- Typical Causes of an Eye Infection
- Typical Signs that Your Dog's or Cat's Eye May Be Infected
- Typical Signs of Pink Eye - Conjunctivitis
- Contagiousness of Eye Infections
- Treating and Curing Eye Infections
- Topical Treatments
- Dietary Support for Eye Health
- Duration of Treatment
- When
To Get Your Dog or Cat to A Practitioner
- Allergies (i.e. food allergies, environmental allergies)
- Bacteria
- Debris - foreign object in the eye – i.e. particles of grass, dirt, etc.
- Debris and /or irritation can occur very simply
- Dog puts his 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 and dirt whipped up and airborne by a strong wind
- Sticking his head into an animal burrow/hole, etc.
- Trauma to the eye
- Toxins in the diet and health regimen
- Viruses
- Underlying health issues and conditions
Eye May Be Infected
- Thick mucus-like discharge from the inner corner of the eye – color 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
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
- 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
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
- Antibiotics
- 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.
- Combine;
- ½ cup warm water (distilled water if you have it on hand)
- 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
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
For use if the infection is more severe and/or tenacious. These treatments are to be Applied 2 to 3 times per day...
- 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
- Preparation
- Boil 1/2 cup of distilled water.
- Select one or several of the following dry teas: calendula, camomile, eyebright, or green tea
- Place 1/2 tsp of the dry tea in a clean cup
- Pour the boiled water over the tea, and allow to steep for 10 minutes
- Remove the tea leaves or flowers, and allow the brewed tea to cool
- Add ½ tsp of Himalayan pink salt to the cooled brewed tea, stir to dissolve
- The herbal tea drop liquid is ready for use
- To Use
- Place 2 to 3 drops in the affected eye(s), two to three times a day until the infection clears
- The tea can also be used to gently wipe and clean around the fur around your dog's eye.
- Brew a new batch of the herbal eye drops daily, until no longer required for use
- Included some foods that are very high in Vitamin A in 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 rich in Vitamin A. If your dog or cat is on a balanced raw diet you already have this covered. If your dog or cat isn't on a balanced raw diet you can cook a little turkey
or chicken liver in coconut oil or olive oil (low heat cooking only to avoid the formation of
carcinogens). Add a piece of the cooked liver to your dog’s or cat’s food once a day. Liver should not exceed 5% of your dog or cat's daily intake of animal protein. If your dog or cat has never had raw or cooked liver before start with a very small amount and slowly increase to the 5% daily quota.
- Cantaloupe - you can give cantaloupe to your dog for a snack. Even better if it is topped with yogurt or kefir. You can read this article to understand how to choose a good yogurt and kefir for your dog or cat.
- 1-10 lbs: 1 tsp to 1/8 cup, 1 to 3 times per day
- 10-20 lbs: 1/4 cup, 1-3 times per day
- 20-50 lbs: 1/4 to 1 cup, 1- 3 times per day
- 50-100 lbs: 1/2 to 1 cup, 1x to 3x per day
- 100+ lbs: up to 1 cup, 1x to 3x per day
- Add 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
- 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
- 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.
Practitioner
- 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
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
Holistic Wellness and Behaviorist Services
Do you need holistic advice to support your companion animal's health and well being? Become a client. Book your consultation. My professional holistic nutrition, wellness and behavioral services are available to you:
🌿 Holistic Wellness Services for Dogs and Cats 🐕 🐈
🌿 Holistic Behaviorist Services for Dogs 🐕
My Holistic Client Services are Available Worldwide:
🇺🇸 USA
🇨🇦 Canada
🇬🇧 UK and other European countries
🇦🇺 Australia and other Oceania countries
🇭🇰 Hong Kong and other Asian countries
🇨🇷 Costa Rica and other Central American countries
🇪🇺 European countries
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and other South America countries
🇿🇦 South Africa and other African countries
🇸🇪 Sweden and other Nordic countries
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Available Holistic Consultations and Sessions:
📱 FaceTime
📱 Facebook video or voice calling
💻 Skype📱 WhatsApp
📞 Phone
📧 Email
🚶🏻♀️ In-Person
Menu of Holistic Wellness Services for Dogs and Cats 🐕🐈
For more information go here.
✅ Maintain Health, and;
✅ Address Health Issues and Conditions:
✓ Treatment and Remedy
✓ Pre-Surgery holistic support protocols
✓ Post-Surgery holistic healing protocols
✓ Pre-Vaccine holistic support protocols
✓ Post-Vaccine holistic support protocols
✓ Natural Insect and Parasite Prevention
✓ Natural Treatment for Insect, Parasite Infestation, Co-Infection, Disease
✅ Custom Designed Whole Food Diets - raw or gently cooked, and;
✅ Advice and Recommendation:
✓ Premade Diets - raw, dehydrated, freeze dried
✓ Supplemental Fresh Foods - raw, gently cooked
✓ Super foods
✓ Treats - raw, dehydrated, freeze dried, gently cooked
✓ Herbs
✓ Alternative Medicines
Menu of Holistic Behaviorist Services for Dogs 🐕
For more information go here.
In-person Sessions - available locally
Voice and Video Sessions - available worldwide
✓ Obedience Training
✓ Behavior Modification
✓ Psychological Rehabilitation
Affiliations to Companies
✓ None.
✓ I don't sell food or supplements.
✓ I'm not aligned with any companies.
✓ I choose to maintain my objectivity in selecting best-solutions for my individual client's needs.
Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld
Available Holistic Consultations and Sessions:
Menu of Holistic Wellness Services for Dogs and Cats 🐕🐈
This is wonderful, i so hate having to give chemicals to my beloved pets as i do feel these do not help encourage they're natural immune system, also most veterinary prices are pretty high and not always affordable, plus theres the question on how to get to the vets when transport is not an option. So thank you, your an angel of mercy to my furry family.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised to see garlic as a recommended supplement for dogs and cats. This is a toxic substance to them that is as dangerous as chocolate. This makes me question the reliability of any other information and suggestions you have. Garlic can even be fatal to cats and dogs.
ReplyDeleteLisa - you are 100% INCORRECT. Garlic is NOT dangerous for dogs - you have much to learn - recommended reading for you http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.ca/2012/06/garlic-for-dogs-health-benefits.html
DeleteGarlic does not harm your pets. I have given my dogs garlic for years and they are still alive and doing fine
DeleteGarlic helps my dog with infections so much, the trick is to know the dosage. Too much of anything is bad. Its not fatal, all it does is reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry & in high amounts will make your pet very sick & die. That's if you feed them too much too often, for example feeding your cat hamburger mince every day will kill it. Adding a bit of garlic to your pets diet will only benefit them.
DeleteI LOVE your website and all the wonderful natural remedies you share. Health is our most precious asset and we need to do all we can to keep or restore it. God bless you for helping others! I share your website with people all the time. Thank you, Karen!
ReplyDeleteDebbie