Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy for Conjunctivitis in Pets
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I'm not usually one for reviewing products/methods but this time I just have to. As an herbalist I'm quite open to experimenting with natural remedies on myself but have always been a bit hesitant when it comes to trying things on my cats. However, my elder male, Mr. Fitch, turned up with some variation of conjunctivitis this week that rapidly progressed to the point of gluing his eyes shut. Not having any eye ointment on hand and, as others here have mentioned, being very tight on finances I did some research and found the apple cider vinegar remedy here. Along with gently swabbing his eyes with a cloth soaked with warm water as frequently as possible without completely alienating him, I soaked the back of Mr. Fitch's neck with full strength organic apple cider vinegar twice, 3 hours apart, last night. I applied none during the day today prefering to see how he reacted to last night's dosing.
I have to say that we are not out of the woods yet, but the improvement between last night and tonight is quite noticeable and a relief, for me and him I believe. Mr. Fitch just received another ACV application a little while ago and Mr. Fitch willing I'm planning on two more tonight. He certainly doesn't seem to mind them very much. Here's hoping the improvement continues and he'll be clear again before the eye ointment I ordered arrives on monday.
At this point I'd say that, while certainly not guaranteed, this remedy is certainly worth a shot. Thank you Earth Clinic for making it available.
I found that this did nothing at all and did it following instructions given. Finally went to vet and got some drops and it cleared up completely in two days.
Posted by Sharon (Wesley Chapel, Fl) on 09/21/2011 ★★★★★
Yes, yes, yes, it worked overnight. I used straight acv. Twice at night and twice in the morning. Our pets have the most urgent need for gentle, safe, effective remedies as they cannot tell us where it hurts. My little pom started winking her eye and washing at it with her paws right after a bath, so l knew she had gotten shampoo in it. I tried a gentle saline rinse, which helped a little, but by bedtime, l came running to earthclinic. By ten this morning, her eye is open, though it needs another saline rinse to get the little overnight goo. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences to help me and my dogs.
Posted by Catlover (Lafayette, Indiana) on 10/30/2011
You used to be able to buy FishMox (but now you cannot in certain states) Read it -- it will say amoxicillin on the label. This is the same amoxicillin that your doctor or vet will prescribe for you. You may still be able to get it in a pet store depending on your state. I also ordered online from Calvet Supply and other online sites will have it too. It is perfectly safe - I have given to my pets. However you need to adjust the doseage depending on your cats weight. I would also suggest following up with Acidophyllus (you can get at walmart). It is also in Yogurt and they put in some milks (it will say on the front label). I think its important to follow up with acidophyllus because antibiotics often wipe out the good bacteria as well as the bad - and this can cause yeast and other infections. Good Luck!!
I have a 3 yo lab who has a thick glue-like substance running from his eyes at all times. The vet flushed his eyes and gave me an antibiotic to apply with no improvement. I tried Organic Apple Cider Vinegar but it did not work. I have been applying it several times per day. I was very disappointed after reading all the successes! I am curious about what it is about the vinegar and its application that makes this successful for some?
Posted by Twinkiedooter (Wooster Ohio) on 10/06/2013
Dog eye problems
My miniature white poodle (6 years old) was a rescue. She had horrible breath and weeping eyes with awful stains on her face. After using a product called Angel's Eyes her horrid breath is gone and her face fur stains and weepy eyes are gone!! It is not expensive for the results you get. It took less than 2 months for her face stains and weepy eyes to go away and less than a month for the bad breath. Google for cheapest price. I get mine off Ebay with free shipping at less than $15 for a 3 month supply. Honey weighs about 10 lbs so I am able to keep her in check for about $5 a day. I sprinkle on her dry food and she eats it up. I would not recommend putting it in water though. No ill effects at all and just a happier looking dog.
This product can be used on cats AND dogs successfully provided they don't have a different kind of eye problem. The bad breath is a bacterial infection and the eye weeping and discoloration is bacterial also. I don't normally endorse a product but this one is for real. I did try ACV and that did nothing for her bad breath or weeping eyes.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Also, using H202 CAN be corrosive so be very very careful as you CAN chemically burn your pet. You can buy food grade hydrogen peroxide at a health food store for about $20 a pint. Don't handle this with your bare hands but use an eyedropper instead or you WILL get a chemical burn!!! Do not take internally without REALLY diluting it either. I take it myself and found you must gradually increase the dosage over a period of time starting at one or two drops a day!! If you take too much of this you WILL experience a burning sensation in your arms and legs like your blood is burning!!! Be very careful giving this to your pet. VERY careful. If 10 drops in a cup of water does this to me, just think what 10 drops will do to your pet.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
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How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
A general FYI - Angel's Eyes product for tear stains active ingredient is Tylan; this is an antibiotic. Tylan - under the name Tylosin - can be obtained at most farm and fleet supply stores; this can be given orally to dogs and the bulk product Tylosin is far cheaper than the branded Tylan product sold as Angel's Eyes.
