Can Dogs Get Pink Eye?
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye,” can be a real pain in the ... eye. Just like people, dogs can get pink eye. How a dog's eye or eyes become infected can be the result of a virus, bacteria, foreign body, parasite or allergies. With so many ways for your pup's eyes to become infected, treatment varies.
How to Spot Pink Eye
Pink eye, in both humans and canines, is an irritation or inflammation of the white part of the eyeball called the conjunctiva.1 The most common symptom is redness, which is why conjunctivitis is called pink eye. A dog's eye, however, is different from a human's eye because the conjunctiva is usually less visible. The telltale sign of redness in the eye can be missed even if you spend hours lovingly staring into your dog's eyes. But there are other symptoms of canine conjunctivitis that you can look out for.
Pink Eye Symptoms in Dogs
In addition to redness or bloodshot eyes, symptoms of conjunctivitis in dogs may include:2
- Puffy eyelids
- Watery eyes
- Unusual discharge (clear or containing mucus or pus)
- Crustiness
- Eyelids sticking together
- Swelling around the eyes
- Excessive blinking and/or squinting
If you notice your dog constantly pawing at his eyes, that probably warrants a trip to the vet to rule out pink eye or some other problem. If you suspect that your dog may have pink eye, it is important that a veterinarian conduct a complete eye exam to rule out other eye diseases as well as properly check for conjunctivitis.
The most obvious symptom, however, is any unusual behavior by your dog related to his eyes. We all know how our dogs behave “normally", so don't ignore strange behavior. Your dog is probably trying to tell you something.
Canine Conjunctivitis Causes
Canine conjunctivitis can be caused by many things including:
- An injury to the eye
- Allergies
- A virus
- A parasite
- Cancers
- Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), which is also known as canine dry eye. Like human dry eye, this impairs a dog's natural ability to produce tears and keep the eyes properly lubricated.
Is Dog Pink Eye Contagious?
A common question about canine pink eye is whether it is contagious and whether a human can contract pink eye from a dog and vice versa. After all, pink eye is famously known for being highly contagious. While there is some debate concerning these questions, like most diseases, “an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”
Contagious vs Non-contagious Pink Eye
In general, canine conjunctivitis can be either contagious or non-contagious. Contagious conjunctivitis is caused by bacteria, a virus, or sometimes a parasite while non-contagious conjunctivitis is caused by allergies or an eye injury. While contagious conjunctivitis is rarer for dogs, the disease is believed to be contagious. It can be spread through casual contact with the infected eye or infected discharge. Less clear is whether the disease is species specific.
Pink Eye Between Humans and Dogs
So can you give pink eye to your dog? According to some pet health professionals, dogs can get pink eye from humans. So, keep your infected eye discharge away from your dog! Pet care professionals, however, are less certain that humans can contract pink eye from dogs.3
In other words, they don't see “eye-to-eye" on this issue. As for dog-to-dog transfer of pink eye: Just like their two-legged friends, canine conjunctivitis is generally believed to be contagious between dogs. Dogs, like humans, can spread pink eye when they come in contact with infected secretions that contain the bacteria or virus causing conjunctivitis.
Routine Care Can Prevent Eye Infections
Good overall pet care will reduce the chance of your dog contracting pink eye as well as disease in general. That includes:
- A good diet
- Plenty of exercise
- Routine vaccinations
- Regular grooming
Optional routine care coverage offered through pet insurance can help reduce the cost of these routine checkups. Another good habit is to wash your dog's face to remove debris and always wash your hands after contact with your dog's face, food and water bowls, and toys.
Types of Pink Eye in Dogs
Dogs can contract several different types of pink eye, including bacterial, viral and allergic conjunctivitis.
Bacterial Conjunctivitis
As with cases of human pink eye, bacterial conjunctivitis in dogs is difficult to prevent since bacteria is everywhere and the eyes attract bacteria. Keep the area around your dog's eyes clean and make sure to remove any discharge or crusting from the eyes. Most dogs will have some discharge or crusting. Pay attention to how your dog's body works and be on the alert for unusual discharge. This can look different in color or there may be more discharge than usual.
