Dogs, being outdoor animals, are susceptible to infections. Eye infections, in particular, need to be treated appropriately. If left untreated, they could lead to various complications and even blindness. Of course, the best thing to do is to take your dog to the vet in order to rule out any serious injury, especially if your dog has undergone some trauma. As a pet owner, you have obviously learned to rely on your instincts and do what's best for you pet.

Another noteworthy aspect of eye problems is that it is impossible to gauge its severity. For instance, your dog could be squinting due to some harmless particle lodged in his eye, which can be cleared with a rinse at home. It could also happen that he could be suffering from some internal injury due to the fight he got into last week. So, it is the responsibility of the owner to be safe and carry out the appropriate measures to help the pet, and not just experiment with home remedies. Any carelessness could cause some serious complications.

Pet owners are always advised to look out for any sudden behavioral or physical changes in their pets. However, the problem with eye infections is that it may go unnoticed by many owners, as the symptoms may take time to manifest. Also, puppies are prone to suffer from eye infections more than adult dogs. So, before we move on to learning about the remedies, let's learn to spot the alarming signs.

Spotting the Signs of Infection
  • The first thing that will come to your notice is a dog who is constantly pawing his eye. Dogs may try to rub or scratch their eyes against some surfaces too.
  • Any discharge - be it watery or colored is a sure indication of danger.
  • Notice any change in the appearance of the eye - if it is reddened, swollen, bigger, shrunken, droopy or hazy, it calls for attention.
  • In some cases, the dog's eye may look normal, without any accompanying discharge. But if the dog does not let you touch the area surrounding the eye, it means there is a problem.
  • Squinting, cloudiness and inability to open the eyes may also be indications of an eye infection in your dog.

Note: In case you spot pus oozing out of the eye, ensure that you arrange for immediate medical attention, as it indicates grave internal injury. Also, any eye problem that is a result of trauma needs to be treated as soon as possible.

Treating Eye Infections in Dogs
It is disturbing for pet owners to see their pets in distress. In most cases, owners choose to take their dog to the vet at the earliest sign of an eye infection, and it is the wisest thing for inexperienced people to do. Also, if your dog appears to be in severe pain or discomfort, you need to rush her to the vet without delay. However, there are certain home remedies that can be tried out in the initial stages of the infection, which can reduce the discomfort and alleviate the infection symptoms too. These include different types of eye rinses that help wash away the infection and clear out the debris from the eye.
  • As soon as you notice an infection, the first thing you need to do is to wash your dog's infected eye with saline water. Mix half a teaspoon salt in a glass of lukewarm mineral water, stir it well and very gently splash this water onto the dog's eyes. With a clean cotton ball, wipe off any discharge or debris that you can see.
  • Prepare some chamomile tea and allow it to cool down thoroughly. Soak a cotton ball in the tea and cleanse the dog's eye with it.
  • Herbal rinses may also bring relief in some cases. Prepare a herbal eye drop for your dog's eyes, by mixing together equal proportions of herbal extracts like calendula, chamomile, red clover and eyebright. Use a dropper to pour the solution into the dog's eyes, thrice a day.

The above remedies should not be continued for more than three days. If you do not see any improvements in the condition of the dog's eye, consult a vet for medical treatment without any delay. Also, make sure that your dog does not paw or itch the infected eye or else it will get worse and take more time than desired to heal.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for veterinary advice.