Your dog’s primary way of experiencing the world is smell. It does not mean that its vision is important seeking vague sites and detective objects. Maintaining good eye health is essential for your dog’s comfort and well-being. If your pup suffers from a dog eye infection, you may reach out to the vet for further medications. Eye infections in dogs can quickly become serious and lead to severe complications.
What Are the Signs of a Dog Eye Infection?

Dog eye infection occurs from bacteria invading the tissues of the eye. Eye infections show many symptoms based on their duration. The number of clinical signs will increase with the severity of the infection and possibly the duration. Some infections exhibit symptoms in less than 24 hours.
- Excess tearing
- Excessive winking or blinking (depending on whether the infection is in one or both eyes)
- Prolapse (popping out of the corner of the eye) of the third eyelid (the membrane that comes from the inner corner of the eye)
- Yellow-green discharge from the eye
- Pawing at the eye or keeping the eye closed
The following symptoms will be shown if the eye infection is chronic.
- Yellow or green discharge from the eye
- Slight winking/blinking or keeping the eyelids closed
- Prolapse of the third eyelid
What Causes Dog Eye Infections?
One of the most common is an abrasion (ulcer) or scratch of the cornea, the clear part of the eyeball that the dog sees through. Corneal abrasions are often due to trauma. When the dog rubs at their eye, a grain of sand enters the eye and scratches the surface, or a thorn or stick cuts the cornea as the dog rushes through the bushes, a particular risk in hunting dogs. Therefore, you have to be more alert to your pup’s behavior.
How To Differentiate Dog Eye Allergies And Infections
If your dog has allergies to pollen or dust mites, it causes clear discharge from the eyes and redness, which can look like an eye infection. But allergies can also cause conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucus membrane that covers the inside of the eyelids and the eyeball. However, if only one eye is affected, it’s likely to be an infection or inflammation. It’s because the allergic situations are systemic, and both eyes could be affected.
Moreover, the pink tissue around the eye—the conjunctiva—becomes irritated and red. This can lead to increased tearing and blinking. Veterinary care should be sought in the first 24 hours, as this condition can lead to increased trauma to the eyelids due to rubbing
Dog Eye Infection Treatment

The treatment for eye infections in dogs depends on the cause. If it’s corneal ulceration, typical antibiotics are warranted, and the choice of antibiotic will depend on the severity. If your pup has dry eyes, the vet will give artificial tears three to four times daily. For eyelid infections, a veterinarian will prescribe oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Before treatments, Your vet will take a history of symptoms and conduct a comprehensive eye exam to diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment. It also includes ocular tests that will confirm a diagnosis. These tests include a measurement of the tear production—Schirmer tear test—and fluorescein stain uptake, where a dye is placed on the cornea to detect ulcerations. In some cases, the measurement of eye pressure may also be needed.
Can You Treat Dog Eye Infections at Home?
Never treat your dog’s eye infection on your own with human medications. They may not be appropriate for the current infection and could even worsen the condition. If the eye infection is not cured in twenty-four hours, you may take your pup to immediate veterinary care. You must give your dog the medication as prescribed by your veterinarian, whether it’s administering eye drops or oral medication. Moreover, placing an Elizabethan collar or cone on your dog prevents your dog from rubbing at their eyes, further traumatizing them. Until you take your pup to the vet, you may flush the eye using a cotton ball saturated in lukewarm water and gently squeezing water to help rinse the eye.
How to Prevent Eye Infections in Dogs
The best way to prevent dog eye infections is that keep your pup away from trauma to the eye and the invasion of foreign particles. Keep your dog’s fur around the eyes trimmed and clean, and you may prevent your dog from sticking their head out the window of a moving car nonchalantly.