My Maltese left eye has become infected over the last 2 to 3 days. He's keeping it shut but opens more when excited about getting his treat. He seems to be sleeping more and shivering more than normal. What do you think? If he just has pink eye, is there a home solution I can use or something over the counter I can buy?
LHWNetwork
Please take your dog to the Vet. I would not do "self treatment" with an eye. Do not wait any longer.
Jennifer
Northern Virginia (07/20/2005)
Definitely see a vet. An infection needs to be treated. Especially an eye infection that could affect vision. Plus your dog is miserable & they depend on us to keep them happy & healthy. (07/20/2005)
By Vic
I agree.....go to the vet immediately. This sounds like an infection that may have gone beyond a localized eye infection. The increased shivering and lethargy may be a sign that the infection has spread and is systemic. Don't risk home treatment or any further delay. (07/21/2005)
By Claudia
I would call your vet and talk to them about what your dog is going through, I raise rabbits and I have had baby bunnies with eye infections and the vet has always given me neosporin eye drops. The vet might give you samples but I'm guessing that your dog is going to need oral antibiotics as well. (07/21/2005)
By Wendy
My dog just had the same thing. ended up at an ophthalmologist for dogs. he had an ulcerated cornea.
Yours may not be as severe but the sooner you get to the vet the better. I would not risk my pet of 17 years to any home remedy for any thing as valuable as the eye. It might just need eye drops, which was our case. the sign in the office read " Love puts a twinkle in your eye... and a dent in your wallet" but he's given me years of love and worth every penny. Good luck and please run to the vet, you won't regret it.
By CEIL ACHS
I was wondering if anyone out there knows of a really good ophthalmologist for my 9 year old Maltese.
He has been rubbing his right eye on the carpet. It seems like its dry, or that sometimes I see little particles on his eyeball. This happens from time to time, and I have been to different vets and specialists, and I would like to know if anyone has a good specialist in the New York area. Thanks. Carolyn (10/17/2005)
By Carolyn, from Melville, Long Island, NY
Okay ... I have a dog with sorta watery eyes and is on her second course of amoxicillan for a cold. I do lid soaks with baby shampoo (we do this in a nursing home I work in). It gets all the gunk out. There are natural eye drops I buy that are called "Eyes See Clearly" . Check it out..but do take your pooch in for a check up. (02/28/2006)
By Valerie
for years anytime me or an animal got pink eye, I used neosporin in it.."It works". However, i'd be definitely careful not to use neosporin plus...for that would burn.
(b)Editor's Note:(/b) Please check with a vet before using anything in your animals eyes or a doctor before using this in your eyes. (03/13/2006)
By AliChrSha
My baby seems to have the exact same thing and we're taking him to the doctor today. He's been sleeping since yesterday, refuses food and play but wants to sit in my lap all day. It might be pink-eye, in this case I'm relieved, but his eyes are starting to look a little milky. Can anyone tell me if ulcers are very bothersome to dogs and can they cause blindness or is it nothing to panic about?
Dally (03/29/2006)
By Dally
Some of us love our pets more than can be expressed online but can't afford to pay the huge bills that vets produce (03/19/2007)
By Jose
Please DON"T use hydrogen peroxide on your dogs eyes!
