Can Dogs Get Pink Eye?
Yes, dogs commonly get pink eye, which vets call conjunctivitis. It shows up as red, inflamed eyes with watery or yellow-green discharge, squinting and swollen lids. Causes range from allergies and irritants to bacterial or viral infections, dry eye, or a foreign object. Some causes are contagious to other dogs. Because the treatment depends entirely on the cause, a dog with pink eye needs a vet - never use human eye drops.
Yes - dogs get pink eye, which vets call conjunctivitis, and it’s quite common. It’s inflammation of the conjunctiva, the pink tissue lining the eyelids and covering part of the eye. It’s treatable, but because several very different things can cause it, it needs a vet to sort out.
Signs of pink eye in dogs
- Red, inflamed eyes
- Discharge - watery and clear, or thick and yellow-green
- Squinting or excessive blinking
- Red, swollen eyelids
- Pawing or rubbing at the eye
It can affect one eye or both, depending on the cause.
What causes it
- Allergies - pollen, dust and other allergens (a very common cause, often both eyes)
- Irritants or foreign objects - dirt, grass seeds, smoke, shampoo
- Bacterial infection - e.g. Staphylococcus or Streptococcus
- Viral infection - such as canine distemper or herpesvirus
- Dry eye (reduced tear production) and certain immune conditions
- Occasionally, blocked tear ducts or other eye disease
Is it contagious?
It depends on the cause. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can be contagious to other dogs (viral cases especially, and they can take 3–4 weeks to fully clear). Allergic, dry-eye and immune-related conjunctivitis are not directly contagious. Dog pink eye is generally not considered a significant risk to humans, but wash your hands after handling an infected eye.
Why you shouldn’t treat it at home
This is the important part: the right treatment depends entirely on the cause, and you can’t tell the cause by looking. Using the wrong thing - or a human eye drop (some contain steroids or other ingredients that can seriously harm a dog’s eye) - can make things much worse. Redness and discharge can also signal more serious eye problems, like a corneal ulcer or glaucoma, that need urgent care.
What the vet will do
Your vet will examine the eye, check tear production and stain for scratches or ulcers, and identify the cause. Treatment may include prescription eye drops or ointment (to fight infection or reduce inflammation), tear-stimulating drops for dry eye, or removing a foreign body. Bacterial cases often clear within about 5–7 days of correct treatment.
When to see the vet
Book a visit promptly for any red, goopy, squinting or swollen eye - and go urgently if your dog is in obvious pain, the eye is cloudy, or vision seems affected. Until then, stop your dog rubbing it (a cone helps) and gently wipe away discharge with a clean, damp cloth.
References
- Conjunctivitis in Dogs: Symptoms and Treatment - PetMD
- Conjunctivitis in Dogs - VCA Animal Hospitals
- Can Dogs Get Pink Eye? - American Kennel Club
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. See your vet for any eye problem, and never use human eye drops on your dog.
