Recently, one of my Cavachon eyes became a very red color.  Everyone noticed it and wondered what was up.  Then, I started rubbing the eye with my paw and also would try to rub it on the carpet.  Each day, this behavior increased.  After a few days, my eye started to kind of ooze an icky grayish gunk.  Yeah, I know, gross.  Well, of course, as luck would have it, this was now Friday afternoon.  Somewhat panic stricken and feeling really bad for ignoring this problem, my mom turned to the internet in search of what to do to comfort me until Monday when she could call the vet (apparently she did not see this as an emergency even though my dad worried about me going blind =:o )

Here is one of the things she found as a desperate weekend measure that stretched out much longer….

It seems as though apple cider vinegar is a miracle cure for many ailments, for both humans and dogs.   She read that other people have put a little bit of the smelly stuff right on a dog’s back – much like flea stuff is applied – and it helps  ailments such as an eye problem.  So, since it was Friday and she was desperate, she figured it would not hurt me.  Next thing I know, there I was on the couch with a very anxious mom holding me.  She had this cotton ball which she had dipped in a cap full of the vinegar and was squeezing it out on to my back!  She did give me a really nice little back rub after that but I just didn’t get what was going on!  We did this a few times over the next couple of days.  She even wiped under my eye with a cotton ball that was wet with very diluted apple cider vinegar.  She was very careful not to get it in my eye.  I have to admit, that felt pretty nice.

There was a marked improvement by the next day, but it was clear that there was still some sort of eye problem.  On Sunday, my eye itself was not so red but the upper and lower eyelid was.  Now she wondered if it was pink eye (yes, it was news to us, but, dogs can get that, too).  She decided to keep up the vinegar regimen and on Monday said I was looking pretty good.

Well, we kept that vinegar thing going for another day.  Twice a day squeezing it on my back and wiping my eyes (for some reason she did both eyes with separate cotton balls.)  By then, I had earned the nickname “Vinnie” because of the vinegar smell that followed me everywhere.  Believe me, that was not appreciated even though everyone else seemed to find it cute.

Tuesday we slacked off a bit.  We only applied the vinegar to my back once and wiped my eyes once.  Well, you think I am going to say I was fine, but on Wednesday, my symptoms were a bit worse again. Dad kind of got irritated and said to take me to the vet, but mom said to give it a little more time.  Mind you, that all this time I was not acting differently at all except for rubbing my eyes in the beginning.  Mom put me back on the smelly regimen twice a day, and by Friday, there was no evidence of any problem.  My eyes have been nice and bright and clear ever since.

Did I have an eye infection? Did I have pink eye?  I guess we’ll never know.  I just know I have come to like the smell of vinegar!

I am not telling you this to diagnose any problem you may have.  If there is something serious wrong with your dog’s eyes, please seek medical attention.  I am just telling you about our recent experience.

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