Dogs can have a wide variety of eye diseases that could range from dry eyes to ulcers on the cornea! I would never risk using anything in my pets eyes before checking with a veterinarian first. (07/18/2007)
By Adriane
My dog, Homer, has been having google stuff by his eye and in the morning his eyes sometimes have a discharge too them. I don't know if it's something minor or major. So please give me some ideas to what I should do. Take some medicine or take him to the vet right away? Thanks! =)
(b)Editor's Note:(/b) You probably should take him to the vet if it has been going on for a few days and isn't getting better. (07/30/2007)
By agilityluver55
Never take a chance. Please take the puppy to the vet. if it were you with this problem would you wait to see a doctor? (08/04/2007)
By suzanne
I've read in natural healing that some lemon drops in the eyes help with eye infection. Your dog will scratch but I find it helpful. I've used it on my own eyes too. Burns for a little while, followed by relief. (09/12/2007)
By zen
I have a puppy who has a white face. The fur around his eyes began to turn pink like stained tears. I was told it could be too much iron in the water he's drinking. Is there cause for concern? Maybe something else. My vet checked him out and said he had puppy strangles because he had red bumps on his face, he gave me steroids for that and it cleared up 2 weeks ago. His fur around the eyes was just turning pink then and now it's like rust. I put the pup on spring water, but it's not clearing up. What should I do? Thanks. (10/06/2007)
By Raven
If my pet has a medical problem they go to the Vets. Get Pet Insurance it is cheap and cost effective. If you are complaining about vet bills don't have a pet, they get sick too! (10/09/2007)
By Carol
Our dog had a similar infection and we were told to put neosporin ointment in her eye and rub it around about twice a day. Her infection cleared up in a couple of days!! (10/11/2007)
By Kayla
My dog is prone to eye infections. We used to go to the vet to get a prescription cream (called Vetropolycin HC), but I just checked, and the active ingredients are exactly the same as Neosporin (Becitracin, Neomycin, Polymyxin). Her eye just flared up, and I'm definitely using plain old neosporin. But then again, we always catch her infections early on, and there has never been any shivering or anything...
(10/22/2007)
By Adele
I also think that vets are expensive even with having insurance. Insurance companies really make you foot the bigger bulk of the bill, even though they are not that expensive! But it seems that your dog is beyond a slight eye infection and that is a real concern which truly requires a vet's expertise(clue: the shivers). I hope your dog's fine now, I would love to read about that he/she's ok now and didn't turn into something worse.
I am also stunned that people would suggest to wash the dog's eyes with the likes of hydrogen peroxide and/or lemon juice for that matter! Would you put that in your own eye? Lemon juice is an acid! There are more subtle and more effective treatments. Dog's eyes are just as sensitive as human eyes.
All it takes is keeping the eye area clean and washing it with boiled water or even chamomile tea (which is very subtle and very effective) cooled off for cleaning and disinfecting and use bacitracin ointment (try not to put too much on it, so not much gets in the eye which could cloud vision). You don't need to use a lot just keep your dog's eyes absolutely clean so it can heal itself. You can do the regiment 2 to 3 times daily, of course, the more the better since this is a gentle treatment but very effective. Be sure to wash your own hands thoroughly before start treatment. You can use this method when the eye infection starts out. When your dog can't keep the eyes open, then it's way beyond home remedy, go to the vet. (10/22/2007)
By Kate
My pup recently was diagnosed with mild conjunctivitis. The vet stated his eye irritation was most likely caused from taking potty breaks in the leaves. The vet sold me Vetropolycin Opthalmic Ointment which is placed in his cornea three to four times daily.
What I want to add to this topic is that over the counter medicine at Dollar General sells for a dollar or two generic Triple Antibiotic Ointment (same as Neosporin) with the same ingredients, but where the polymyxin B sulfate contains 10,000 units in the Vetropolycin (precscribed med), the $1.00 product only contains half that amount. We do need to be careful for buying other replacement products when the full units do not match the vet prescribed medications.
Also, when my pup's vet administers prescribed medication, it is written on the invoice along with the dosage. Oftentimes, you can purchase the same prescribed medication for your pet over the internet that may cost a lot less and that in itself is a savings. Here's the link I use. You only have to provide the vet name, phone number and kind of prescription medication requesting with credit card and the medication is sent promptly. www.discountpetdrugs.com/
Keep all those old vet invoices in your pet folder file as I refer back to them as needed. (12/02/2007)
By Myrna
My dog has a whitish/clear discharge coming from his eyes and barely opens them at all. I cannot afford to take him to a vet and was wondering if anybody could clear up the problem. Is it okay to use visine in a dog's eyes? (12/25/2007)
By peterm
I took my dog to the vet three weeks ago, when he wasn't opening his eye very well, they said it was an ulcer. So they gave us antibiotic and some other cream to help it heal. Well, next week we took him in again, because it didn't seem like it was getting better. So the vet checked his tear production and it was zero in both eyes although one eye was way better than the other, and I've read that that can happen. So he said to use tear drops, like GentealL, well his eye is still not better.
