Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Dog got apple cider vinegar in eye from flea bath. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female

I was washing my dog with water and apple cider vinegar to remove fleas, they were mixed and unintentionally it has entered my dog's eye, it has not presented any symptoms and her eyes looks ok, but I am worried.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 20th, 2018

It's best if you can flush under the eyelid with normal saline. Saline flush can be bought at the pharmacy, or supermarket in the eye care section. You can make saline at home with salt and water if you don't have any, or you can't buy any. Below is a link to a saline recipe:

https://intermountainhealthcare.org/ext/Dcmnt?ncid=520684503

Flush the eye for one minute and gently wipe away the discharge with a warm/moist cotton or cloth. This can be repeated daily as needed. Below is a link to a good video that demonstrates how to flush the eye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lXVNMcPzhs

The vinegar bath may help to remove some fleas, but is not expected to rid her of the infestation. It can also be very damaging to the skin and make things worse. There are better options for treating fleas and a local vet would be the best person to ask.

Treating for fleas is not just restricted to the host, because fleas can reproduce and nest in the environment and continually cause an issue. Below is a link to a short article that explains the best way to treat your dog and environment for fleas:

https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/

I hope that helps and all is well with Sky.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My dog got flea shampoo in eye. How to treat irritation and pain?

Poor pup! Flea shampoo can be extremely irritating and may even cause chemical burns or corneal ulcers in the eye due to the chemicals in it. You can try to help by rinsing his eye thoroughly with plain saline eye wash, or plain warm water if you don't have any eye wash handy. After that, if the eye continues to look red and irritated, he really needs to be seen by a vet for treatment - if he does have a burn or corneal ulcer, he will need prescription eye drops to treat the problem.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog got vinegar in her eye, now it's swollen and gooey. What to do?

I am so sorry to hear about your pup. I would highly recommend a trip to the vet today (emergency vet if yours is not open) to ensure no damage was done to the cornea that requires treatment, as vinegar is an acid and could be very irritating. Her eye is likely quite painful as well and they can prescribe medication to help with the discomfort.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What to do if my dog has fluff or something stuck in their eye?

Hello. So sorry that Frodo is having this issue. You can certainly try to rinse the eye with saline solution. You can buy it at any chemist. Just like you would use for humans: http://www.pharmacyonline.com.au/reclens-normal-saline-500ml?icn=SLI-Search&ici=Reclens%20Normal%20Saline%20500ml Rinse the eye thoroughly with it open and then close the eyelids and massage gently. If the "fluff" does not come off then you should take him in to your vet for an exam. You don't want to mess around too much with an eye at home because you can really injure the eye if you do not know what you are doing. What you think is "fluff" may actually be a foreign object in the cornea or something worse. I hope this helps. Best wishes, Dr. Amber

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Can I clean my dog's eye with salt water if I don't have saline?

You can make your own saline at home. Below is a link to an article with a good saline recipe: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/ext/Dcmnt?ncid=520684503 Below is a link to a good video that demonstrates how to flush the eye if that's what you are using it for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lXVNMcPzhs I hope that helps and all is well with Herbie.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My puppy got shampoo in eye, third eyelid showing. What should I do?

The protrusion of the third eyelid is common when the eye is in pain. I'm a bit worried that the saltwater may have caused this if the salt content was too high. Saline is a salt water solution, but is balanced in a certain way. I only recommend flushing the eye with saline (can find at the pharmacy or supermarket in the eye care section). Below is a link to a saline recipe: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/ext/Dcmnt?ncid=520684503 This can be done three times a day. His eye should return to normal within 24 hours if it was not badly damaged by the soap or salt water. If his eye still looks abnormal after two days, then it would be best to have a vet examine him. I hope that helps and Luxe gets better soon.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

What should I do if my dog has a small foreign object in its eye?

Tilt your dog's head back and hold open the eyelid with your thumb and forefinger or middle finger. Flush the eye for 10 to 15 minutes using cool water, or preferably a sterile saline eyewash or artificial tears. To flush the eye, hold the bottle of saline solution/artificial tears directly above the eye and squirt a gentle but steady stream of fluid into the eye. Or you can soak a wad of cotton in the water/solution and squeeze it into the eye repeatedly. If the foreign body cannot be removed by irrigation, seek veterinary attention.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Flea in my Yorkie's eye: Can I use contact lens solution to rinse?

I would use a sterile saline solution to rinse out her eyes. The eye solution used for contacts may contain ingredients that are not safe to use in Toodie's eyes or can irritate them. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share