Cleaning dirt from your dog's eyes can be an important step in keeping his dog safe and healthy. Before starting to get rid of the discharge from your dog's eyes, make sure you determine the cause. A buildup in a dog's eye can signal a serious medical condition that requires veterinary care. If you already know the cause of the discharge, the sediment can be cleaned with a damp cloth or eye cleaner specially formulated for dogs.
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Method 1 of 3: Determining the Cause of Discharge in Dog's Eyes
Step 1. Visit the vet
If your dog has fluid deposits in their eyes, first you need to make sure this isn't a sign of a serious illness. Make an appointment with your vet to determine the cause of the discharge before treating the problem yourself. While you should evaluate your dog's symptoms, don't rely solely on a personal assessment of the matter.
- Take note of the symptoms your dog has, and let your vet know when you visit the clinic.
- If it looks like something is stuck in your dog's eye, visit the vet immediately.
Step 2. Consider dog breeds
Brachycephalic breeds including pugs, bulldogs, boxers, and Pekingese tend to bleed easily due to their flat faces, protruding eyes, and shallow eye sockets, and can suffer from tear drainage problems and/or poorly functioning eyelids. Saint Bernards, terriers, beagles, cocker spaniels, and bloodhounds have loose skin on their faces, and as a result, have eyelids that tend to roll outward. This breed is also prone to cherry eye, which is a condition when the glands in the eyelids slip out of their original position.
Step 3. Find out if the dog has epiphora
Excessive tearing, or epiphora, can cause dirty, smelly, and/or infected hair and skin. Dogs may suffer from epiphora if their eyes water. There are many conditions that cause epiphora, including allergies, ulcers on the dog's cornea, inflammation, abnormal eyelashes, tumors, glaucoma, and poor drainage of the tear ducts.
If you think your dog has epiphora, take him to the vet as soon as possible
Step 4. Determine if the dog has conjunctivitis
If your dog has green or yellow pus, mucus, or discharge from the eye, there's a good chance he has conjunctivitis. This condition occurs when the lining of the dog's eye becomes inflamed. It can be caused by many things, including allergies, distemper, tumors, injuries, birth defects, tear duct disorders, or foreign bodies.
If your dog shows symptoms of conjunctivitis, take him to the vet immediately
Step 5. Scan the dog for dry eyes
If the discharge from your dog's eyes feels sticky and won't stop, the cause may be dry eyes. Mucus and inflammation are the hallmarks of dry eye in dogs. Dry eye can result from tear gland injury, an autoimmune response, or distemper. If your dog has dry eyes, he or she is at risk for serious infections and/or ulcers on the cornea. If this seems to be the case, make an appointment with your vet to treat the problem and prevent future disturbances.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning Dog's Eyes with a Moist Cloth
Step 1. Keep the dog calm
While your dog usually doesn't fuss when you clean his eyes, he may struggle at times. If your dog is very sensitive, try cleaning his eyes with the help of someone else. Have someone the dog knows to hold it while you clean the dog's eyes.
Step 2. Wet a washcloth or sponge
If your dog's discharge is not due to a serious medical condition such as epiphora or conjunctivitis, you can clean it with a damp, soft cloth or sponge. Use room temperature water to dampen the cloth and wring it out so it's damp but not soaking.
- Avoid using water that is too hot or cold, as this can irritate your dog's eyes even more.
- Do not use paper towels or paper towels as they will tear when wet and any residue left behind can harm your dog's eyes.
Step 3. Wipe off fluid deposits in the eyes with a gentle stroke
Gently rub a damp cloth or sponge over your dog's eyes to remove any fluid deposits. If necessary, rinse and wring out the cloth or sponge between each stroke.
Step 4. Try not to use soap or shampoo
In most cases, don't use any kind of detergent, soap, or shampoo to remove fluid buildup in your dog's eyes. This can cause irritation. So, it's best to only use water and don't use any cleaning agents.
Step 5. Clean the dog's eyes with sterile pet eye solution
If your dog has a chronic or serious condition that causes a lot of fluid to come out of the eye, your vet may recommend using a sterile eye wash for your dog's eyes. Wet a cotton swab with the solution, but don't get it soaked. Start at the inner corner of the eye and sweep outwards.
Use a new cotton swab for each eye to prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses, and infections between the eyes
Method 3 of 3: Preventing Eye Disorders
Step 1. Try not to let your dog stick its head out of the window when in a car
While it may seem like a lot of fun, dogs can be very prone to a variety of problems. A gust of wind can blow dirt into your dog's eyes, causing irritation and infection.
Step 2. Keep the dog's eyes and face clean. The fur that surrounds a dog's eyes can become a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, which can quickly become an infection
Make sure you bathe your dog regularly and clean his eyes with a damp cloth or sterile pet eye cleaner.
Step 3. Trim the fur around the dog's eyes
Keeping the hair around the eyes short can help prevent irritation and proliferation of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Ask someone the dog knows to hold it while you use blunt scissors to trim the dog's hair. If your dog doesn't like it, don't do it at home and take him to the vet for a makeover.