So we take him in again, and they give us a drug that stimulates whatever produces tears to produce tears, and well another week and nothing, he constantly itches it, it is always dry no matter how much eye drops we put in and washes we do. Tomorrow I am going to a specialist, so hopefully they will be able to do something outside of surgery. I heard that might me the last straw, but hope it won't come down to that.
His eye is very swollen and I keep cleaning white gunk out of it. The right eye isn't as bad, and he opens it but its dry and the left swollen one is very cloudy looking, I think he can still see out of it, but could it already be damaged?
He still plays and eats, but I did noticed that he sometimes will go without drinking and then at some point will drink like a whole bowl of water, does that mean anything? please help! (01/07/2008)
By Julia
My Boxer had an eye infection after being poked in the eye while playing with another dog. She had thick, green mucus coming out of her eye, so I called around to get opinions from vets. I took her to the vet and they said that it was indeed an infection...and that the treatment would cost around $80. He told me the name of the medicine, so I instead bought the Terramycin ointment off of the internet for like $10. You just put a little in the eye 2-4 times a day. (04/30/2008)
By Denise
Please be very careful. Dogs can lose an eye when something is lodged in it that we cannot see with our eyes. The vet will put drops in that allow him to see the cornea with a special light and be able to tell if anything has lodged in the eye. As soon as you notice your dog is not opening their eye, take them to the vet. If you vet is not treating the problem, find a new vet. Also, eye infections DO NOT get better on their own. Do not use human medication. An eye infection can be extremely uncomfortable to a dog, just like in a human. Deal with it immediately with your vet. (05/15/2008)
By Tara
Don't play around with eye infections. They can cause permanent blindness if not treated! My shiatsu has chronic dry eye and is now blind in one eye. Please go to the vet. (06/01/2008)
By Kelly
Do not use lemon juice in your eye or your pets eye! I work in a Vet clinic and this is NOT a good idea. Eyes and Acidic products do not go together! My suggestion would be to get some ointment from your vet, its about $28-35, and after a few days of applying it 3 times a day, it should be cleared up. Don't make your dog suffer though. Would you wanna suffer with an eye infection? (06/10/2008)
By kris
The dog needs to see a vet.
You wouldn't and aren't supposed to put something in their eyes you certainly wouldn't put in your own. That the dog is shivering/shaking and sleeping more often means he's sick. Lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide are way wrong to put near the dog's eye. I am agreeing with another poster.
Please take to vet asap and let us know how he is doing.
For the poster whose vet is away for their New Year - isn't there another vet around?
Also, to the poster whose Vet's office said they don't check eyes? Of course they do - the pet may need to see a specialist but they can absolutely look at it first - I have not ever heard of a vet's office saying something like that!
Whenever a pet isn't eating or drinking normally they should see a vet.
Also, I wouldn't take a chance and trim the hair around my pets eyes (to another poster) - pets end up at the vet's and vet hospitals all the time when people try to do things like that. It should be done by a professional pet groomer or vet. (06/20/2008)
By Marie
My dachshund has had to have both of her tear ducts removed. The swelling of a tear duct is called a Cherry Eye. It is ok for a short time, but needs to be looked at by a vet eventually. My vet let my girls go for a while before it had to be removed. She has chronic dry eye now and I have to keep her eyes clean and moist. The vet sells me drops, but I do not have to use them until there is mucus. She gets a few eye boogers in the corner of her eyes daily and I clean those with a moist cloth.
