My dog has an ear infection. Can I use eye drops? Is it an emergency?

This could definitely be a problem, since ear medications are not formulated for use in the eye and can be very irritating. If you have some plain saline eye wash on hand, flush his eye out immediately - then, I would recommend having him seen by a vet as soon as possible. The biggest risk is that he may develop a corneal ulcer, which can be severe in some cases and could cause permanent damage or vision loss. Your vet can evaluate the eye to make sure that all of the medication has been rinsed out, and will probably send you home with prescription eye meds to help heal the cornea if there is an injury.

Yes, it can hurt. You don't know if the dog's ear drum is intact, and putting medication into an ear with a ruptured ear drum is bad. In addition, ear infections can be caused by ear mites and bacteria as well as yeast, so this prescription medication may not work anyway. Do not give it to Ben. I can give some resources that may help him afford a vet. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Check out these resources to see if they can help him. In honesty, if he cannot afford a vet visit for an ear infection, then maybe keeping her isn't a good idea. I hope this helps.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Emmie! Unfortunately most ear drops that will do anything are prescription only. The most common reason, especially after grooming and ear hair plucking, for a red itchy ear is an ear infection. Ear infections are caused by an overgrowth of yeast and or bacteria. Emmie needs to see a Vet for an exam and for an ear cytology, this is when the vet looks at the ear discharge under the microscope to see the underlying cause. Ear flush and medicated ear drops are prescribed based on the organism seen under the microscope. If the ear is really painful and red then sometime steroids are prescribed. Below is a non-prescription ear cleaner that is antimicrobial you can try. Flush out the affected ear(s) every other day for 2 weeks. If the ear is not better or worsens she need to see a Vet. Good luck https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27361

No, I'm afraid I would not recommend this - you should never put any kind of medication in your dog's ear unless directed by your vet after examining the ear. This is because if the ear drum is damaged, many products are not safe to use and can cause nerve damage or hearing loss. You can gently clean the ear with a cotton ball or washcloth to help remove some of the discharge and make Dexter more concerned until you are able to see the vet.

I would take Shay into a vet now. Any eye infection should be considered an emergency, as leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. The vet can prescribe an antibiotic eye ointment to treat the infection.

It's not an immediate emergency but it is definitely very uncomfortable and painful, if you have the option to take him today to the out of hours vet i would recommend doing that, otherwise take him to your vet first thing tomorrow morning.

If ear infections are left untreated, they can lead to hearing loss. Unfortunately this cannot be treated at home without prescription medication, but a vet should see you for this problem. Give your vet a call.