Many dog breeds are prone to eye discharge, which can lead to a gunky buildup of bacteria and yeast, as well as staining. You’ll have to clean these areas regularly to keep your dog’s eye gunk in check.
Eye wipes are a convenient and easy way to to stop this buildup and staining from occurring.
Ingredients are super important to us, so we’ve scoured the internet for natural dog eye wipes that are not only safe, but also effective at cleaning around a dog’s eyes. It took a lot of digging and comparison, but in the end, we came up with some winners that we’re excited to share with you. Keep reading to see our picks for best dog eye wipes.
In this review:
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Our picks for the best dog eye wipes
Best for dogs with dry skin: TrueBlue Moisturizing Eye Wipes
- Oat amino acids can soothe irritated skin while retaining moisture in skin and hair, repairing hair and increasing manageability
- Cruelty-free and made in the USA
- Hypoallergenic & pH balanced for dogs
- Lightly scented
- Supports humane societies
- Vet-developed ingredients
Not only does TrueBlue donate its products to humane societies, but it also has a pretty good reason to stand behind its products. TrueBlue’s products are developed with the help of veterinarians at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
What’s inside:
- Water
- Organic aloe vera
- Witch hazel
- Glycerin
- Vitamin E
- Licorice extract
- Cucumber extract
- Chamomile
- Oat amino acids
- Citric acid
- Natural preservatives
Best smelling
- Made in the U.S.A.
- No alcohol, MEA or DEA, No sulfates, or parabens.
- Coconut-based ingredients make it smell great.
If you don’t like that clinical “clean” smell a lot of soaked wipes have, look no further. Great Pet’s coconut-based tear stain wipes will help you keep your pet’s eyes goop-free and their whiskers smelling great.
What’s inside:
- Water
- Plant-based surfectants derived from coconut and palm
- preservative
Best tear wipes for dogs
- Removes or lightens stains with consistent use
- Made in the USA
- Small, soft cotton pads for little pups
- No bleach, antibiotics, or harsh chemicals.
- Recyclable packaging
Petpost is a mainstay in pet products, and it’s confident in its products. So much so, that the company offers a guaranteed 100% refund if you are not satisfied with the results after several weeks of consistent use.
What’s inside
- Water
- Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate
- Juniperus Comunis (juniper) fruit oil
- Aloe Barbadensis (aloe) leaf juice
- Glycerin
- Coconut oil
- Benzalkonium Chloride (an eye-safe preservative)
Best for dogs with sensitive skin (fragrance-free)
- Fragrance-free
- Hypoallergenic
- Made in the USA
- Biodegradable
- Unconditional money-back guarantee
Like Vet Remedy, Earthbath supports a variety of animal and environmental causes. And like Petpost, it offers an unconditional money-back guarantee.
What’s inside:
- Purified water
- Aloe vera
- Sodium chloride
- Boric acid
- Witch hazel
- Citric acid
- Vitamin E
- Preservative
Important factors to consider when comparing dog eye wipes
Ingredients
Many dog eye wipe brands contain harsh chemicals that can do a number on your dog, especially if he or she is also exposed to these chemicals in shampoos, conditioners, tick sprays, and a number of other pet products. High-quality ingredients can reduce irritation and unnecessary exposure to harsh chemicals and toxins.
Lucky for us, quality ingredients won’t cost us more when purchasing pet eye wipes. In our research, organic or natural-ingredient wipes are comparable in price to other products—and sometimes even cheaper!
Manufacturer intent
Much like your own eyes, your dog’s eyes are sensitive. You wouldn’t use a Clorox wipe on your own face, so don’t use something on your dog’s face that isn’t specifically designed for that region.
Other products, such as grooming, cleansing, or antiseptic wipes for dogs are made for other parts of the body and may not contain ingredients suitable for use near the eyes.
And even when using proper eye wipes, be sure to keep them out of your dog’s actual eyes.
Objective
All dog eye wipes are meant to clean your pooch’s face, but there are a few different types to choose from depending on the specific issue you’re dealing with.
Basic dog cleaning wipes
Do you simply need a wipe that will help you tidy up the eye area in between baths? If so, most of the eye wipes on the market will do a fine job at softening and removing eye gunk.
