pink eye in dogs

Question
my dog has very red eyes and yellowish/green gunk coming out of her eyes and they are itchy- is this just allergies-or can dogs get pink eye?

Thank you,
Shannon  

Answer
Hi Shannon!One of the most common eye problems for dogs and cats is conjunctivitis.Also known as pinkeye,conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane covering the inside of the eyelids and the front of the eye.Caused by such things as allergies,infections or even distemper,it can make your pet's eyes crusty,itchy and red,with an ugly abundance of pus or tears.

To speed healing and make your pet more comfortable,you'll want to clean the discharge from her eyelids.Wet a soft,clean cloth or cotton ball with lukewarm water,squeeze it out and gently wipe away the goop from around your pet's eyes.Repeat twice a day or as often as needed.

Instead of using water,you may want to try an over-the-counter eye scrub.Eye scrubs are pH-balanced and may cause less stinging than water.You can buy eye srubs at pet stores,but scrubs formulated for humans are just as effective.Just follow the directions as if your pet were human.

While eye scrubs can help keep the lids clean,you'll also want to wash the surface of the eye.A good way to do this is with artificial tears,which can help wash away particles that may be causing the problem.

Covering your pet's eyes with a damp,warm compress can be very soothing.Wet a soft,clean cloth in lukewarm water,wring it out,and gently hold it acroos her eyes for five minutes.This can make your pet's eyes feel much better,and it goes a long way toward keeping her eyes clean.If your pet balks at having both eyes covered,apply the compress to one eye for about five minutes.Then rinse the cloth and place it on the other eye.Of course,you can skip this step if only one eye is affected.

Regular grooming can help prevent eye irritations before they get started.Hair in your pet's eyes can cause irritation that can lead to conjunctivitis if it's matted up around the corners.Brushing the hair back away from the eyes or getting a grooming to cut excess hair can help prevent conjunctivitis.

When traveling in the car,don't let your pet cruise with her head out the window.Debris can get in the eye,and the eye becomes more prone to infection.

                WHEN TO SEE THE VET
While conjunctivitis isn't difficult to treat,any eye infection can result in permanent damage,so you'll want to see your vet at the first sign of problems.In some cases your pet may need antibiotics to clear up an infection.In addition,some dogs that appear to have conjunctivitis actually have a condition known ad dry eye,or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (cats are rarely affected).It occurs when there aren't enough tears to keep the eyes properly lubricated.Your vet can test you dog's tears to see if she has dry eye.If she does,treating the problem with artificial tears may be all that's needed,although some pets will need antibiotics or steroids as well.

Before trying any of this information,be sure to aask your vet if it is OK.You can print this out or send it to her/his office.I hope this is helpful!Please keep me posted and good luck!Give that little doggy some kisses for me!
Nicole.D.