Why do dogs have pus in their eyes – strange discharge from the eyes can cause owners concern, especially if it has changed colour or has a different consistency than usual. Usually, the cause of eye discharge in dogs can be the fact that a foreign body appeared in the eye, the dust got under the eyelid, trivial infection, but also conjunctivitis or another disease. Why do dogs have abscessed eyes and in what situations can we cope with home remedies, and when do we need to seek help from a specialist?
An abscessed eye in a dog – a dog’s eye discharge may be caused by dust, dirt or other debris that gets under the eyelid.
Eye discharge in a dog can be a reaction to the presence of a foreign body under the eyelid. This can happen when a fly falls under the eyelid, an eyelash or a blade of grass gets under the eyelid.
Damp eyes in a dog may also be a symptom of a disease. The reason why a dog’s eyes started to swell is sometimes a trivial infection, other times conjunctivitis, but it can also be caused by corneal damage.
- Conjunctivitis – happens to dogs relatively often. Characteristic symptoms are red, pus-filled eyes in the dog and itching.
- Corneal damage – purulent discharge from a dog’s eyes that are inflamed and tearing strongly can lead to corneal damage – especially if the dog’s eye has been festering for a long time and the pet has trouble opening its eyelids, squints and has photophobia.
- Allergies – sometimes allergies are the cause of an abscessed eye in a dog, in which case the whole body itches. The best way to deal with food allergies is to change your diet. Look for hydrolysed protein in the food. Only this type of protein preparation protects your dog from the effects of an allergy. Hydrolysis is a process that breaks down the molecular bonds between proteins, making them more friendly to an allergic dog.
What to do if your dog’s eyes are festering? How to treat the causes of an eye abscess in a dog and not just the symptoms
Animals cannot tell us what hurts them or what ails them. The basis of good care is careful observation of the dog. Appearing eye discharge in a dog can be of various types. One time, pus-filled eyes may resemble tearing. The pus-filled eyes may be red, inflamed and swollen and covered with a sticky discharge. An eye discharge in a dog can be treated with home remedies as long as you see the symptoms slowly disappear. However, if the discharge from your dog’s eyes turns yellow-green or thickens, it’s a sign that the condition is getting worse! Then we should put our pet in the hands of a specialist. Preferably a veterinary surgeon with a specialization in ophthalmology.
Home remedies for abscessed eyes in a dog
First of all, the discharge from your dog’s eyes should be removed regularly and systematically. It’s best to wash the pus-filled eyes with a sterile cotton swab soaked in boiled water, black tea essence or a pharmacy-bought saline solution. You can also use a liquid available in a pet shop, which thoroughly cleans the eye and has an antibacterial effect.
What should I keep in mind?
If there is no improvement after 24 hours, it is better to seek professional help. An infected eye in a dog may be a symptom of another disease. What can a vet recommend? Your dog may need to be treated with an antibiotic ointment or tablets for its festering eyes. Your dog may have an abscess in one eye, in which case we must take special care of hygiene so as not to spread the infection to the other eye.
