How to Clean Your Dog’s Eyes

Eyes are sensitive organs. Consider how distracting it is when your eyes won’t stop itching from a cold or allergies, or how painful that teeny, tiny speck of dirt is against your cornea. The same is true for our dogs.

While some breeds are more prone to eye issues more than others due to their eye and eyelid anatomy – including Pugs, Maltese, Pekingese, Boxers, Bulldogs, and St. Bernards – any dog can develop eye irritation from a variety of everyday causes, including:

  • Allergies
  • Dust and dirt
  • Infection
  • Tear duct blockage
  • Injuries

Signs of Eye Irritation

Your dog’s healthy eye should appear clear and shiny, with a sheen of moisture. The white of the eye should be bright white. If the eye appears yellow or bloodshot, there may be a problem.

Other signs of eye irritation include:

  • Excessive tear stains
  • Pawing at the eye
  • Squinting
  • Discharge in the inner corners (this can be normal, but if other symptoms are present, there may be a bigger issue)
  • Pus or mucous
  • Excessively dry or excessively watery
  • Difficulty seeing

Because the eye is so sensitive, it’s a good idea to contact your veterinarian if your dog has a visible foreign object in their eye, a change in what’s “normal” for them, or suddenly seems to be losing sight.

Your dog’s eyes naturally produce tears that are meant to keep dust particles and debris out. Still, sometimes, particularly for dogs who have underlying conditions that cause dry eye, they can benefit from additional help. Our non-toxic, made-in-the-USA Curicyn Eye Care Solution can help. Applying it not only helps cleanse your dog’s eye, but also helps soothe irritation, remove bacteria, and reduce redness. It’s based on our Original Formula but specially made for your pet’s sensitive eyes, and it comes in an easy-to-use 2 oz. dropper bottle.

How to Clean Your Dog’s Eyes

The first step is to clean around the eye to remove any debris, mucus, or discharge. Use a clean, soft cloth or a soft cotton ball dipped in room-temperature water to very gently clean around the eye, making sure to never touch the eye itself. Remember, the eye and the socket around the eye are delicate, and they must always be handled with care.

To apply Curicyn Eye Care Solution drops, gently hold your dog so they can’t back away. Many dogs aren’t any happier about drops going in their eyes than many people are! One option is to kneel and place your dog between your knees with their back to you. You can also use a couch or wall to back them against.

Once your dog is in place, you should have both hands free to hold your dog’s head. Use the hand not holding the dropper to gently tilt your dog’s chin up toward the ceiling. Brace the hand with the eye drops on top of your dog’s head and, keeping the dropper away from your dog’s eye for safety, squeeze out a few drops, aiming for the middle of the eye. Make sure the dropper never touches the surface of your dog’s eye.

Your dog will blink, moving our Eye Care Solution around the eye. Release your dog with praise and petting, and don’t forget to reward their patience with a treat! If excess solution gets on your dog’s face, wipe gently with a clean cloth.

If you have questions about our Eye Care Solution or any other products, let us know