Dog Eye Allergies: Symptoms and Treatment

What Are Dog Eye Allergies?

Dog eye allergies, also called allergic conjunctivitis, can lead to itchy, watery, or red eyes. Seasonal allergies to things blooming in the environment often lead to eye allergies. 

Eye allergies can happen after your dog comes across anything they are allergic to, especially pollen or any dust or spores that float through the air.  

When these particles get into a dog's eyes, they can lead to an allergic response. 

Eye allergies in dogs are not considered a medical emergency. 

Symptoms of Dog Eye Allergies

Symptoms of dog eye allergies may include:  

• Clear, cloudy, yellow, or greenish discharge from the eyes 

• Redness or swelling around the eyes 

• Itchy eyes, rubbing face 

• Squinting or blinking a lot 

Causes of Dog Eye Allergies

Dog eye allergies can be caused by an allergic reaction to seasonal pollens, dust, molds, aerosolized products, and even food.  

Pollen—small particles that flowering plants and trees release into the air—is the most common source of eye allergies. 

When the pollen encounters the surface of the eye, the dog’s immune system goes to work to try and clear the material. The eyes begin to make more tears to flush the eyes. This often leads to ocular drainage.  

The tissue around the eye becomes swollen, causing redness. An itch response is activated, triggering the dog to rub their face and eyes to get the pollen out. 

Any breed of dog of any age or gender can be affected by eye allergies. 

Dogs living in regions of the country with higher pollen counts may be more likely to have allergies. They may also have seasonal flare-ups, with eye allergies being more common in the spring and fall when foliage is in bloom. 

How Veterinarians Diagnose Dog Eye Allergies

Dog eye allergies are usually diagnosed by a combination of history and findings on a physical exam.  

Your dog’s vet will likely use a tool called an ophthalmoscope to look inside your dog’s eye. If there is drainage or squinting, they may do any of the following tests: 

• Fluorescein stain: A lime-green stain is put in the dog’s eye to help rule out any scratches or injury to the eye. 

• Schirmer tear test: Small strips of special paper are put in the corners of a dog’s eyes to figure out how much tear production they have. This can help rule out dry eye, another common cause of weepy eyes. 

• Tonometry: This test involves using a tool that gently touches the surface of the eye to check the ocular pressure. This helps to rule out glaucoma or uveitis. 

If your dog has been licking or chewing their feet or scratching—or has other signs of allergies—let your vet know. In addition to the skin and eyes, allergies can also often affect a dog’s ears, anal glands, lungs, and even their gastrointestinal system.  

Head shaking, scooting, a dry cough, and even occasional stomach upset can go along with eye allergies in some affected dogs. 

Treatment of Dog Eye Allergies

Dog eye allergies are often treated with medicated eye drops that have a steroid in them, like neo-poly-dex ophthalmic suspension. Many dogs are treated with systemic allergy medications as well. Unlike an eye drop, systemic medications are given either by mouth or injection. They work to treat the dog’s whole body for allergies. 

Mild allergies may respond to antihistamines, like Benadryl or Zyrtec.  

Stronger allergies may need prescription allergy medications, like Apoquel, or even long-acting injectable allergy treatments, like Cytopoint. 

Allergies are usually managed, not cured.  

This means that with treatment, you can get the symptoms of allergies to go away. However, they are likely to return when your dog encounters the thing that they are allergic to again if they are not on regular medications. 

Recovery and Management of Dog Eye Allergies

Response to treatment is usually quick, with most dogs recovering from their allergies within days of starting medications.  

Many dogs’ eye allergies will clear up when the pollen that triggered the allergy goes away. This happens naturally at the end of the blooming season, often when the weather changes and we move into summer or winter. 

Regular flushing of your dog’s eyes with artificial tears or eye cleaner, such as Optixcare Eye Cleaner, may be helpful to wash away any pollen from the surface of their eye during allergy season. Additionally, using eye-safe wipes, like Optixcare Eye Cleaning Wipes, can help keep moisture and bacteria from building up on the skin underneath your dog’s eye and prevent secondary skin infections. 

If your dog has itchy eyes and is rubbing their face or trying to scratch their eyes, a recovery cone may be helpful to prevent them from accidentally injuring their eyes. 

Prevention of Dog Eye Allergies

Prevention of dog eye allergies is centered around avoiding exposure to the things your pet is allergic to.  

If your dog is allergic to seasonal pollen, keep windows closed and get a good air purifier with a HEPA filter to remove particulates from the air in your home, like this Iris Woozoo purifier and Honeywell HEPA filters. Avoid letting dust build up on surfaces and use hypoallergenic grooming products, such as Douxo S3 CALM shampoo. 

Consider flushing their eyes with artificial tears or eye cleaner after coming inside from long walks during their allergy season.  

Wiping down your dog’s feet with a grooming wipe like Pet N Pet Unscented Wipes when they come inside can help to minimize tracking of pollen into your house, as can taking off your shoes at the door. 

Use medications prescribed or recommended by your veterinarian regularly during their allergy season. Continuous use of meds can help prevent your dog’s eye allergies from getting out of control. 

If your dog is allergic to food, consider a novel protein or hydrolyzed protein diet to minimize their symptoms.