Generally, if your dog is diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis, the treatment will likely include antibiotic eye drops or ointment prescribed by your vet. Administering any type of medication, particularly eye drops, can be challenging. Make sure to ask your vet for tips to properly give your dog eye drops. Also, discuss treatment options so the veterinarian can identify the best type of medication for your dog. Most antibiotics can be administered in different forms including eye drops, ointments and pills.
Viral Conjunctivitis
Similarly, viral conjunctivitis is also difficult to prevent and can result from a cold or respiratory infection. The best defense against viral conjunctivitis is to ensure your dog is healthy overall. Proper diet and exercise so your dog's natural immune system stays strong can help keep them healthy. However, if your dog is diagnosed with viral conjunctivitis, the treatment will likely consist of steroid eye drops and perhaps artificial tears to help keep the eyes clear of discharge or crust. This will also ease your dog's discomfort as the medication kicks in.
Allergic Conjunctivitis
Some dogs develop pink eye due to allergies. Make sure you are taking steps to keep your house free of dust, dander, pollen and mold, which can trigger allergies. Learn to identify irritants that trigger your dog's allergies such as perfumes, smoke, foods, grass and plants. Just like humans, keep your dog's eyes clean of dust, dirt and other particles that cause eye irritation. If allergies lead to pink eye, your veterinarian will probably prescribe an antihistamine or an anti-inflammatory drug as well as steroid eye drops and artificial tears. A cold compress will help relieve irritation in cases of canine conjunctivitis due to allergies.
Conjunctivitis Treatment & Getting Rid of Your Dog's Pink Eye
The type of pink eye treatment for your pup will depend on what's causing those itchy eyes.4 However, medication costs, regardless of type, fall into a similar price range, between $10-$60 per medication plus any exam fees charged by your veterinarian.5
Bacterial Conjunctivitis Treatment
Topical antibiotics are the most commonly recommended treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis. And that means eyes drops! For tips on how to give your pup drops to soothe their itchy infection, keep reading. In addition to drops, your vet may prescribe pills (oral antibiotics) and anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling.
Viral Conjunctivitis Treatment
Unfortunately, not much can be done to treat viral conjunctivitis. Antioxidants may help boost the immune system, but typically time and gentle cleansing are the most effective treatment.
Allergic Conjunctivitis Treatment
Eye drops are often prescribed to help dogs with allergic conjunctivitis, but typically they're steroidal rather than an antibiotic. Your vet may recommend pills instead (oral steroids), including antihistamines if they have other allergy symptoms in addition to pink eye.
How to Give Your Dog Eye Drops
Not surprisingly, the treatment for canine conjunctivitis will depend on how your dog developed pink eye. If eye drops are prescribed, there are several ways to help administer the medication properly and safely.
Here's what to do:
- First, gently clean the area around your dog's eyes with a soft, clean, damp cloth.
- Second, hold the dog firmly and close to your body, so the dog cannot move. You may need assistance to restrain your dog. A familiar family member or friend is ideal. Proper restraint will not harm your dog; and in fact, will help prevent injury.
- Next, wrap one arm around the dog's shoulder and use your arm to lift the chin upward so the eyes are looking up. With the same hand, gently open the dog's eye by pulling the eyelid downward to create a little pouch below the dog's eyeball.
- Administer the number of drops as prescribed into the pouch. Be careful not to let the tip of the bottle touch the dog's eye.
- Finally, let the dog go. His natural movement and blinking will cause the medication to spread evenly over the eye. Don't forget to wash your hands thoroughly before and after administering eye drops and remain calm. Dogs can react to a human's mood, so approach this task with the right mindset and your dog will follow your lead.
Of course, this may require some practice as you and your pet get comfortable with the process. Always ask your veterinarian for advice and make sure to consider your dog's age, size, health and overall demeanor when you administer medication. Don't let the challenges of administering eye drops or medication get in the way of proper treatment. Make sure the proper dosage is actually getting administered, so keep your eyes open!
