Worried About Giving Your Dog Pink Eye? Read This!

Last Updated on

Pink Eye is bad enough. Do you also need to worry about giving it to your dog?

Conjunctivitis, the condition’s actual name, is unfortunately a concern for canines too.

Can I Give My Dog Pink Eye?

Pink Eye is certainly contagious whether its origin is viral or bacterial.

Thankfully you can take steps to prevent your pet from contracting it. If your household has this infection, how you handle your dog is important (i.e. lay off the hugging, kissing and petting)!

You Can Give Your Dog Pink Eye

Yes, Conjunctivitis is transferable to dogs and vise versa.

And Pink Eye is fairly easy to catch if you aren’t careful. It’s all about maintaining sufficient isolation as well as sanitation.

As much as possible, close contact should be avoided. It’s the best, only strategy actually, when it comes to Pink Eye prevention.

Direct Contact With Canines

Pink eye is usually caused by a viral infection called Adenovirus. It could affect every member of the household, including your dog!

It cannot be stressed enough:

While Conjunctivitis (AKA Pink Eye) can easily spread, good hygienic practices go a long way towards preventing your dog from getting it.

Contamination And Sanitation

Harmful bacteria in and around the eyes can be transferred to your hands. Anything you touch is potentially contaminated.

For example:

Someone who uses a door handle that you have already come into contact with has a chance of getting Conjunctivitis.

Touching your dog with unsanitary hands similarly exposes them.

What To Do About Pink Eye?

Everybody hates to suffer through Pink Eye  and your dog will be no different.

Perhaps the best thing you can do to help a dog during this time?

Get a quality funnel collar.

This will prevent pawing at or scratching of eyes. Doing so will only worsen the Pink Eye AKA Red Eye.

So, a special canine collar is a good investment. It looks bad, but it will really help.

What else?

Clean your dog’s eyes frequently. This will prevent a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.


Pro Tip: Apply lukewarm water to any hardened mucous around the eyes to soften the buildup.


More Ways To Help Your Hound

Are you looking for more ways to speed up a Pink Eye recovery?

Reduce itching and irritation with a specialized spray designed for animals.

Visit your vet and they may prescribe your dog a broad spectrum antibiotic, a topical ointment as well as eye drops.

Take a Look on The Bright Side

Pink Eye symptoms typically subside in 1 to 2 weeks. Recovery is similar for both humans and dogs.

Assuming good sanitation is upheld, conjunctivitis typically clears up on its own.

Rest assured, your dog will recover.

The Bottom Line

It is true that owners can transmit Pink Eye to their dogs.

Be sure to take the proper precautions including regular washing of your hands.

You really don’t want your dog to get this infection. Pink eye is a depressing experience for both people and their animals.

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…

Was This Article Helpful?

5 thoughts on “Worried About Giving Your Dog Pink Eye? Read This!”

  1. I have Pink Eye now and thought my dog could get it so I haven’t really touched her. Now I will clean her eyes often after reading this. Very helpful.Thanks!

  2. Can I pet my dog if I have Pink Eye? The vet told me its only transmitted through the membrane of the eyes or saliva. I found out five days later, after I got it, and have kissed my dog and I also get the goop out of his eyes. He’s a small dog and I can’t see his lower lid. Now that I know, I’m very careful with him.

    1. I hope he is feeling better!

  3. Thank you. I had this exact question and it was really helpful!

  4. I think this was very helpful and I will not touch my dog. Thanks!

Leave a Reply to Kathy Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *