Did you know that your dog’s eyes have three layers? When irritants are caught in your dog’s eyes, the extra lids will make it more difficult for him to get rid of them. All sorts of debris may enter into your pooch’s eyes. It is no wonder eye drops for dogs have become so popular.
Unfortunately, many pet owners avoid drops because they believe they are difficult to handle, but this is not the case if you follow the proper procedures. In the other hand, if you don’t know which brand to buy, it won’t improve your pet’s eyesight.
We’ve put together a list of the top 6 dog eye drops on the market. We’ll show you which brands are the most effective, as well as how to use them and other key information. Choose the best one.
See also our recommendations on the best dog beds, the best invisible dog fences, the best electric dog fence, and the best wireless dog fence.
A Quick Comparison Of Our Favorites
| BEST OVERALL | BEST VALUE | HONORABLE MENTION | |
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Vetericyn 1037 Plus Eye Wash
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Burt’s Bees Dogs Natural Eye Wash
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I Drop Vet Plus Eye Lubricant
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| Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon | |
Summary |
Vetericyn is a safe and effective product for reducing irritation, itching, and redness in the eyes. It also clears dirt, soothes burns, and aids in the removal of eye gunk. Additionally, these eye drops will help in the removal and prevention of yellow staining on your dog’s fur. | Burt’s Bees is best known for its skincare products and lip gloss, but you may be pleased to learn that they also offer all-natural pet products. In this case, we’re looking at a saline solution eyewash that comes in a 4–ounce bottle with a single or dual pack option. This formula is cruelty-free and contains 99.9% natural ingredients. | This product, however, is helpful in treating other ailments that aren’t related to dry eyes. It’s also a good idea to get your veterinarian’s approval before using this product. The reason behind this could be that after prolonged use, your pup could develop calcium deposits; although they will go away after you stop using the product. |
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Common Conditions that Require Eye Drops
1. Allergies
Pollen and cleaning agents, among other environmental irritants, can irritate your dog’s eyes, nose, and throat. If it is not possible to fully eliminate your dog’s exposure to these factors, you should treat his allergy problems with treatment and by keeping his living area as clean as possible.
2. Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis in dogs, also known as pink eye, occurs when the conjunctiva – the wet area of the under-lid – gets inflamed. This can happen for a variety of causes, the most popular of which are an allergic reaction or dry eyes.
Symptoms of this condition include:
- squinting
- rapid blinking
- swelling of the area
- pus seeping from the eye
Treatment for conjunctivitis is ordinarily done by cleaning the affected area and treating with a combination steroid/antibiotic eyedrop.
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3. Epiphora
Epiphora is the word for an overflow of tears from the eye. It is not a medical condition in and of itself. A normal, stable eye will produce tears to keep the eye well lubricated, with the excess drained down into the tear ducts – except in this case, the tears leave the eye, giving the dog a continuous or regular weeping appearance.
The most noticeable symptom of this ailment is the existence of wet streaks on your dog’s face, accompanied by red or brown staining in these areas over time. A more severe condition, such as tear duct development issues, may be present. As a result, the veterinarian can be consulted, but home management can be achieved by keeping the area clean and using clear eye drops.
4. Breed Specific Issues
There is no point in ignoring the fact that some breeds are more prone to eye conditions. The reality is that Pugs do get a lot of eye infections. All flat-faced dogs do that – Pugs, Pekingese, Boxers, Bulldogs, and so on…
But it’s not all these smooshy-faced fluffballs that are having problems. Dogs with loose facial muscle, such as the St Bernard, Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, and Bloodhound, have a lot of eye issues, poor flopsy eyed pooches.
Here are few tips to consider
- Make an effort to be as self-assured and light as possible. Whether you’re anxious or concerned, your dog will pick up on it and react accordingly.
- Throughout the process, give your dog praise, treats, and speak to them and let them know it’s not a punishment.
- Begin by rubbing their head and messaging their eyes to adapt them to your presence and touch.
- Since restraint makes your dog struggle even more, a softer approach might be better.
- As a result, consider approaching the dog from behind while straddling him with your knees and elbows while tilting his head back. Do the same for smaller dogs, but put them on a table.
- Try giving the eye drops with one hand while offering a treat with the other.
- Between your thumb and index finger, hold the bottle. Place your hand on top of your dog’s head and support their jaw with the other fingers. Squeeze out the fall by gently leaning your head down.
- Try not to get irritated. It can take many attempts to get the drops into the eye, particularly if the person is in pain. Keep the calm, get positive reinforcement, and try again. Get help if needed.
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Best Eye Drops For Dogs
1. Vetericyn 1037 Plus Eye Wash – Best Overall
We’ll start with our top pick to get things up and running in the right direction. Vetericyn is a safe and effective product for reducing irritation, itching, and redness in the eyes. It also clears dirt, soothes burns, and aids in the removal of eye gunk. Additionally, these eye drops will help in the removal and prevention of yellow staining on your dog’s fur.
This antimicrobial solution should be used on your pet on a regular basis to assist with allergies, infections including pink eye, and any other eye problems. The non-stinging formula should be used comfortably around the mouth, ears, nose, and, of course, the eyes. Not to mention, this can be licked off without any side effects, although you should note it is not meant to be used internally.
The active ingredient in the recipe is 0.009% hypochlorous acid, which is safe for all dogs. The drops help avoid potential illnesses and do not hurt or irritate your dog’s eyes when used on a daily basis. The product comes in a 3-ounce bottle with a plastic tip applicator that is simple to use. Because of its flexibility, effectiveness, and gentleness, this treatment is the best eye drops for dogs available.
