Dogs can easily get eye infections. As they scratch around their eye area, they can easily transfer bacteria and germs onto their eyes. Also, dogs love spending time outdoors in the tall grass and places where there are a lot of factors that can lead to eye infections.

If your dog's eyes are red, itchy, swollen, closed partially, or having a discharge that is white, yellow, or greenish, then your dog most likely has an eye infection. You can contact your veterinarian and ask for advice, but before you do that, you can try some home remedies. One way to lessen the redness and inflammation and soothe the infected eye is to clean it with cool water that had been previously boiled to make it free of any bacteria. Before you start cleaning the eye, wash your hands with soap first to disinfect them. After the water has cooled, take a cotton ball and dip it in cool water and gently clean the eye and the discharge around the eye to prevent further infection. If both eyes are infected, then use a separate cotton ball for each eye to stop the spreading of the infection. Clean the eyes several times a day, or whenever discharge is present.

An even better way to treat the infection besides washing the eyes with cool water is to use Chamomile tea. Basically, take some Chamomile tea that has cooled down first and rinse/cleanse the dog's eyes with the tea using a cotton ball. This is even better than just using cool boiled water because Chamomile also helps fight infection. You can also take a cold wet Chamomile tea bag or soak a piece of sterile cotton in the tea and apply it to your pet's eye for a few minutes (a compress) which will soothe the eye and also kill any bacteria that is present. You should do this 3 or 4 times a day. After a few days, you should start seeing less redness, swelling and discharge. If the condition does not improve, take your dog to the veterinarian to get prescription eye drops or ointment.

Another option you have is to make your own herbal eywash solution that is safe for your dog. Put a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in one cup of distilled or filtered water. Add about 10 drops of any of the following herbal extracts:

• Eyebright
• Calendula
• Chamomile
• Red clover
• St. John's wort

If none of the methods above work after applying them for a few days, then take your dog to the veterinarian as there might be something else that is causing the problem with your dog's eyes like allergies or physical injury to the eye. If you see that the condition of your dog's eyes is worsening or your dog's eyes are becoming cloudy, do not waste time and seek professional help immediately.