Angel's Eyes is a low dose antibiotic product that is first given daily and then once the stains are cleared up given intermittently on a maintenance schedule - it is not intended to be dosed on a daily/forever basis.
Most veterinarians will not hesitate to recommend this product as the antibiotic dose is very low, however those who have concerns over long term antibiotic use for cosmetic purposes [tear stains do not hurt the dog, but many find them unsightly] may wish to consider exploring other alternatives, ie ACV in the water, Ted's alkalizing remedies, changing diet to a brand with no coloring agents, or washing the eyes and face daily.
Hi, I got 2 kittens in October with eye infection, since then I've tried a bunch of remedies, and finally their eyes are cured. I've tried black tea, green tea, chamomile and other herbal teas, vinegar rubbed into fur, coconut oil, prescription antibiotic ointment rubbed under cats' eyes, and even prescription eye drops.
None of these remedies have worked until I tried this routine: 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in a half cup of water, with this mixture wipe up the eyes cats with separate cotton balls and then add regular off-the-counter lubricant eye drop. The most important thing repeat this procedure every 2 hours for 2 weeks (except night time of course)! I did it 3 times a day for 5 months and it didn't work! Good luck! Thanks everyone for their posts. Remember, by everytime posting the remedy, you run a chance to make a difference in someone's life.
Posted by Sonya (Melbourne, Fl, Usa) on 06/20/2011 ★★★★★
I've used this remedy twice now to cure "Pink Eye" in my Jack Russell Terrier. I soak a cotton ball with ACV (I use organic) and put it on the back of her neck. I try to hold it there for 5-10 minutes. I do this once or twice and always it goes away within an hour. It has saved me quite a bit in vet bills and my dog the aggravation of applying gooey stuff to her eye for a week or more. Highly recommended!
Posted by Shouston303 (Rincon, Ga, Usa) on 06/24/2011
so I just simply have to rub the Apple Cider Vinegar on the back of his neck and I should see results..... Should I rub some acv/mixed with water on his eye or should I flush them with eye drops.... Thanks for ur help
Posted by Chichiritad (Boston, Ma, Usa) on 10/04/2011 ★★★★★
Hi I used Apple Cider Vinegar on the back of my kitty's neck after I saw greenish/yellow eye boogies on one eye. I first wiped her eye with a warm wash cloth and then applied 1/2 water and half Apple Cider Vinegar solution with cotton ball on the back of her neck. Her eye discharged just a tiny bit a couple more times that nite and each time I wiped it clean. In the morning there was just a little brown eye speck and I repeated the procedure today. Looks like her eyes are getting better in just 24 hrs!!!! YAY
Posted by Julie (Central Coast, Nsw Australia) on 03/26/2011
Thank you all for your advice, I have a Cocker Spaniel who has had pink eye / discharge 2 times in the last 2 months. Like the rest of you I can't afford the vet bills so I have decided to try this. Luckily for me my son had bought some at a Chinese market so have mixed equal parts with water and soaked the back of her neck. Will let you know how it works.
Posted by Ladykalaveras Loves Bruno (Pacoima, California) on 11/30/2010 ★★★★★
I'm ever so grateful for this site and all the people who take time into contributing their remedies. Thank u so much!!! A couple of days ago my dog Bruno and I went hiking and although it wasn't his first time there and was familiar with the environment something went wrong because once we got home I noticed he kept rubbing his eye it was red swollen and kept tearing with some whitish funky stuff in the corner of his eye. I didn't make a fuss at first and thought it was a simple scratch but later his eye would'nt fully open and that's when I started to panic. My parent put regular eye drops for redness relief but it didn't seem to make a difference.