Antibacterial wipes for dogs
If you notice the eye area is a little bit stinky, it may be harboring bacteria or yeast.
In this case, you may need to look for antibacterial dog wipes that contain natural antifungal properties.
Ingredients like silver, green tea, aloe vera, and rosemary have been known to fight off bacteria, fungi, viruses, and inflammation.1, 2
Dog tear stain wipes
Do you need a product to remove tear stains? If so, look for a product that specifically identifies that it will help with tear stains.
Here’s the catch—dog tear stains are just that…stains. If you get lucky and find that the product completely removes the tear stains, then that’s great for you! However, it’s more likely that a good product will remove all the gunk and, with consistent use, merely lighten the stain. In this case, you may need to opt for a liquid dog tear stain remover to complement the wipes.
It’s especially difficult to fully remove stains on light-colored hair or fur, and you will probably have to trim it to completely get rid of the stain. After lightening the stain, you need to continue to use the product regularly to prevent new staining from occurring.
Finally, wipes are a great way to regularly clean around the eyes, but they are not a replacement for bathtime. Make sure you always clean your dog’s face and eyes during baths.
Is “fragrance” used?
If you know your dog is sensitive to scents or certain chemicals, look for unscented and hypoallergenic products.
Also, be cautious with scented formulas if artificial chemicals provide the scent. These chemicals are often listed simply as “fragrance” or “perfume” in the ingredients list, and they may be harmful or irritating to your dog around such a sensitive area.3, 4
Frequently asked questions about dog eye wipes
Is it safe to use baby wipes on dogs?
No, do not use human wipes on dogs—even if they’re designed for babies. In short, dog eye wipes are specifically formulated for dog skin pH levels, which are significantly different from a human’s. You can learn more in the guide below.
>> Read more: Can You Use Baby Wipes on Dogs?
How do dog eye wipes work?
Dog eye wipes work best when used consistently. Initially, gently massage the troubled area with an eye wipe for about 60 seconds—or as long as you can keep Fido still. The formula will start to loosen and remove the gunk. Then you can wipe it clean.
With regular use of an eye wipe containing a tear stain-removing formula, you should visibly notice the stain lightening within three weeks’ time. With any luck, the stain will be completely removed. Continue regular use to reduce future staining.
Are these wipes really safe for my dog’s eyes?
Nearly all of the products we reviewed cautioned against getting the product into a dog’s eyes. Eyes are sensitive and can be irritated by even mild ingredients, so caution needs to be taken when using them.
However, their purpose is to clean around your dog’s eyes, so when used appropriately, there’s no need for concern.
If you use dog eye wipes, do you still need to clean the eyes during a bath?
Wipes are a great solution to cleaning in between baths, but always take the opportunity during a bath to wash around your dog’s eyes. Use a warm washcloth with a small amount of high-quality dog shampoo to penetrate the area and loosen the dried eye discharge. Regular eye washing reduces the opportunity for bacteria and yeast to grow.
What else can I do to prevent gunky eye buildup?
Like many dogs, my Yorkie, Max, gets tear stains and eye gunk from time-to-time. I’ve written more about how to prevent these tear stains here. While the tips therein are written for Yorkie owners, they apply to all breeds.
Grab that eye wipe! It’s cleaning time!
Dog eye wipes are the perfect solution for busy pet owners who want to keep their pet’s eye area clean and free of bacteria and stains. Just remember to avoid direct contact with the eyes and to choose a brand with natural, safe ingredients.
Have you had success (or failure!) with pet eye wipes? We would love to hear from you! Drop us a comment below and tell us all about it.
References
- Radji, M., Agustama, R., Elya, B., Tjampakasari, C. “Antimicrobial activity of green tea extract against isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.” Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2013 Aug.3; (8):663-7; discussion 666. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60133-1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23905026
- Lansdown, A. “Silver in health care: antimicrobial effects and safety in use.” Current Problems Dermatology. 2006;33:17-34. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16766878
- International Boarding and Pets Services Association. “Health Risks of Chemically Scented Products for Pets and People”. 2018 Mar 20; https://www.ibpsa.com/blog/2018/03/20/fragrance-stinks-health-risks-chemically-scented-products-pets-people/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2018 Aug 8; https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/fragrances-cosmetic
