may pass it on to your dog. If you or your children develop pink eye, be sure to keep the dogs away from your face and always clean your hands before feeding them.
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Can all breeds of dog catch pink eye?
Many vets and researchers have found that there are certain types of pink eye that they believe are related to specific breed conditions. This doesn’t mean that certain breeds are immune or that different breeds can’t pass on the condition, but it does mean that certain types of dogs may be more susceptible to different strains of pink eye.
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Can other animals catch pink eye?
There are many types of animals that are susceptible to pink eye, including cats, guinea pigs and hamsters. If you have multiple pets and one of them catches pink eye it’s a good idea to keep them separated and enquire with your vet about whether or not it is contagious.
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Can pink eye cause blindness?
In extreme cases conjunctivitis in dogs has been known to cause blindness, especially if they were left untreated for an extended period of time. You don’t need to worry about your dog going blind after a few days of having pink eye, just be sure to take care of their eyes and get them the treatment they need.