## The Dog's Eyes: An Open Door to Problems

A dog's eyes are:
- **Anatomically exposed**.
- **Subject to dust, wind, debris**.
- **Prone to watering** in certain breeds.

**Regular cleaning**:
- Prevents conjunctivitis.
- Reduces irritation.
- Maintains hygiene.
- Early diagnosis of problems.

Let's see the weekly routine.

## When Regular Cleaning is Needed

### Breeds with Excessive Tear Production

**Brachycephalic breeds**:
- Bulldog.
- Pug.
- Bulldog.

**Breeds with prominent eyes**:
- Pekingese.
- Shih Tzu.
- Pug.

**Breeds with white fur** (visible tear stains):
- Maltese.
- Bichon.
- Cocker Spaniel.

### Puppies and Seniors

**More frequent tearing**:
- Targeted cleaning.

### Dogs Prone to Conjunctivitis

**Preventive cleaning**:
- Reduces recurrences.

## The Weekly Routine

### Frequency

**"Light" cleaning**:
- **Daily** for breeds with issues.
- **2-3 times a week** for other breeds.

**"Deep" cleaning**:
- **Weekly** in any case.

### Step 1: Inspection

**Look at the eyes**:
- Whites of the eyes.
- Iris.
- Corner (caruncle).
- Fur around.

**What to look for**:
- Redness.
- Swelling.
- Abnormal discharge.
- Tear stains.

### Step 2: Cleaning the Corner

**Tools**:

**Clean gauze**:
- Best option.
- Does not leave fibers.

**Cotton swabs**:
- Avoid (can scratch).

**Specific dog eye wipes**:
- Convenient.
- Brands: TropiClean, Petkin.

**Procedure**:
- Moisten gauze with lukewarm water or saline solution.
- Wring well.
- Wipe **from the corner outward**.
- Never **to the eye directly**.

### Step 3: Fur Around the Eyes

**Tear stains**:
- Under the eyes (especially in white breeds).

**Cleaning**:
- Specific wipes.
- Never scrub hard.
- Drying.

### Step 4: Drying

**Important**:
- Dry fur.
- Moisture = bacteria.

## Recommended Products

### Saline Solution

**Top**:
- Safe.
- Natural.
- Universal.

**Cost**: €3-5 per bottle.

### Specific Wipes

**Brands**:
- **TropiClean Eye Wipes**.
- **Petkin Eye Wipes**.
- **Earthbath Eye Wipes**.

**Cost**: €8-15 per pack.

### Lukewarm Water

**Always available**:
- Basic cleaning.

### Specific Solutions

**For stubborn tear stains**:

**Tear Stain Removers**:
- **Eye Envy** (top).
- **Angels Eyes**.

**Cost**: €15-25.

**Use with caution**:
- Check ingredients.

## The Technique for Puppies/Reluctant Dogs

### Getting Used To It

**From puppy**:
- Touch the eye area without doing anything.
- Reward.
- Gradually increase.

### Reluctant Dog

**Short sessions**:
- 30 seconds initially.
- Generous reward.

**Helper**:
- One person holds, the other operates.

**Burrito if necessary**:
- Towel wraps the body.

## The "Sensitive Eye" Breeds

### Brachycephalics

**Daily cleaning**:
- Constant tearing.
- Prominent eyes = dust/debris.

**Breeds**:
- Pug.
- Bulldog.
- English/French Bulldog.
- Pekingese.
- Boston Terrier.

### Long Fur Falling into the Eyes

**Breeds**:
- Bobtail.
- Lhasa Apso.
- Bichon Frisé.

**Solution**:
- Cleaning + trimming fur.

### Breeds with Prominent Eyes

**French Bulldog, Pug**:
- Greater exposure.
- Regular cleaning.

## What NOT to Do

❌ **Cotton swabs in the eye**:
- Risk of injury.

❌ **Tap water if too hard**:
- Irritating.

❌ **Scrubbing hard**:
- Damages cornea.

❌ **Human products**:
- Especially those with preservatives.

❌ **Never clean**:
- Accumulation of problems.

## The "Problem" Signs

### What to Observe

**Persistent redness**:
- Possible conjunctivitis.

**Colored discharge** (yellow, green):
- Infection.

**Swelling**:
- Serious problem.

**Strabismus**:
- Possible neurological issue.

**Dog constantly rubbing**:
- Pain, itching.

**Sudden excessive tearing**:
- Possible foreign body.

**Veterinarian** if symptoms persist.

## Tear Stains

### Causes

**In light breeds**:
- Porphyrin pigment in tears.
- Reaction with air/light.
- Red-brown stains.

### Treatment

**Regular cleaning**:
- Reduces.

**Specific products**:
- **Eye Envy**.
- Various brands of **Tear Stain Remover**.

**Food**:
- Quality food reduces.
- Filtered water (if hard) may help.

**Allergy tests**:
- If persistent.

## The "Rituals" that Work

### Morning Daily Routine

**5 minutes**:
1. Moist gauze.
2. Clean the corner of both eyes.
3. Drying.
4. Reward.

**Ideal for breeds with problems**.

### Weekly "Deep Cleaning" Routine

**10 minutes**:
1. Specific wipes.
2. Complete cleaning.
3. Possible tear stain product.
4. Reward.

## Veterinary Visits

**Annual**:
- Veterinarian checks eyes.

**Veterinary ophthalmologist**:
- For breeds with problems.
- For specific issues.

## Typical Stories

**Positive story**:
- Bulldog with daily cleaning.
- No conjunctivitis for years.

**Negative story**:
- Bulldog without regular cleaning.
- Recurring conjunctivitis.
- Frequent veterinary visits.

## Myths to Dispel

**Myth 1**: "Dogs don’t need eye cleaning".
**False**: Some breeds do.

**Myth 2**: "Tap water is fine".
**Often true**: but saline is better.

**Myth 3**: "Tear stains are normal".
**Partially true**: but can be reduced.

**Myth 4**: "All eyes are the same".
**False**: sensitive breeds.

## The Costs

**Basic materials**:
- Saline solution: €3-5.
- Gauze: €5.
- Specific wipes: €10-15 (monthly).
- Possible stain product: €20.

**Annual**: €50-100.

**Benefit**:
- Eye health.
- Reduced veterinary visits.
- Dog comfort.

## The Truth

Cleaning your dog's eyes is a **simple yet essential routine** for:

✅ **Sensitive breeds** (brachycephalics, long-haired).

✅ **All dogs** preventively.

**Frequency**:
- Daily for problem breeds.
- Weekly for others.

**Time**: 2-5 minutes.

**Benefit**:
- Eye health.
- Comfort.
- Prevention of problems.

**Investment**:
- Wipes + saline.
- €50-100/year.

And remember: a dog's eyes are **fragile**. A simple regular cleaning prevents many problems.

Daily routine for those in need. Weekly routine for all. Five minutes that make a difference.