{"id":9943,"date":"2022-09-12T12:12:54","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T12:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/blog\/uncategorized\/puppy-bloodshot-eyes\/"},"modified":"2023-03-30T11:06:38","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T11:06:38","slug":"puppy-bloodshot-eyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/en-us\/blog\/puppy-health\/new-puppy-health\/puppy-bloodshot-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"Puppy Bloodshot Eyes: Why Are My Dog’s Eyes Red?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If there\u2019s anything we have in common with dogs, it\u2019s eyes. Dogs\u2019 eyes work a lot like our own, which means they also experience the same discomfort when they become red and irritated. If you think you\u2019re seeing puppy bloodshot eyes, and wondering why, then you\u2019re in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we’ll talk you through what might be causing your puppy\u2019s bloodshot eyes, common treatments for it, and preventative advice to help reduce the chances of them happening in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Puppy bloodshot eyes will need to be looked at by you or by the vet. Either way, you can see why handling exercises are important to practise with your puppy when they\u2019re young. Otherwise, you\u2019ll quickly see for yourself how challenging it is to place some eye-drops. In the Zigzag app<\/a>, we go through this and many more training and grooming exercises to help you get your puppy set for life week by week. If there\u2019s anything you\u2019re not sure of, you can always trust our team of puppy coaches<\/a> to help you out via phone or text, 7 days a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Jessica Christian<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What causes puppy bloodshot eyes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just like with humans, puppy bloodshot eyes are caused by blood vessels rushing to the scene of irritation or infection. This can happen as part of an overall eye problem or as a response to stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, puppies who are stressed or anxious will have an increased heart rate and higher amount of blood flow. Make sure you keep an eye on what their body language<\/a> is indicating to prevent bloodshot eyes, as well as other problems. Wouldn\u2019t you agree that we underestimate the effects of stress?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Puppy bloodshot eyes can also happen due to strange things getting stuck in there such as a grass seed, or a trapped eyelash. For some puppies, the physical shape of the eye socket, their eye anatomy, or having wrinkly skin can trap fur or eyelashes inside the eye and cause bloodshot eyes. This can be seen in dog breeds like Pugs<\/a> and Shar Peis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergies such as pollen, or simply using a new washing powder can also be the culprits for your puppy\u2019s eyes to become bloodshot. Perhaps you\u2019ve heard of cherry eye<\/a>? It\u2019s actually not as sweet as it sounds, but this is another common eye problem which will cause bloodshot eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, it might just be as simple as your puppy being tired. Puppies need a lot of sleep, <\/a>and if they have red eyes and look tired, it could be time for them to have a nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Robert Koorenny<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to treat puppy bloodshot eyes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We always recommend that if your puppy has something wrong with their eyes, going to the vet should be first on your list. Eyes can be red for relatively harmless reasons, but eyes are an important thing to protect and look after\u2026can\u2019t be easily replaced at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s some suggestions for how you or your vet might treat puppy bloodshot eyes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Puppy bloodshot eyes may be treated with antibiotic drops<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Depending on what your vet diagnoses, they may give you drops or an ointment to put in your puppy\u2019s eyes. Dry eyes will love some extra lubrication, and fake tears can often make bloodshot eyes go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bloodshot eyes may need further investigation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Did you know there are canine eye specialists? With their impressive diagnostic tools and funny machines, they can run tests if your puppy\u2019s bloodshot may be due to something a bit more troubling like ulcers, or cataracts<\/a>. Nice that canine eye doctors exist, right? Humans have doctors for pretty much every part of our bodies\u2026no reason why dogs shouldn\u2019t. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clean your puppy\u2019s eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Imagine if you didn\u2019t clean your eye-snot off your face every morning. Same terrible image can happen with dogs. Make sure to wipe their face and around their eyes with a clean damp cloth or with some cotton wool pads soaked in cooled boiled water to make sure there\u2019s nothing nasty in there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialist eye flushes are available for puppies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Much like humans, puppy eyes can get irritated. Flushing out the gunk with a gentle saline solution can help reduce the redness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevent your puppy from scratching their eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your puppy\u2019s eyes are bloodshot and itchy, it\u2019s likely they\u2019ll want to scratch their eyes; which irritates them even further. A donut or elizabethan style collar can prevent them from entering that endless scratching cycle dogs tend to get into. Those collars also add perfect comedic value to the average puppy picture. No one can deny that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your puppy cool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your puppy overheats due to hot weather, bloodshot eyes might make an appearance. Puppies are not very good at regulating their temperature, so it\u2019s best to have them somewhere cool when it\u2019s hot. After this summer, you know you can\u2019t underestimate the \u2018heat\u2019 in \u2018heat waves\u2019 anymore, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask your vet about antihistamines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some puppies may get bloodshot eyes due to allergic reactions. Ask your vet what antihistamines you can use, and it should work out just fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use an air purifier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have a puppy who is sensitive to environmental factors like pollution or a high pollen count, using an air purifier in your house can help them. We know it might sound a little bougie, but we\u2019re just giving you all the ideas we have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Jairo Alzate<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to prevent red eyes in puppies?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To prevent your puppy from getting bloodshot eyes, there\u2019s only one main goal: to reduce eye irritation as much as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can do this by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n