Usually during pollen season, she gets mucus and I have to start using the drops. They are inexpensive and keep her healthy. She's my baby and I want to keep her with me for many years. So a trip to the vet is easier than you know, less expensive than you figure and much more important than you can ever imagine. Let us know how it goes!
Please don't put lemon juice in an animal's eye I would consider that cruel and inhumane. If you want to do it to yourself, as a human, that can make this decision, knock yourself out. Just my opinion. (06/20/2008)
By Tina Brown
My black lab has had infected eyes for 3 days now. He's been to the vet and has received a steroid shot and antibiotics (3x per day). Now his snout, mouth, and nose are covered in ulcers which are oozing puss and bleeding. He is miserable and he and I need some sort of answer/peace. Thanks a whole lot. -Isidro (09/13/2008)
By Isidro R.
My pup has had an eye infection for a few weeks.Tried triple antibiotic ointment. Now I am giving him neomycin, but his eye looks worse since I started new med. Vets are expensive, any advice? (12/26/2008)
By lizzie
I have one dog born blind as cataracts developed before her eyes were totally developed and another dog that has cataracts in both eyes. Cataracts cause not only the lost of eye sight but causes the eyes to shrink and be very acceptable to infections. Since both dogs developed their condition while in the womb the only surgery left for them is to remove the eyes. Our vet doesn't want to go to the extreme until it's absolutely necessary. So we use Bausch & Lomb gentle and sensitive eyes-plus, a saline solution for contacts. this was suggested by the vet. It not only restores ph balance and help fight infections it also helps prevent infections getting a strong hold. (01/09/2009)
By Kathy
Personally, the homeopathic use of lemon juice for eye infections has worked just fine in my experience. Take half a lemon, sqeeze it gently into a regular size drinking water bottle, and use it as to flush the eye, using the whole bottle over about 3 days. I've did this for myself when an eye infection developed while on a remote expedition and no medical facilities/doctors within a few days travel.
Since then I've used it myself 2-3 time and when the children have gotten pink eye, they preferred this to going to doctor (I gave them the option), I've suggested it to friends and yes...they've had the same results. I used once for our lab when he got an eye infection (we believe from swimming in the lake). It worked on him. Low levels of citric acid can be found in many eye drops sold over the counter, you can check the ingredient list next time you are in the store and you will see the same thing.
I've checked the FDA website and they allow for citric acid in eye drops but I can't find a max level allowed in OTC products so it's hard to judge at what concentration would be considered unsafe. Natural lemon juice is about 5% citric acid. About 20-30 drops diluted into 12 oz. drinking water should not be too powerful. But I believe people can use their best judgement on how dangerous a little bit of lemon juice can be vs. going to the vet in 2-3 days if things don't improve. I just don't think it should as scary an alternative as some of the post here would suggest. (01/18/2009)
By Dan
I have a dog and she has a eye infection I think I have been putting salt water in her eye. First her eye was cloudy, red, green/yellow liquid coming out, and was shut often I you not know when she got I was at school and parent did not see it. now it is little not like it was and cloudy. Help! (02/21/2009)
By Dog lover
Please do not put anything prescription into your pets eye without the proper research. Some veterinary hospitals have pharmacies in which they do sell certain "prescription" things such as eye ointments without being seen by the Vet. Also, check your local feed store. They typically have these types of items as well (de wormer, eye ointment, etc).
Do not ever put anything with hydro cortisone into an animals eye without a Vet, if there is an ulcer (and they frequently cannot be seen by the naked eye) the hydro cortisone in the ointment will hurt the eye. Also, discharge from the eyes can be a symptom of an underlying illness and not related to an eye infection at all. In cats discharge can be from an upper respiratory illness, and in dogs it can be from kennel cough etc. (03/26/2009)
By Jackie
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