Make the long story short I was freaking out because nothing like that has ever happened to any of my dogs and the vet was closed so remembering that this site has a pet section I right away researched and found a lot of helpful things many were suggesting ACV mixed with water and rubbing it in the back of their necks do when they bathe themselves the ACV will do its magic. I have faith in ACV in use for many things so I right away went to grab my bottle but since the vinegar has a strong smell my dog didn't like it so my mom suggested to put a chamomile tea bag over his eye not rubbing it but sort of patting it softly over his eye. Not only did I save myself a nice vet bill but if your dogs or cats don't like the smell of vinegar I suggest placing the tea bag over his eye every other hour and with the water from the tea soak a warm cloth into the tea and use that to kinda clean all the eye buggers that they produce. And plus they seem to love the smell of chamomile.
Posted by Chaplain2b (Smithfield, Va/usa) on 12/25/2010
Emmanuel is my therapeutic animal, he is mainecoon, approx. 5 yrs. All of his shots are up to date and he is neutered as required for rescue adoption. He is nationally certified. Long story short, we were surprisingly snowed in with my wheelchair last week. I kept him as dry and warm as possible in his carrier. A week later Christmas day, he has what appears to be conjunctivitis in his right eye. He is a Whiskas cat... He won't eat anything else. I keep Temptations treats and Whiskas fish foil dinners for traveling and convalescence. He normally eats 1 c. Dry at 12 lbs weight daily
After reading all of your helpful comments I decided to use the following:
I use hypoallergenic baby wipes with approx 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar. I wipe them on the back of his neck and his paws. I plan to repeat this twice daily. I also gave him 1 tsp of cider in his foil dinners twice daily. I use a small amount of triple antibiotic cream and swab it under his eye with my finger daily, being careful not get it in his eye. I will report how he is taking to his treatment plan. Thanks for all of the helpful information.
Kelly I have a Corgi and she has really bad skin irritation and has scratched so much that her eye is swollen. My question to you is you just rub the ACV on the eyelid or where. I wonder because doesnt it burn?
Some people ask why put apple cider vinegar on the neck. My guess in putting ACV is too strong directly in the eye, so when cats clean themselves, you notice they rub their front leg/foot starting at the back of the neck and over their head, face, and eyes. This dried ACV flaking onto their eye and face must be enough to cure, but not too strong for their eye.
Posted by Lorene (Willow Springs, Missouri) on 11/05/2010
I HAVE 5 SWEET LITTLE MANX KITTENS, THEY ARE ABOUT 7 WEEKS OLD. I NOTICED THAT THEY WERE GETTING "COLDS IN THE EYES". I REALIZED THAT IT WAS MORE THAN A COLD. I WAS STARTING TO PANIC BECAUSE IT WAS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER, AND I JUST CANT AFFORD A VET BILL. I CALLED MY VETS OFFICE, AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO BRING THEM IN. $$$$$ TIMES 5. SO I DECIDED TO LOOK FOR A HOME REMEDY. I SAW THE SAME REMEDY-- APPLE CIDER VINEGAR---- I REALLY DID NOT THINK IT WOULD HELP, BUT FOR A $1 ITS WORTH A TRY. I FOLLOWED THE 'RECIPE' AND AFTER THE FIRST DOSE, I WAS AMAZED. THERE WAS A NOTICED IMPROVEMENT THE SAME EVENING. I AM GOING TO CONTINUE THIS TREATMENT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I AM REALLY SEEING AN IMPROVEMENT AND THANKS SO MUCH.
Posted by Ebynum415 (Winter Garden, Fl, Usa) on 05/31/2010 ★★★★★
Kitten with Conjunctivitis
My 8 week old kitten was suffering from very severe conjunctivitis and it had gotten so bad I thought he wasnt going to make it. I brought him to 2 different vets who were giving me the runaround and I needed to help my baby boy feel better before it was too late. My husband was doing some research and we came across this site, he flew out of the room telling me I needed to get some ACV with mother in it immedietly. I honestly thought he was nuts. We rubbed some on the back of his neck, added a capful in his food, dipped his paws in a concentration of 50 percent water and 50 percent ACV and put one part ACV and 3 parts water in his water bowl. By the next morning my kitten was starting to open his eye and eat again. today was his second day with this treatment and he is running around like he never got sick and we are able to see part of his eye again. We are going to be doing this treatment for about another week or so and hopefully he will return back to normal. We also used a saline solution 1 cup of water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt on his eye 3 times a day and he loves it. I feel like this site has been a true blessing to me and my kitty.
Posted by Lisa (Wichita Falls, Texas) on 06/01/2010
You can also use antibiotic ointment for the eyes. Not in the eyes! You just rub some in the fur just under the eyes 3 times a day until the eyes clear up. I did this for a recue kitty 3 years ago(I still have him). I was using a warm wet cloth several times a day and it helped but not cured. Someone who worked in a no kill shelter told me about the ointment. It worked. In a week, the little eyes were clear and beautiful blue!!
Ok so this is my first time here and I ran across it looking for a cure for eye infection in my yorkie. I just tried 1 tbsp of water to 1tbsp of ACV. I am hoping to see a difference in his eyes tomorrow. I had brought him to the vet and she said his sister probably bit him because it looked like a bite. I explained it started as a little pimple loking bump then it got a tiny hole in the top but she wrote it off as a bite. The next day after doing the twice daily hotpacking and anitbiotic on his eye followed by oral antibiotics I noticed his other eye looked goopy too. Now if it was a bite it wouldn't spread and it looks like my nephews eye when he got eye infection but I have decided to keep using the antibiotics and eye packs and tonight just tried the ACV. Hopefully my bright eyed bushy tailed little man comes back to normal soon. I hate seeing him like this.
Mickey; As it was stated in previous messages it isn't all too good to use antibiotics on animals too often, but if so you should use a probiotic which is non-fat-plain yogurt, it's some-thing all animals love especially on hot summer days, but also helps to support the immune system. Good luck
Posted by Health Nut (Los Angeles, California) on 05/27/2010 ★★★★★
ACV for Doggy Conjunctivitis
Unbelievable! If I didn't see it for myself I wouldn't have believed it. My little Yorkie got an eye infection which caused a whitish discharge and created these big boogers in his eyes for about 3 days. It wasn't 'til the 4th day when he woke up almost unable to open one of his eyes, I decided to get on my favorite website for natural cures (Earth Clinic) for a solution. Everyone raved about ACV and so I decided to try it. I followed most peoples instructions and since my Yorkie is so small I just mixed 1 Tbl. water with 1 Tbl. AVC and rubbed in on the back of his neck. The very same day it seemed it have been disappearing and by the morning it was completely gone. He woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed and I was amazed at how well it worked. This sure beats going to the vet for some eye drops which would cost me a nice little penny. Thanks to all for the input and thank goodness for this website.
Posted by Jeanette (Victorville, Ca) on 01/06/2011 ★★★★★
Thank You so much! My cocker spaniel eye was swollen at the corner & very red & tear dropping. I took him 3 times to the Vet(2)this past year a good vet I might add & spent hundreds upon hundreds of dollars. Yet they couldn't diagnose it & none of the medications worked, which were $35 ea. I went on line to see what it might be & came up with Conjunctivitis. A home remedy was to mix Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with equal parts of water and put on the neck? At this time I would try anything because I couldn't afford to keep going to the vet & didn't want to see my dog suffer any longer it's been a year. I can't BELIEVE how it's working. I been putting it on 3 to 4 times a day on his neck & around his eye for the last 4 days. The swelling in the corner of his eye is down the redness has lightened dramatically. I am going to continue to use it till it is completely gone. I am just so greatful to this website. I had been praying to God for a cure that wouldn't break me & he sent me to earth clinic. Thank you so Much!!!!
Posted by Magus Trix (Tampa, Florida) on 06/01/2011 ★★★★★
Just wanted to thank everyone for their posts. ACV really seems to hav worked for my lil girl Sheba. The first day I tried honey and tea bags for her infected eye with no luck. After finding this site and reading about ACV I'm a true believer. First I cleaned out her eye with a lil warm water to remove all the gunk. Also so she could open the eye. Then I used a tbsp of ACV in about a half cup of water. I applied it all around her neck and the paw she would use to clean the eye about every 2-3 hrs except at night and within a few applications I noticed the difference. By the 2nd morning I no longer needed to clean her eye out as much as the gunk build up went away and I was able to see her pretty eyes again. Now the swelling has gone down drastically. I'm gonna keep doing this for a 3rd day and hopefully by the end of that she will be back to normal. Thanks again for all the great advice!!!
Posted by Tatiana (Long Island, Ny) on 05/23/2010 ★★★★☆
I've all read on the wonderous healings of the Organic Apple Cider Vinegar..and decided to get it with the "mother" on IT!!
Biju is a black bombay/burmese stunning mix at just turned 15yrs old. Shiny,clear yellow-green moon eyes & acts truly like a dog..dog behaviors too uncanny.
His undereye lining inflamed, and thought, his tear duct was blocked. SO I did the application of ACV to scruff of neck, and diluted with water w ACV under eye..well, the inflamed eyelining GONE! However he still continues to tear with one eye when eating & going to litter box to "push out." I also tried Saline Solution & warm compress.. but he still tears a clear lining dwn to nose. Realizing, internally is the way to go, he ONLY drinks water from the Bathroom tub fawcett. How long does the tear last..and how long with the ACV & Saline Sol... ANYone?!?
Worked wonders! I used a tbsp of organic ACV and a tbsp of water, mixed and put between her shoulder blades twice daily. After a week her eye is completely healed up.
Posted by Perth_girl_cherie (Perth, Western Australia) on 03/16/2010 ★★★★★
Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) cured my dog's conjunctivitis. I have a four year old dougue de bordeaux who developed conjunctivitis in one eye. Like most others a vet bill looked likely to overwhelm us. I looked at your site, considered the ACV and thought it's six australian dollars what the heck. Now with my dog being almost 65 kilograms I thought the capful recommmended for a little maltese and the like would not suffice. So I administered about half a cup to the back of my dogs neck and rubbed it well in. OK so he smelt like someone had urinated in a pair of old sports shoes, but sure enough with 24 hours, I kid you not, not a sign of conjunctivitis, no discharge, no swelling or redness. Even now two weeks later, no reccurence.
Posted by Laura (Atlanta, Georgia) on 03/10/2010 ★★★★★
Dog: Boxer/lab mix (1 year)
Aliment: Pink Eye/conjunctivitis Cure: 1/2 apple cider vinegar 1/2 water placed at the back of my dog's neck. (Same location where flea preventative is placed).
It works! I must confess that I was still doubtful, even after reading all of the "yea's". I filled a ear syringe with half ACV and half water and proceeded to squirt past his sleek fur along the back of his neck and rubbed it in. Thirty minutes later, it looked a lot better. So, I decided to wait a few hours before using the rest of the mixture.
Posted by Mtwist (Sacramento, California) on 02/08/2010 ★★★★★
Organic apple cider vinager for cat's conjuctivitis
I have to tell you I'm absolutely flabbergasted. I got this information about ACV on friday from a friend.
I immediately went the the health food store after work and purchased organic ACV, Went home and got out a couple of Q-tips, dunked them directly into the ACV and rubbed them on the back of my cat's neck. Within a few hours he looked about 70% better, and by the next day, it was completely gone.
Posted by Rash (Lebanon, Beirut) on 05/18/2010 ★★★★★
I saw this website and I tried the ACV on my 3 month old kitten, she had in infected eye, probably from some plants outside my garden, so I tried it, and here I am now posting my review after 2 hours, her eye is healed, and you took off the burden of a vet and the expenses, thank you for this info, Long Live ACV !!
Posted by Elbo88 (Miami, Fl, Usa) on 12/19/2009 ★★★★★
My cat's eye started weeping a bit and then quickly went to eye boogers and her holding it shut. I called for a vet appointment but the next available was Monday, 2 days away so until the appointment, I googled cat eye infection and read about ACV treatment. I happened to have some Organic ACV in the house so decided to try it, just a bit on the nape of her neck and a capfull in her water bowl. The next morning her eye was much better. By the time I got back from work, her eye was almost perfect! No weeping at all, nice and clear, and she was no longer holding it shut. She still was blinking it a bit so I reapplied the ACV to her neck this evening but I am amazed at the results. Her eye improved 90% in one night after a single application!
Posted by Islandduffer (Yuma, Az) on 12/06/2009 ★★★★★
I was on this site 2 weeks ago checking out information on Eye Infection in cats. Our 17 year old siamese had an eye infection and I had been using ointment twice a day for 4 days and there was no inprovement. I read about the apple cider vinegar and all the testimonials were very interesting. I went and got a bottle of apple cider vinegar and when I got home I applied a cap full to her neck. Later that evening I applied another capfull to her neck and rubbed it in really well. The next morning at 6:30 her eye was completely open and bright. I was so pleased with the quick success of such a simple fix. I called our sons who also have pets to share the news so if they ever have their pets sick with eye infection to try apple cider vinegar first. Thanks, thanks, thanks. It was nice not to have to spend another $100.00 at the vets.
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