Eye Infection.

[TheMrs]

I have been looking online and I can't seem to find any info on this. My dog, Cesta, is a german shepherd rot. She is about 18 months old. Her shots are up to date and she is a pretty happy dog. Unfortunately today she woke up with a red eye. I found that dogs can get pink eye and that it can be passed to humans, is this something i need to worry about? I have a 5 y/o daughter who loves on her. The eye itself is pink, the cornor toward the nose is slightly inflamed. About two weeks ago she started with a mucus coming out of both eyes in the morning. I used to have a cocker so I wiped it away and paid no mind. Didn't think twice about it. Now i am extremely worried about my baby. I know I have to take her to the vet so please don't yell at me to do that....It takes awhile to get her into the vet here.....long story. So any ideas on what to do in the mean time? I am using saline drops to keep it clean but is there anything otc that i can get for her? Anyone have any ideas about what this may be?

[Saje]

No worries on this forum. We don't do any yelling. :) I have problems with my rabbits and vets ... long story. So I understand.

I, however, don't have any useful advice but I will get the attention of a couple people who can probably help more.

[TheMrs]

thanks! I used to raise rabbits as a kid...my daughter wants one.....no way would I ever have another rabbit. So I give you props.

[Saje]

lol they are delicate creatures and not advisable for kids! Not that it can't work of course. But I love mine. :)

[Ash47]

Hi Mrs. Don't worry, we won't yell. If you need/have to wait awhile before getting her to the vet, then you could go and get an eye patch at the people pharmacy. The kind that kind of wraps around your head you know, like a pirate? When you get home, rinse the infected eye with a warm-water soaked washrag. The saline should be fine to continue putting in there. So after rinsing with the warm water, rinse his eye with the saline. If you are sure that the patch is completely disinfected, place the patch over his eye. You could keep doing this until you get to the vet. Maybe change it out every 3 or 4 hours.
This is just a suggestion. Something you could try if you wanted. I'm sure others will have some great ideas! :) Welcome to chazhound.

[Renee750il]

Is it saline you're using, or an eyewash (not Visine or anything medicated of course)? An eyewash like you'd use for contact lens wearers will help keep it rinsed out, which is a big part of the battle. There are also betadine eye drops - not the standard betadine solution, one specifically for eyes. Get a small squirt bottle and dilute some of that with the sterile eye wash and it should help fight back the infection until you can get your pup to the vet.

It will be a good idea to try to keep your daughter from petting the dog too much, especially around the head. I know it's not possible - and not really good - to keep her away completely, so get her to understand that she needs to wash her hands very thoroughly - with soap - after petting the dog. Tell her to sing "Happy Birthday" while she's soaping, and repeat it while she rinses. Her hands should be pretty germ free that way.

[Debi]

I have a friend that owns a shepherd that seems to be prone to eye infections. It requires vet attention for an eyewash....but it isn't pink eye, so while I know you will keep your daughter away best you can...maybe it's not a worry. WELCOME......nobody would ever yell here. I know I've had to wait to see the vet. Sometimes my vet gets really busy and naturally he takes the emergency cases first. Sounds like you received good advice til you get there.

[TheMrs]

first...yeah its contact saline drops. I'm thinking it may have just been something in there cause looking at her today she has no redness what so ever. The cornor is back to normal. She still has a lil mucus coming out of both eyes, but no more than a morning eye type of thing. I live in NM and its the season of dust storms so chances are she got a good amount of dirt in her eye. I am going to keep drops in her eyes and monitor for the next week and see how shes doing. Thanks for all the great advice! I really needed it...I was so worried. She's my baby.

[Renee750il]

Sounds like you've got it figured out and it makes perfect sense. I wouldn't worry too much, just keep an eye on it like you're doing. ;)