Eye Infections in Dogs, Cats – Natural, Herbal Treatments, Remedies

In this article...

1. Typical Causes of an Eye Infection;
2. Typical Signs that Your Dog's or Cat's Eye May Be Infected;  
3. Typical Signs of Pink Eye - Conjunctivitis
4. Contagiousness of Eye Infections
5. Treating and Curing Eye Infections
1. Topical Treatments
1. Ingested (Dietary) Remedies 
6. Duration of Treatment
7. When To Get Your Dog or Cat to Your Veterinarian

1.0 Typical Causes of an Eye Infection

• Allergies (i.e. environmental allergies);
• Bacteria;
• Debris - foreign object in the eye – i.e. particles of grass, dirt, etc.
• Debris and /or irritation can occur very simply:
• The dog putting his/her head out a vehicle window when the vehicle is in motion;
• Running through tall grasses – a small particle of grass seed may get into a dog’s or cat’s eye;
• Sand/dirt whipped up and airborne by a strong wind;
• Sticking his/her head into an animal burrow/hole, etc.;
• Trauma to the eye;
• Viruses.

2.0 Typical Signs that Your Dog's or Cat's
       Eye May Be Infected  

• Thick mucus-like discharge from the inner corner of the eye – colour of the discharge often has a slight green tinge;
• Inflammation – redness of the eye;
• Dog or cat may try to rub his/her eye frequently with his/her paw, or against the ground, furniture etc.;
• Squinting;
• Cloudiness of the eye;
• Inability to open the eye partially or completely.

3.0 Typical Signs of Pink Eye also known  
      as Conjunctivitis

Pink eye/Conjunctivitis is a little different than other types of eye infections. Symptoms of pink eye include:

• Severe itching of the entire eye area;
• Pronounced pink coloration of the dog's eye area;
• Your dog's eye may be severely bloodshot;
• Surrounding eye tissue including the eye-lid will be inflamed;
• Dogs with pink eye will often try to use their paw to scratch and remove discharge from their eyes;
• Your dog may seek out dark places out of direct light and sun light - when he/she would normally rest in brighter areas;
• Your dog's tear ducts may have increased tear production;
• Increased discharge coming from the dog's eye, may collect around the eye area and make it difficult for your dog to blink or open his/her eye. 

4.0 Contagiousness of Eye Infections

Eye infections are very contagious.Use great care when touching/treating an infected eye. If your dog has one eye that is infected and one eye that is not infected – if you are not careful you can end-up accidentally introducing the infection to the non-infected eye.

• Make sure you wash your hands after touching/treating the infected eye;
• Don’t use the same cotton swab, cloth etc. on both eyes – use a fresh cotton swab, cloth etc. for each eye;
• Make sure the eye-dropper, ointment or medicine applicator does not touch the eye – if it does wash the tip before reusing or applying to the other eye;
• Wash your hand thoroughly after touching, treating the infected eye.

5.1 Pink-Eye also known as Conjunctivitis is Highly
     Contagious, and Zoonotic

• Is zoonotic - transferable from:
• Human to dog when the infection is bacteria-based pink eye;
• Dog to dog;
• Insect to dog;
• The bacterial form of pink eye is the most common form of conjunctivitis;
• The viral form of pink eye is an air borne virus that is particularly common in the winter when the air is damp and humid;
• The third most common cause of pink eye is triggered by environmental allergies which can cause irritation of the sinus and inflammation of the mucus membranes of the eye - in which case the cure involves addressing both the conjunctivitis and the environmental allergy

5.2 Eye Infections Worsen Very Quickly

If you think your dog or cat has an eye infection - take action ASAP as eye infections can advance very quickly. On the first day you may notice a little discharge and by the next day the infection can be fully developed! Especially if your dog’s or cat’s immune system is suppressed. The following are some very typical substances that can contribute to a suppressed immune system:

• Antibiotic;
• Inoculations;
• Steroids;
• Stress;
• Chemical-based insect and parasite preventatives, treatments;
• Species inappropriate diet and related additives;
• Chemical-based food preservatives, colorants, etc.
• Grains – especially corn and soy;
• Exposure to environmental chemicals and toxins, including;
• Chemical-based household cleaners – use pet friendly cleaners instead;
• Herbicides and pesticides – grass is good for dogs to eat, but only if it has not been treated with herbicides and pesticides!
• Road salt;
• Etc.

6.0 Treating and Curing Eye Infections

Step 1 - Topical Treatment

Clean Your Dog’s or Cat’s Eye Right Away

Use this Saline Solution

• Combine;
• ½ cup warm water (distilled water if you have it on hand) with;
• ½ tsp salt;
• Stir;
• Apply some of the solution to a cotton ball;
• Use the cotton ball to wipe your dog’s or cat’s eye. 

Apply a Topical Treatment, Curative to The Infected Eye 

Choose One of the Following Standard Treatments 

For use if the infection is not severe. These treatments are to be Applied 2 to 3 times per day...

6.1 Herbal Treatments

Chamomile Tea

• Brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm;
• Use the liquid, drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears, or;
• Place a cooled tea bad against the eye several times a day until the infection clears.

Eyebright Tea (cooled to warm);

• Brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm;
• Use the liquid, drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears, or;
• Place a cooled tea bad against the eye several times a day until the infection clears.

Green Tea - decaffeinated (cooled to warm)

• Brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm;
• Use the liquid from the green tea, drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears, or;
• Place a cooled tea bad against the eye several times a day until the infection clears.

