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Whether your dog has tear stains or just “gunky” eye boogers, it's important for every dog owner to learn how to clean dog's eyes. This is a crucial part of caring for and grooming your dog. Dirt and debris near the eyes could lead to infection, which is very dangerous.
A dog's eyes are just as sensitive as ours. You probably wipe gunk from your eyes multiple times per day. Cleaning your dog's eyes daily will not only keep your pet looking his best, but it will keep him comfortable too.
When looking for eye care grooming products for the dog, it's important that you find products that are safe for your pet. If the grooming supplies that you choose are made with harsh chemicals, dyes or fragrances, they could do more harm than good. This is especially important to remember when you're selecting tear stain removers and other dog eye care supplies that will be used on a dog's face.
Over-the-counter products are available to remove tear stains and clean your dog's face. When it comes to cleaning dogs eyes, I recommend using a 100% safe saline solution and/or grooming wipes that are safe for the dog's eyes.
How to Clean Dog's Eyes
1. Trim a Dog's Facial Hair First
Before you begin to learn how to clean a dog's eyes, you may need to consider trimming the hair around his face. If your dog has long face hair, trimming it is a matter of hygiene and safety. It could cause eye irritation, pain and eye infections if left untrimmed.
Dog's facial hair also makes it much easier for dust, dirt or debris to get into your his eyes. Untrimmed hair could also result in the development of tear stains. To trim the hair on the dog's face, I recommend using scissors. Clippers move too fast, which could ultimately injure your pet.
I've made a video guide about trimming face hair, if you need a step-by-step guide.
2. Flush the Eyes
Cleaning the eyes themselves should be done with a natural dog eye wash like Cliny or saline solution like Burt's Bees used to flush the eye (see above picture).
Ideally, you should have a second person with you to help restrain your dog and keep him calm. Even the most mellow dogs don't like to have someone working near their eyes.
After the flush, you'll need to wipe and clean around the dog's eyes. Moisten a cotton ball with the same solution and wipe to clean away dirt and debris. This will also remove any cut hairs that have fallen near your dog eyes.
3. Dog Tear Stains
If your dog suffers from tear stains, they can be quite difficult to remove sometimes. As I mentioned, you can purchase commercial tear stain remover like Wrinkle Paste at your local pet store or make your own homemade tear stain remover.
Epiphora is the veterinary term for excessive tear production. It's the most common cause of tear stains in dogs. One misconception about epiphora is that tear stains only occur in light colored breeds. That is not true, because many other breeds can also get tear stains around their eyes.
Learning how to clean dogs eyes isn't difficult, but you do have to be very careful. If you have questions or would like to watch a professional do it first, ask a local dog groomer or your veterinarian for some tips and tricks on safe practices.
READ NEXT: My Dog Has Red Eyes – Here's Why and What To Do
Best Supplies for Cleaning a Dog's Eyes
There's a number of dog eye care products available, and some of them are better, safer and more effective than others. A few of my favorite eye washes for dogs that are also beloved by other pet owners are recommended by veterinarians are these brands below.
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Vetericyn Plus Dog and Cat Eye Wash | Eye Drops... | 13,486 Reviews | Check Price |
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Nutri-Vet Eye Rinse for Dogs - Gentle Formula to... | 8,730 Reviews | Check Price |
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Burt's Bees for Pets Dogs Natural Eye Wash with... | 3,717 Reviews | Check Price |
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Cat & Dog Eye Wash Drops & Tear Stain Remover,... | 8,235 Reviews | Check Price |
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Squishface Wrinkle Paste - Bulldog, French... | 16,082 Reviews | Check Price |
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