Eye Injuries
If your dog experiences pink eye due to an injury, foreign object or debris infecting the eye, it is important to have a veterinarian examine your dog to ensure there is no damage to the cornea. An injury to the cornea is very serious and may be cured with medication, but could also require surgery. Most importantly, medications for pink eye may worsen an injury to the cornea and could cause blindness. It is important to consult with a pet care professional before administering any medication.
Never Use Human Medications for Dogs
It goes without saying that you should avoid diagnosing and treating your dog unless you are qualified. Importantly, medication for humans, including eye drops, are generally not the same for dogs. You should never treat your dog using human medication without consulting a pet care specialist first. Using the wrong eye drops could cause significant pain, damage and blindness.
Chronic Conjunctivitis
After a proper diagnosis and treatment plan have been identified, make sure to follow veterinarian instructions. Also make sure your dog does not paw, scratch or rub the affected area. Of course, the dog will want to do this, so you may have to use a cone to protect your dog from causing harm.
Chronic conjunctivitis may require additional diagnosis by your veterinarian, particularly if there is no obvious cause for each flare-up. This may require a bit of investigation on your part to record some day-to-day information and possible causes for the infection. Providing this information to your veterinarian will help identify appropriate treatment.
Chronic pink eye can cause more serious conditions as deeper layers are affected and other parts of the eye can be damaged by recurring conjunctivitis. Moreover, your dog is probably uncomfortable with each bout of pink eye.
Canine Conjunctivitis Recovery Time
Unfortunately, canine conjunctivitis is fairly common. Also, your dog may have pink eye or pink eyes; so, don't be fooled if symptoms appear in only one eye. Usually, when conjunctivitis is found in both eyes, the cause is a virus. When conjunctivitis is present in only one eye, it could be due to irritation, dry eye or an infected tear duct. Once treatment begins, improvement can be seen within a few days in most cases, but full recovery in some cases may take up to three weeks. More importantly, your dog will find relief almost immediately after eye drops are administered.
Vulnerable Dog Breeds
Some breeds are more prone to conjunctivitis than others due to hereditary factors or physicality. Poodles and Cocker Spaniels have a congenital predisposition to conjunctivitis and should be tested early (even before symptoms appear).6 Other breeds including Pugs and Pekingese are more susceptible to conjunctivitis due to their facial features. These features make their eyes more vulnerable to foreign bodies and irritants in the air. All of these breeds may require special attention to their eyes to prevent conjunctivitis as well as other diseases of the eye.
Fortunately, most dogs recover completely from conjunctivitis as long as diagnosis and treatment occur before the disease becomes advanced. In serious cases, the dog may be left with permanent damage to the eye, scars, or loss of the eye.
Like any pet disease, early diagnosis and treatment are vital (and Pets Best insurance can help when it comes to paying for unexpected vet expenses). Don't let a relatively treatable condition go unchecked or your dog will be telling you “eye told you so."
1. Hunter, T. and Ward, E., 2022. Conjunctivitis in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospital. [online] Vca. Available at: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/conjunctivitis-in-dogs[Accessed 25 August 2022].
2. Memphisveterinaryspecialists.com. 2022. Symptoms of Conjunctivitis in Dogs | Memphis Veterinary Specialists & Emergency | Cordova Oncology for Pets. [online] Available at: https://www.memphisveterinaryspecialists.com/site/blog-cordova/2021/02/15/symptoms-conjunctivitis-in-dogs [Accessed 25 August 2022].
3. B., M., 2022. [online] Aspcapetinsurance.com. Available at: https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/can-dogs-get-pink-eye/ [Accessed 25 August 2022].
4. Grzyb, K., 2022. Conjunctivitis in Dogs (Pink Eye) | PetMD. [online] Petmd.com. Available at: https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/eyes/c_dg_conjunctivitis [Accessed 25 August 2022].
5. Chewy.com. 2022. Eye Medicine for Dogs: Eye Infection Drops for Dogs (Ships Free) | Chewy RX. [online] Available at: https://www.chewy.com/b/eye-medicine-11570 [Accessed 25 August 2022].
6. Bauhaus, J., 2022. Caring for Dogs With Conjunctivitis. [online] Hills Pet. Available at: https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/healthcare/conjunctivitis-and-pink-eye-in-dogs [Accessed 25 August 2022].