Dogs like cats have particular sensitivity in the eye area. It’s quite common to see them with tears streaming from the corner of their eyes!

For regular hygiene of your pet’s eyes and to avoid discoloration of hair, it is important to clean their eyes daily.

Cleaning the eyes of dogs

It is especially in small breeds, such as French bulldogs and shitzus for example, that the tear ducts in the dog’s eyes frequently become blocked. This results in tears flowing from the corner of the eye which causes discoloration of the hairs.

To avoid these unsightly and unhygienic streaks given their accumulation, it is advisable to clean the eye every day with a compress soaked in an eye antiseptic. These treatments are mainly external and only affect the cornea, conjunctiva and angles of the animal’s eyes.

What products should I use to clean a dog’s eyes?

  • There are specific dog eye cleansing lotions or saline.
  • There are many items available for purchase in pharmacies or on the Internet, at attractive prices, and perfectly suited to your dog’s eye hygiene.

How to clean?
Simply start from the inner corner of the eye towards the outer corner, towards the temple.

Veterinarian’s advice for properly cleaning your dog’s eyes

You will need :

  • an eye cleaning product for veterinary use
  • compresses
  • a treat to reward your dog

Warning: never treat a red or dirty eye alone.
Consult your veterinarian when your pet’s eye is closed, purulent or painful.

What to do in case of conjunctivitis?

Watering eyes, secretions that clump together, reddened, swollen eyes, itching: these symptoms localized in the eyes are a sign of conjunctivitis, a fairly common benign infection which is characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva, a transparent mucous membrane which covers the eye tissue, the interior and the edges of the eyelids.

Conjunctivitis in dogs can occur due to an allergy (pollen, mites, etc.), the penetration of a foreign body, an insect bite, a stinging plant or even dry eyes.

If in doubt, make an appointment with your veterinarian to receive appropriate treatment for your dog. If properly treated, conjunctivitis heals quickly and leaves no trace.
In most cases, it will be enough to clean your dog’s eyes and give him eye drops or even anti-inflammatories.

But while waiting for the visit to the veterinarian, first aid can be carried out. With a suitable solution such as physiological serum, clean the eyes with compresses to eliminate discharge and prevent crusting.

Do not use cotton: it can leave irritating lint in the eye.


Cleaning the eyes of cats

In some short-faced cats, Persians or related breeds, the tear ducts may become blocked. The secretions from the lacrimal glands then flow outside and leave unsightly brownish furrows.

Clean your cat’s eyes regularly if they are running.
The reason ? The problem of blocked tear ducts is not only aesthetic: it can also have repercussions on the health of your cat’s eyes.

Without regular eye cleaning, tear secretions accumulate and form crusts at the corners of the eyes as they dry. In these crusts, bacteria multiply easily, and this can contaminate the eyes and even the upper respiratory tract.

What product should I use to clean a cat’s eyes?

To clean your cat’s eyes, only use products specifically indicated for this use. Do not give eye drops to your cat unless prescribed by your veterinarian. Improperly used, these products can promote the appearance of bacterial resistance.

If there is an eye problem, your cat must receive specific treatment.

How to clean?

Remove accumulated deposits from the corners of the cat or kitten’s eyes by loosening the dirt with a dry compress. Then gently dab the inner corner of the eyes with another compress, this time soaked in an eye cleansing product or physiological serum. Do not rub so as not to irritate the skin. Then dry with a tissue.
Repeat with clean compresses to clean the other eye.

What to do in case of conjunctivitis?

Cats can also suffer from conjunctivitis. Before visiting a veterinarian if the eye discharge intensifies, you can start by regularly administering a calming product to his eyes. Raise his head, raise the upper eyelid and instill a few drops of soothing eye drops into the eye, being careful not to touch the cornea. Then eliminate the excess fluid that flows into the inner corner of the eye with a compress.