When and How to Clean your Cat or Dog's Eyes?

While dogs and cats aren't always on the same page, there is one area where they are on an equal footing: eye care. Why is it important? When should you take action? How do you properly clean your dog or cat's eyes? Let's take a look at the best way to allow our four-legged friends to continue to make eyes at us.

Why should you clean your pet's eyes?

A question of hygiene and comfort

From an anatomical point of view, the eye of a Dog or Cat is composed of the same structure as that of a human being (the cornea, the lens, the iris, the retina, etc.), and functions in the same way. Just like us, the dog or cat secretes tears through the lacrimal duct. These are essential for the functioning of the eye.

Tears are a component of the tear film whose mission is to keep the eye moist, to protect it from irritation, and to evacuate foreign bodies such as dust. Indeed, thanks to the lubrication provided by the mucus in the tear film, they are directed to the corner of the eye and then expelled through the tears.

In an animal, slight tearing may occasionally occur, especially in species that have very active tear glands (e.g. poodle, bichon). This is generally harmless, but it promotes the creation of unsightly crusts at the corners of the eyes. Irritations may appear, which can eventually hamper the dog's and cat's vision. This is why cleaning the eyes of dogs and cats is important for their comfort and hygiene.

A preventive gesture

Besides the purely aesthetic and hygienic aspect, cleaning your cat or dog's eyes is an opportunity to check that everything is fine.

Detecting tear duct dysfunction

In dogs or cats, slight occasional tearing is quite common. However, even if it is often harmless when it persists, it can be a sign of a blockage in the tear duct. The latter's mission is to promote the flow of tears through the nose. When it is blocked, the flow is only through the eyes, which causes significant tearing. In the presence of this phenomenon, it is, therefore, advisable to consult a veterinarian so that the latter can proceed to unblock your animal's tear ducts.

Spotting a symptom of eye disease

Properly cleaning your dog or cat's eyes is also a satisfying way to ensure the good health of their vision. Indeed, just like humans, animals can be victims of different eye diseases such as cataracts, conjunctivitis, retinal detachment, etc.

Several symptoms can alert you to a possible eye condition: a red eye, thick discharge, swelling, etc. In all cases, when you notice an abnormality in the eyes when cleaning them, we recommend that you seek advice from a veterinary specialist.

When to clean your dog or cat's eyes?

Eyes are sensitive organs, and getting too close to them can be distressing. Already, as a human, it is often a sensitive subject. So, for an animal that reacts on instinct, it is particularly delicate. It can easily become frightened and struggle if you try to approach its eyes, while it is not used to Grooming gestures.

This is why we recommend that you start this grooming ritual from the earliest age of your dog or cat.

Frequency varies depending on the breed

For animals that do not have any particularities that could cause eye problems, eye care can only be carried out when the need arises (occasional tearing, and crusting at the corners of the eyes). In all cases, it is important to regularly monitor for the slightest sign, without taking action if no abnormality is apparent.

On the other hand, some dogs or cats require more frequent eye cleaning. These include those with a morphology conducive to tear duct dysfunction. These are mainly breeds with short muzzles or flat noses that are affected. For dogs, we can for example cite the Yorkshire, the Bichon, and the Pekingese.

Additionally, long-haired animals also require more frequent grooming, due to the discomfort they may experience from hair growing around the eyes.

For these special cases, it is advisable to carry out eye care once or twice a week.

After a walk in the countryside with his dog

It's no secret that our four-legged friends love to romp in tall grass and roll around on the ground. Dust often doesn't bother them. However, it's not uncommon for a grain or foreign body to take advantage of this to lodge in the eye. That's why, after a long walk in the forest or when your pet comes back from outside after a long absence, don't hesitate to pay attention to the slightest sign that could indicate discomfort in the eyes (watering, itching, red eye, etc.).

Dog/cat eye care: how to do it?

Which product and accessories to use?

First of all, you should know that no eye drops or eye treatment should be administered to an animal without having been prescribed by a veterinarian.

To effectively clean your companion's eyes, two types of products can be used:

• Dedicated eye-cleaning milk or lotions;
• Physiological serum.

In terms of accessories, only compresses are recommended for treating a dog's eyes safely. However, certain care utensils should be avoided :

• The cotton swab could injure the animal if it moves;
• The cotton disc, the filaments of which could be inserted into the eye.

Method for cleaning your pet's eyes: the steps to follow

Taking care of a dog or cat's eyes requires calm and gentle care. Here's how to do it:

1. Place your pet in a comfortable position and sit in front of him;
2. Lift his head back slightly;
3. Spread the upper eyelid using your fingers;
4. Add a few drops of saline solution or cleaning product (following the precautions for use);
5. Wipe off excess product with a compress without rubbing.