Can You Get Pink Eye From Your Pet?

Yes....and No.

Pink Eye, or Conjunctivitis, has a few different forms. Only one of those forms is highly contagious: the Bacterial form. The bacterial form can be carried by both people and pets. Bacterial Pink Eye can be spread through contact from dog to dog, cat to dog, human to dog and also from insect to dog.

So if your pet has the bacterial form of Pink Eye, then yes, you can get Pink Eye from your pet. If your pet has been diagnosed with the bacterial form, then you should try to avoid touching your pet's eye with your bare hands and always practice proper hygiene.

Conversely, should your child come home from school with a case of Pink Eye, you should ensure that your child does not interact with your pet until the Pink Eye has cleared up.

Strains of Pink Eye

However, there are also other strains and forms of Pink Eye that pets can contract.
The viral strain of Pink Eye is completely airborne. It occurs more commonly during the drier winter months when the air is more humid.
Foreign bodies in your pet's eye can also lead to Pink Eye. This can be a small leaf, bark or even an insect. If such a foreign body is not removed immediately, then will start to irritate your pet's eye. This irritation will eventually lead to Pink Eye. As soon as you notice that your pet's eye is red and irritated, quickly rinse out the eye with water or special pet-friendly eye wash.
Pink Eye can also be caused by an injury or scratch on or near your pet's eye. If you consider how rough some dogs and cats play with each other, it is not hard to see how easily one pet can accidently scratch the eye of another pet.
During the spring and summer months allergens are high in the air causing cats and dogs to be more susceptible to them. Allergic reactions to pollen, grass and house dust can also lead to Pink Eye in pets. Allergic reactions to something in your pet's environment can create a sinus irritation and inflammation of the eye's mucus membranes. In such a case, you should first try to find out what the allergen is, and then eliminate it from your pet's environment, before you attempt to clear up their Pink Eye.

Symptoms of Pink Eye in Pets:
The whites of your pet's eyes will take on a pinkish hue
A discharge will be evident from your pet's eye
The tissues surrounding your pet's eye will begin to swell up, causing your pet to look like they have rather puffy eyes
Some cats and dogs may have difficulty in blinking their eyes normally
If the Pink Eye is pretty bad, your pet's eye may even swell shut

Treating Pink Eye in Pets:

Your pet's eye and the surrounding area is extremely delicate and sensitive. Therefore when treating Pink Eye in your pet you should always use utmost caution to avoid any further injury or damage. One of the best ways to treat Pink Eye is through the use of herbal remedies. However, given the delicate nature of your pet's eyes, such remedies should be used only once a proper diagnosis has been made by a qualified veterinarian.

Before resorting to a herbal remedy, you should first make quite sure that your pet's eye and the area around the eye is completely clean and free of any dirt. To this end it is best to use a warm and soft wash cloth and gently wipe your pet's eye to remove any debris, foreign bodies or any discharge that is occurring.

You can try dislodging foreign bodies by gently flushing out your pet's eye with lukewarm water. If this doesn't work then you should immediately take your pet to a veterinarian for medical help.

If your pet has Pink Eye that is caused by an allergen, or if the Pink Eye is present in its viral or bacterial form, you can treat it at home using certain homeopathic remedies. The best herbs to use for treating Pink Eye in pets include:

Eyebright. Just as its name suggests, Eyebright will help to brighten up your pet's eyes by removing any bacteria and reducing any inflammation around the eye area.

Chamomile. Not only will Chamomile help to reduce the redness and the inflammation, but it is also a great herb to boost up your pet's immune system.

Goldenseal. Another anti-inflammatory herb.

Rosemary. This wonderful herb works as an antiseptic to help speed up your pet's healing process.

By treating your pet's Pink Eye as quickly as possible, you will be able to decrease the chances of you, or other members of your family, contracting the Pink Eye from your pet.

Related Products: Eye Easy for Dog Pink Eye & Cat Pink Eye