Rooibos Tea (cooled to warm)

• Brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm;
• Use the liquid from the rooibos tea - drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears, or;
• Place a cooled tea bad against the eye several times a day until the infection clears.

6.2 Nutraceutical Treatments

Distilled Water and Organic Unpasturized Apple Cider Vinegar (room temperature)

Not for use with pink-eye

• Combine;
• 2 tbs distilled water with;
• 4 drops of organic unpasturized Apple Cider Vinegar;
• Stir well;
• Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears.

Distilled Water and Fresh Lemon Juice (room temperature)

Not for use with pink-eye

• Combine;
• 2 tbs distilled water with;
• 4 drops of fresh squeezed lemon juice;
• Stir well;
• Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears;

Distilled Water and Unpasturized Organic Honey (room temperature)

For use with an infected eye and pink eye

• Combine;
• 2 tbs distilled water with;
• 2 tbs unpasturized organic honey;
• Stir well;
• Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears.

Distilled Water and Oregon Grape Tincture (room temperature)

For use with an infected eye and pink eye

• Combine;
• 1 once distilled water with;
• 4 drops of Oregon grape tincture
• Stir well;
• Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears.

6.3 Extra Strength Treatments

For use if the infection is more severe and/or tenacious. These treatments are to be Applied 2 to 3 times per day...

Colloidal Silver Water 

• Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears;
• See this article to understand:
• What colloidal silver is;
• How it works;
• How to select a quality product.

Extra Strength Herbal

• Combine:
• ½ cup of distilled water;
• 5 drops of one of the following teas (brew the tea and allow to cool so that the liquid is just slightly warm);
• Calendula;
• Camomile;
• Eyebright;
• Red Clover;
• St. John’s Wort
• ½ tsp of salt;
• Optional ingredient - 1 tbs 100% aloe vera juice
• Drop 2 to 3 drops in the eye two to three times a day until the infection clears;

Step Two -  Ingested Treatment

While you are topically treating your dog or cats eye infection you should also add foods and/or supplements to the daily diet to help recovery of the eye infection...

Add Foods (to Your Dog’s and Cat’s Daily Diet) That Support Eye-Health and Speed Recovery from Infections

The following foods and supplements support eye health, speed recovery and support your dog’s immune system – use them daily and keep them in your dog’s permanent diet to support good health and help avoid future infections…

Boost Your Dog’s and Cat’s daily Vitamin A intake;

• You can purchase a vitamin A supplement  for canines and felines or;
• You can add some foods that are very high in Vitamin A to your dog’s and cat's  daily diet;
• Butternut Squash;
• Carrots;
• Dark leafy greens (dandelion, spinach, kale);
• Dark leafy lettuce (red leaf lettuce, radicchio, romaine, frizzy lettuce, etc.)
• Herbs:
• Parsley (dried or fresh);
• Basil (dried or fresh);
•  Papaya;
• Turkey and chicken liver are also very high in Vitamin A. You can cook a little turkey or chicken liver in olive oil (low heat cooking only to avoid the formation of carcinogens) and add a piece to your dog’s or cat’s food once a day.
• Cantaloupe - you can give cantaloupe to your dog for a snack. Even better if it is topped with yogurt. You can read this article to understand how to choose a good yogurt for your dog or cat.

Boost your Dog’s or Cat’s Daily Vitamin C Intake

• You can add a little fresh lemon to your dog’s daily diet – see this article for preparation and dosage;
• Or add fresh papaya to your dog's, cat's daily diet.

Boost Your Dog’s and Cat’s Daily Bioflavonoid Intake

• Brussels Sprouts
• Broccoli
• Garlic
• You can read about the many benefits, how to prepare and dosage here;
• Green Tea or Rooibos Tea;
• You can read about Rooibos tea, its many benefits, daily dosage here.
• Papaya (and Mango)
• Peppers (bell) - Sweet red, yellow, orange, or purple Bell Peppers
• If your dog suffers from an inflammatory condition such as arthritis skip the peppers as the bell pepper plant is a nightshade family  plant. Nightshades can increase inflammation in the case of an existing inflammatory condition;
• Blueberries, blackberries, raspeberries, serviceberries, tart red cherries.

6.0 Duration of Treatment

• Your dog’s or cat’s eye infection should begin to subside after several days of treatment;
• If improvement does not start to occur after several days switch to the extra strength treatment.

7.0 When To Get Your Dog or Cat to Your
      Veterinarian

• If you have switched to the extra strength treatment and do not see improvement begin to occur the following day;
• If your dog is showing signs of lost appetite or sluggishness/lack of energy and with treatment his/her appetite or energy level does not return within a day or two;
• While these treatments are effective for most eye infections there will be some cases when a home remedy may not be enough to cure the infection – particularly if you have only started treating the infection once it is in an advanced stage;
• If the infection is a result of a trauma to the eye.

 

8.0 Daily Diet - the Foundation of Issues, Remedies

Make sure your dog and cat is on a daily diet that truly supports a healthy immune system. A good diet is the best defense against disease and illness. Herbs and nutraceuticals should be incorporated into the diet to support treatment, remedy and ongoing long-term daily health.

Chronic infections CANNOT be resolved using topical treatment only - the root cause of the infection MUST be addressed. Review of every aspect of the existing diet, existing health care regimen and design of a new diet, health care regimen is essential to remedy chronic infections.

9.0  Holistic Remedy

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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld.