Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Dogs can battle all kinds of eye issues, whether they be temporary or lifelong. But that doesn’t mean your pup should have to suffer. There are tons of eye drops on the market to solve eye woes. But what products are the best for our canine friends? Your dog should always have their eyes checked by a veterinarian if you notice changes so that they can advise on the best treatment. If you are looking for a non-prescription eye drop for general maintenance we are here to help.
Luckily, we did all the hard work, rounding up this list of excellent products. We hope our reviews give you a good look at what to expect when you shop. Let’s take a look at what’s out there.
A Glance at Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Dr. Goodpet Eye-C Dog & Cat Eye Drops
Terrific for most minor eye irritations
Cross-species use
Nourishes without stinging or staining
Check Price
Best Value
Curicyn Eye Drops for Dog & Cat
For all animals
Works for infections, irritations, and injuries
Eliminates bacteria gently
Check Price
Premium Choice
Thomas Labs Terra Septic Dog Eye Drops
Multipurpose care for ears, skin, and eyes
Minimal effective ingredients
Promotes healing at the source
Check Price
Best for Puppies
Akorn Artificial Tears Lubricant
Excellent for puppies
Long-lasting
No burning
Check Price
NutriVet Dog Eye Rinse
Exceptional for flushing debris
Slows and removes tear stains
Antibacterial and great for allergies
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The 7 Best Eye Drops for Dogs
We reviewed some pretty terrific products, but our favorite overall was the Dr. Goodpet Eye-C Dog & Cat Eye Drops. It solves most minor eye irritations—plus, you can use it for dogs or cats, making it ideal for multi-pet households.
Brand: Dr. Goodpet
Type: Dropper
Amount: 1 ounce
Check Price on Chewy
The active ingredients in this product are vitamin C and zinc, nourishing the skin by providing moisture and lessening discomfort. It also works to prevent seeping and eye-staining, so you can help your pup’s eyes stop running on their pretty coat.
We loved how easy this product was to use. It comes with an easy-to-open bottle top that doubles as a dropper. The formula itself is homeopathic and made in the USA.
We want to be clear that this product is only for minor eye issues such as tear staining. If you believe your dog has an eye infection or injury, seeking a vet’s opinion is necessary before buying eye drops.
Terrific for most minor eye irritations
Cross-species use
Nourishes without stinging or staining
- Terrific for most minor eye irritations
- Cross-species use
- Nourishes without stinging or staining
Won’t work for serious infections or injuries
- Won’t work for serious infections or injuries
If you’re looking for a steal of a deal, we think you might be interested in the Curicyn All-Purpose Dog Eye Care Solution drops. From what we’ve found, they are the best eye drops for dogs for the money.
Brand: Curicyn
Type: Drops
Amount: 2 ounces
We love that it would work for various eye issues, from cleaning to soothing irritated eyes. Not only are they safe for our dear canine companions—they also work wonders for nearly all domesticated animals you can own.
This formula is gentle and easy to apply. The bottle itself is plastic with a dropper-style tip for one-step applications. It was meant to reduce inflammation and prevent infection, working very well against numerous eye issues.
We saw the most success in issues like seasonal runny eyes and cleaning away debris. We thought it was a terrific product, especially for the price.
For all animals
Works for infections, irritations, and injuries
Eliminates bacteria gently
Affordable
- For all animals
- Works for infections, irritations, and injuries
- Eliminates bacteria gently
- Affordable
Doesn’t clear tear stains
- Doesn’t clear tear stains
If you don’t mind spending a few extra dollars for a quality product, we really recommend the Thomas Labs Terra Septic Dog Eye& Ear Drops. These drops are ultimately multipurpose, taking care of issues with both ear canals and eyes safely and effectively.
Brand: Thomas Labs
Type: Drops
Amount: 1 ounce
We love that it comes in a convenient dropper with a rubber top. It is straightforward to apply, but we warrant caution as the drops can come out quickly with minimal force.
The formula is designed to protect sensitive tissue in these areas while promoting healing. Using a pH-balanced silver solution, this minimal ingredient product covers so many bases you’ll be astounded at the results.
Granted, it is a little pricey. So, it’s really only a suitable decision if you need it for ears and skin, too. Otherwise, it might cost a pretty penny for results you can find for cheaper with other eye drops.
Multipurpose care for ears, skin, and eyes
Minimal effective ingredients
Promotes healing at the source
- Multipurpose care for ears, skin, and eyes
- Minimal effective ingredients
- Promotes healing at the source
Pricey
Comes out quickly
- Pricey
- Comes out quickly
Our puppies are sensitive and we know how important safe products are for our little troopers. Since we know you might need a solution for eye irritation before they reach adulthood, we think Akorn Artificial Tears Lubricant will do the trick.
Brand: Akorn
Type: Ointment
Amount: 3.5 ounces
This product comes in a tube in ointment form. Even though it can be a little messy, it goes on smoothly to safely coat the eye. This ointment is veterinary strength, but it’s gentle enough for everyday use.
This formula is geared toward eye problems like dryness, but can help soothe eyes. Using mineral oil and white petrolatum. It’s not as wonderful for issues relating to infections. We found that the ointment is a little more long-lasting, so you won’t have to fiddle with reapplication as much, either.
Even though we highly recommend it for puppies, you can use it for adults just the same. So, if you find your pup does well on it, you can keep this item on hand throughout their lifetime.
