My dog's eyes are red and itchy. Is it allergies or something serious?

Isabella needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. Signs like this are concerning for a scratch on the eye or something trapped in the eye. These conditions are not only very painful but they can also get worse quickly. She also needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times to stop any rubbing. Have her examined quickly so she is out of pain and gets the correct treatment.

Hello and thank you for your questions about Rouge. If the discharge is yellow or green, this often indicates an eye infection. In general, if the discharge continues for longer than 3 days, if she is squinting, if she is pawing or rubbing at the eye or if the eye is very red, she should go to the veterinarian. If the discharge is white, opaque or greyish, it could indicate allergies. You may try a trial of over the counter antihistamine like Benedryl or Zyrtec. Don't use any type of eye drop for allergies for humans in dogs (these often burn) but you can use an artificial tear (like Genteal) 3 times a day to see if it helps. If there is not a change after 7 days, I also recommend to have Rouge examined as she may need testing of her tear glands and maybe stronger medication. Continue to gently clean around the eyes. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to an eye injury or conditions such as a corneal laceration, corneal ulcer, conjunctivitis, dry eye (also known as KCS), among many other conditions. I suspect that the scratching is due to allergies. I highly recommend that you have Bodhi evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Further therapy would be based on the findings. Good luck and best wishes!

Ouch! This looks pretty irritated now. Ada could be having an allergic reaction to something, have chronic allergies that are starting for the season, or even have an issue with her immune system. I would recommend putting and e-collar (cone) on her tonight so that she can't rub her face and damage her eye and schedule an appointment for tomorrow with her regular vet. If she can't get comfortable this evening, or you don't have an e-collar, err on the side of caution and take her to an emergency clinic. Good luck and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Please let me know if this was helpful information.

He looks to be generally itchy. I'm suspicious of allergies causing this, but it could be due to mange, fleas, or other causes. The eye may be a separate problem, or related to the allergies. Without seeing it, it's difficult to tell the cause of this, or the severity, but the fact that it's swollen shut warrants a visit to the vet. I recommend having him seen by a vet within the next 24 hours to prevent serious complications with the eye. The vet can also help narrow-down the cause of the itch and provide medication to help give him some relief. One thing you can do for itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. For now, you can flush the eye with normal saline. Saline flush can be bought at the pharmacy, or supermarket in the eye care section. Flush the eye 3-4 times daily and gently wipe away the discharge with a warm/moist cotton or cloth. Below is a link to a good video that demonstrates how to flush the eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lXVNMcPzhs I hope that helps and Roscoe gets better soon.

An e-collar (cone) would be the best way to prevent scratching or rubbing. The end off the cone should extend at least two inches beyond the tip of the nose. Ask your veterinarian for a dose for an over the counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl or Zyrtec. Either can be used In dogs to control itching and other symptoms of allergies.

Do not give any or apply anything into Oliver's eyes without the advice of your veterinarian. Contact your vet about giving an antihistamine in addition to Apoquel to Oliver for relief. There are OTC antihistamines that can be used in dogs as well as several prescription options. Discuss dosing with your vet as, legally, we are unable to recommend medications and dosing in the absence of a patient-vet-client relationship and a physical exam.