How to clean and maintain your dog’s eyes

I would like to give you some tips on how to keep your dog’s eyes clean and help prevent infection. Your dog’s eyes should be clear and bright and free of any red spots, heavy discharge or other abnormal conditions. If your dog is prone to a slight eye discharge, or produce a lot of watery discharge e.g. Breeds like Bichon Frise, Shih-Tzu or Maltese, it is essential to wipe the eyes daily with cotton wool and tear stain remover. Otherwise it can crust and irritate the eye and surrounding skin. If there is any discolouration, weepiness, cloudiness, heavy discharge, a reluctance to open the eye or eyes or other abnormal conditions, then you may need to take your dog to the vet for a check up.

For all-around general dog eye-cleaning advice, follow these tips:

• Trim hair from around your pet’s eyes using blunt-nosed scissors. Keeping hir from scraping on the eye will help prevent bacteria from getting into the eye.
• By making sure the corners of your pet’s eyes are mucus-free, you may be able to prevent infections. Bacteria often feed on mucus and can migrate into the eye. Using sterile eye lotion is a convenient way to do this.
• Before you apply any insecticides or before bathing your dog, protect his eyes with a drop of mineral oil or eye ointment. This can prevent eye irritations that can lead to infection
• Keep your pet from situations where he may get eye trauma. Fights with other animals, exposure to irritating substances, or letting your pet hang his head out of the car windows are 3 preventable situations when your pet could receive eye trauma.
• Tear stains are also an area that may become a hotbed for bacteria. Some dogs, such as Poodles, Cockers, and small terriers, may not have the proper mechanism for draining the tears out of the lacrimal gland (tear duct). The excess tears spill down the lower eyelid causing unsightly staining. Trimming hair around the eye, keeping the eye clean, and using a tear stain remover such as Rudducks Pretty Eye Solution and Eye wipes can all help.

Have a look on our website at the range of Eye care products we stock

I hope I’ve given you a good idea of how to clean and maintain your dog’s eyes