Excellent for puppies
Long-lasting
No burning
- Excellent for puppies
- Long-lasting
- No burning
Not for infections
- Not for infections
NutriVet Dog Eye Rinse is a terrific formula that takes care of just about any eye issue. It flushes, cleans, and protects your dog’s eyes without adding irritation or causing pain. Sometimes, our pups can get into all sorts of things that could potentially get in the eyes—like dust, fur, pollen and other debris.
Brand: Nutri-Vet
Type: Rinse
Amount: 4 ounce
If your dog is having issues with crust buildup or debris in the eye, this gentle formula flushes out the matter to relieve your dog. It contains boric acid, which is an antibacterial agent that fights against infection.
You can also use this product to remove tear stains if that’s a problem for your breed. It lightens the fur, lifting the unwanted color effectively. It also slows down the formation of tear stains if you use it frequently on your pooch.
We think this product would work especially well for dogs who have allergies, as it soothes irritation from pollen and other environmental allergens.
Exceptional for flushing debris
Slows and removes tear stains
Antibacterial and great for allergies
- Exceptional for flushing debris
- Slows and removes tear stains
- Antibacterial and great for allergies
Many applications to remove tear stains
- Many applications to remove tear stains
Petsilver Dog Eye Wash is an excellent product to have on hand for virtually any dog owner. If your dog ever gets any foreign material in their eye, this is a safe, pain-free way to clear things up.
Brand: PetSilver
Type: Wash
Amount: 4 ounce
Plus, if your dog suffers from pesky tear stains, this formula eliminates that problem, too. We love the simple ingredients, based only on water and chelated silver without drying agents or stinging ingredients.
Granted, this product doesn’t take care of more serious problems but it’s excellent to have in the cabinet for emergencies. However, for infections or existing injuries, look elsewhere.
Great for emergency flushes
Only 2 ingredients
Multi-use drops
- Great for emergency flushes
- Only 2 ingredients
- Multi-use drops
Not for infection or injury
- Not for infection or injury
Ocunovis Dog Gel Eye Drops are easy to control during administration, which earns them a big thumbs up from us—especially if you have a rather rambunctious pooch.
Brand: Ocunovis
Type: Gel
Amount: 5 mL
We love the consistency so you can get a perfect dollop every time without messes or over/underuse.
Aside from the consistency, the product worked great for the intended use of eye lubrication. We really like that the thickness appears to coat and nourish the eye to reduce irritation and heal it at the source.
Admittedly, this product won’t work quite as well as some competing products for irritation. But it is more long-lasting than drops and is useful for dry eyes.
Thick and long-lasting
Reduces irritation
Decent quantity
- Thick and long-lasting
- Reduces irritation
- Decent quantity
Less effective than some competing products
- Less effective than some competing products
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Eye Drops for Dogs
If you need eye drops for your dog, how can you know you’re choosing the best kind? Well, that depends on what outcome you’re looking for. Ultimately, you want eye drops that are both safe and effective. But let’s go over the criteria when buying eye drops for canines.
Reasons to Apply Eye Drops/Ointment
Eye Irritation
Maybe your pup just needs a good all-purpose rinse. Some eye irritation could be from the environment, like pollen, dust, or airborne debris. Certain eye drops are designed to clear things right up.
Inflammation
Information can occur with certain eye issues like allergies and medical conditions. To prevent this inflammation from bothering your pup, anti-inflammatory eye drops are readily available.
Injury
If your dog has a scratch or other eye injury, you might need to keep it clean and disinfected to prevent it from getting worse. Some eye injuries require medical assistance but others can clear up with over-the-counter eye meds. Get all eye injuries checked out by your vet.
Dryness
If your dog has trouble with eye dryness, it might be time to lube things up. Eye drops and gels can nourish, soothe, and combat dry eyes by providing adequate moisture. Prescription eye medications to help with tear production are available from your veterinarian.
Tear Stains
Some breeds are prone to tear staining while others suffer from allergies. Regardless of the reason, many eye drops and gels are designed to break up these stains and bring the coat back to its vibrant original color.
Infection
With some mild infections, such as conjunctivitis, you might be able to clear it up all by yourself at home without relying on a vet prescription. However, you might need to visit your vet for a prescription-strength formula, depending on the issue. Best to discuss with your vet before you start trying at home treatments.
Product Specs
Safety
Let’s face it—we can have adverse reactions to anything. But certain products can be more likely to cause negative issues.
Effectiveness
No matter your dog’s eye issue, the correction of the problem is key. Getting an effective formula will make sure to stretch your dollar and comfort your dog.
Ease of Use
Since eye drops are liquid-based, an easy application is the best route—no complicated instructions. It should be as simple as a dropper full to the eye, but some bottles can be messy or easy to spill.
Comfort
Eye drops that sting or hurt can make your dog permanently fearful of eye drop applications. Making sure that the type you get is completely free of any ingredients that might irritate the eyes is crucial—especially if they are unfamiliar with the process. Oh and offer treats regularly!
Conclusion
We know that eye drops have different purposes, but we still think Dr. Goodpet Eye-C Dog & Cat Eye Drops is a fix for most canine eye issues. It’s terrific to have on hand and you can use them for virtually any pet you have.
If you’re looking to save some cash, don’t forget the Curicyn All-Purpose Dog & Cat Eye Drops. They are easy on the wallet and good for most any minor eye problem.
No matter your no prescription need, we hope one of these seven products does the trick for your little furry friend.
Featured Image Credit: Jus_Ol, Shutterstock
