Allergies are not a common cause of dog eye problems. Nonetheless, they can happen.
Dogs allergic to a specific allergen, such as pollen or molds, might develop chronic eye discomfort. They will typically notice that their eyes are irritated and even runny. The eyes will be red, swollen, and painful in severe cases. In addition, the eyes may appear to be covered in a film or be sensitive to bright light. All in all, not very pleasant conditions. So you might be wondering whether or not you can use the most obvious thing: can you use allergy eye drops in dogs to alleviate your pup’s suffering? Let’s try to figure it out.
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Here's what we'll cover:
Dog eye allergies symptoms
Redness of the eyes in dogs is a hazy sign that can be caused by a wide range of underlying disorders.
The redness in both eyes is typical of allergic conjunctivitis. You may also notice the following symptoms:
- Squinting of the affected eye(s)
- Nose congestion
- pawing at the cheek
- Watery eyes
- Eye discharge from one or both eyes
- Sneezing, etc.
It’s critical to keep your dog away from other dogs and animals if he has dog eye allergies. They may contract a virus or become infected as a result of this.
Dealing with dog eye allergies
Some eye irritants, such as household chemicals, are quite hazardous. Bleach, for example, which is widely used to clean floors, worktops, and other surfaces, can irritate the eyes. However, in the case of our dog, keep in mind that not all home goods are classified as “eye irritants.”
The great majority of canine allergies are induced by fleas in the first place and present themselves in inflamed skin and constant scratching in the second.
Have you begun using a different type of cleaner in your home? Have you recently switched to scented cat litter in a room where your dog spends time? Have you recently given your dog a bath with a new shampoo? When dealing with a newly developed eye condition in a dog, attempt to rule out external reasons before potentially causing the dog additional problems with medicated eye drops or washes.
It is critical to get treatment as soon as possible when it comes to dog eye allergies. It may result in significant problems and even death if you do not. That is why it is critical to seek the advice of a veterinarian.
What can you give dogs with eye allergies?
In moderate situations, flushing the eyes with sterile saline once or twice a day may be sufficient to remove the allergen and relieve symptoms.
Contact solution should not be used for this purpose.
Although antihistamines provide relief for people suffering from ocular allergies, they have a varying effect on dogs suffering from this ailment. As a result, eyedrops containing steroids are frequently used to treat dogs with allergic conjunctivitis.
It’s crucial to remember that steroid-based eye drops can be extremely hazardous to dogs suffering from other similar eye problems. So never begin treatment without first consulting your veterinarian.
Severe instances may necessitate the administration of oral drugs in addition to eye drops.
Natural eye drops with saline
Natural saline eye drops are a safe alternative for flushing allergens from the eyes at home as a first therapy. Use enough saline to make the fluid flow freely from the eye. If your dog’s condition does not improve within 48 hours or worsens, you should take him to the clinic.
Eye drops with steroids
If your eyes are extremely irritated, your veterinarian may prescribe steroid eye drops, which proven to be efficient for dogs. However, long-term steroid use can harm the eyes. As a result, it is critical to follow your veterinarian’s instructions.
Applying allergy drops for dogs
It’s time to have some fun now that you’ve been given a prescription for eye drops. Putting eye drops in your dog’s eyes can be difficult and upsetting for everyone involved. But staying cool and rewarding your dog with goodies helps speed up the procedure so that the moisture or medication can begin soothing your canine’s hurting eyes right away.
Clean the eye area before administering the eye drops to your dog. Hold your dog’s hand still and draw her eyelid down with one hand while using the dropper with the other. You should hold the bottle close to her eyeball for application but not touch it. This can contaminate the dropper with bacteria from your dog’s eye illness.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
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