Eye and ear care for dogs and cats
Everything about eye care and ear care: daily tips, common problems and prevention.
Clear eyes and clean ears are important for your pet's wellbeing. Many breeds have sensitive eyes (brachycephalics) or ears (floppy ears). Regular checks and gentle cleaning help prevent problems.
👀 Eye care
Daily care
Gently wipe tear stains with a damp, soft cloth. In brachycephalic breeds (e.g. bulldog, pug): often shorter tear ducts—more tear stains. Never use human eye drops without consulting—some are toxic to animals.
Common problems
- • Tear stains – Brown discolouration from tear fluid. Often cosmetic; with excessive production there may be a cause (blocked tear duct, allergy). Keep fur short, clean daily.
- • Conjunctivitis – Red conjunctiva, discharge (watery or pus). Cause: allergy, bacteria, virus, fungus. In cats: often herpesvirus (recurs). Let your vet determine the cause.
- • Corneal ulcer – Damage to the cornea from trauma, dust or dry eyes. Symptoms: blinking, squinting, scratching, light sensitivity, red discharge. Treat promptly—can lead to scarring or blindness.
- • Dry eye (KCS) – Insufficient tear production. Redness, mucus, discomfort. Requires lifelong treatment with eye drops. Let your vet diagnose.
When to see the vet?
With watery eyes, redness, cloudiness, thick discharge, swelling or if your pet scratches the eyes a lot: see your vet immediately.
👂 Ear care
Why are clean ears important?
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons for a vet visit. Floppy ears, wet ears and allergies increase the risk. Healthy ears are self-cleaning, but a compromised ear canal is vulnerable.
How to clean?
Use a pet-safe ear cleaner. No cotton swabs deep in the ear—that pushes dirt and wax inward.
- • Fill the ear canal with cleaner (or saturate a cotton pad)
- • Gently massage the base of the ear
- • Wipe away debris with cotton—only as far as your knuckle, from inside outward
- • Dry ears after swimming or bathing—moisture promotes yeast and bacteria
Common problems
Ear infection (otitis): bacteria, yeast or ear mites. Symptoms: scratching, shaking, foul discharge, redness. Ear mites: tiny creatures, often in kittens. Let your vet examine the ear—don't poke around yourself. Severe inflammation can damage the ear canal.
Prevention
Keep ears dry after swimming. For prone ears: clean regularly (every 1–2 weeks). Don't use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide—ask your vet for a suitable product.
🩺 This information is general. Contact your veterinarian for a consultation and tailored advice.
More about health
View our health guide for vaccinations, deworming and more.
To health guide