Pros
- purpose eye relief
- Safe and effective
- Does not sting
- Easy to use
- Lick safe
- Reduces and prevents fur stains
Cons
- Treats can be spotted at a long distance due to increased eyesight
2. Burt’s Bees Dogs Natural Eye Wash
Burt’s Bees is best known for its skincare products and lip gloss, but you may be pleased to learn that they also offer all-natural pet products. In this case, we’re looking at a saline solution eyewash that comes in a 4–ounce bottle with a single or dual pack option. This formula is cruelty-free and contains 99.9% natural ingredients.
If you chose this choice, you will be able to get rid of any irritants that have found their way into your dog’s eyes. It works by simulating the dog’s natural tears to remove dust and allergens while still soothing itchiness and redness. The fragrance-free, sulfate-free, colorant-free solution is free of harsh chemicals like parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and SLS.
One disadvantage of this product is that it is ineffective against infections like pink eye. It still has little effect on tear stains. Aside from that, it’s a pH-balanced alternative that’s safe to use on all dogs eight weeks and up, and it won’t sting or burn.
Pros
- Safe and natural ingredients
- Won’t sting or burn
- Removes debris and soothes allergies
- pH balanced
- Easy to use bottle
Cons
- Not recommended for infections
- Does not help with tear stains
3. I Drop Vet Plus Eye Lubricant
The I Drop eye lubricant is the best dog eye drops to use for your pet. The 0.33-ounce bottle comes with a single, two, three, or four-pack and adds moisture to dry eyes with a viscoadaptive solution containing 0.25 percent hyaluronan. This option works in combination with your dog’s blinking to further minimise redness and itchiness. This is a perfect choice if your dog is low in moisture.
This product, however, is helpful in treating other ailments that aren’t related to dry eyes. It’s also a good idea to get your veterinarian’s approval before using this product. The reason behind this could be that after prolonged use, your pup could develop calcium deposits; although they will go away after you stop using the product.
To give this brand credit, you don’t need to use this formula as often because it works every time your dog blinks. Furthermore, the bottle is simple to use and administer. In the other hand, you must strictly adhere to the instructions, and you must not miss any doses in order for it to work. Overall, if you’re dealing with seasonal dry eyes, this is a good choice because it won’t hurt or burn.
Pros
- Relieves irritants from dry eyes
- Requires fewer applications
- Easy to use bottle
- Won’t sting or burn
Cons
- Limited use
- Can cause calcium deposits
- Vet approval needed
4. Gold Medal Pets 41104 Clean Eyes
These eye drops aim to relieve redness, itchiness, and allergies, as well as removing debris from your dog’s eyes. It is still a safe choice for sensitive eyes to use when swimming in a chlorine pool, as there is no extra stinging or burning.
The ophthalmic solution, unfortunately, is not as successful as some of the other formulas. It’s just for mild irritants, and it’s better used as an eyewash. Not to note that filtered water is the active ingredient in this formula. It does contain boric acid, but it isn’t as concentrated as it should be.
The 4-ounce bottle is difficult to use and is not approved for scraping stains from fur or treating infections. You should also be mindful that the way the tip operates, as well as the less-than-stellar effectiveness, will easily weaken the bottle.
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Pros
- Okay to use on sensitive eyes
- Use to treat chlorine irritation
- Won’t sting or burn
Cons
- Not effective
- Mostly water
- The bottle is difficult to use
- Runs out quickly
5. OcluVet Eye Drops
To heal and protect the eye, this brand uses NAC antioxidants. However, you should be conscious that this substance does not function as marketed. It has little or no effect on even moderate cataracts, and it does nothing to eliminate them.
Furthermore, certain dogs’ eyes are irritated by this formula, but not always. It’s important to remember that it can induce redness, as well as burning and stinging. Not just that, but the bottle is difficult to use, and you must avoid allowing your pet to lick all of it.
In the bright side, the 16ml bottle will last for four months. It will even assist with minor allergies and irritants in the eyes provided it does not irritate the dog’s eyes.
Pros
- Four-month supply
- Can help with mild irritants
Cons
- Not effective
- The bottle is hard to use
- Can sting and burn
- Non-lick formula
6. NHV Ey-EAS Natural Eye Drops
Last but not least, there are the NHV Ey natural eye drops. This antibiotic and anti-inflammatory formula claims to relieve everything from allergies to dirt, swelling, and itching. It’s even intended to assist with hair stains and eye discharge.
Although this substance is natural, some of the ingredients aren’t ideal for treating eye irritations. Chamomile, goldenseal, rosemary, and eyebright are also used in this formula. These eye drops will actually itch, burn, irritate, and cause redness in the eyes. Worse still, it is ineffective in treating any of the ailments mentioned.
Aside from that, the 1-ounce bottle doesn’t last for long, and the directions recommend using a full dropper multiple times per day. Worse, the glass applicator is difficult to use and highly fragile, making any pet owner nervous. Finally, since this solution has no additives or preservatives, it must be kept in the refrigerator.
Overall, if your dog suffers from eye irritation, one of the other products on the list will have further comfort.
Pros
- Natural
Cons
- Not effective
- Burns and stings
- The bottle is hard to use
- Glass dropper is fragile
- Need to use a lot
- Must keep refrigerated
Conclusion:
You can see by the above that dog eye drops are important for your dog’s eyesight and ocular clarity. Daily use of these items will improve your dog’s eyesight, as well as address cataracts and other eye problems.
Tear stains, infection, irritation, discharge, and dry eye are all common issues in dogs’ eyes. Regularly look at the dog’s eyes. Their pupils should be fair and reactive, and their eyes should be bright and clear. The base third eyelid should be retracted.
If you notice discharge, it may be an irritation, an eye infection, or even glaucoma. If the discharge is yellow-green or pus-like, it can indicate a more severe eye infection, such as conjunctivitis. If you are confused or if something seems to be incorrect, call the veterinarian right away.