Red Eyes in Cold Weather

[Kate, Mel, Tenley & Harper]

So, Tenley is 1 year old. We got him last December. He is from Florida, and we live in Washington, DC. It is cold and windy here, and we battled constant eye infections all winter. His eyes would always be irritated in the cold, but when the wind struck that was it... he would get an infection within 24 hours. I cleaned his eyes once a day with saline, and that helped some but it was putting a band-aid on it rather than treating it. If he had an infection, we put the antibiotic drops in too.

They eye infections (and all eye discharge) went completely away all summer. Now, we have our typical mix of fall weather. Some cold & windy days, some warm & sunny days. On the cold and windy days, his eyes flare up and he's already had one infection. On the warm & sunny days, he is totally fine. I think what is happening is that the cold either hurts or irritates his eyes, they get itchy, and he rubs them and gets other stuff in them, which infects them.

Short of moving down south, is there anything that can be done for poor Tenley's eyes? He is an ALD and has cocker in him so he also has slightly droopier bottom eye lids already (NOTHING like a typical spaniel, but I wouldn't call them firm like a lab's). I am not keen on just putting antibiotics in his eyes every day. Appreciate any and all ideas. Is there some sort of moisturizing non-antibiotic drop I can put in his eyes before and after we go outside?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad you have a plan going forward. Please keep us posted on how Tenley does with the drops. :)

[Kate, Mel, Tenley & Harper]

So Tenley has been on the Zaditol drops for 24 hours now. It was warm all week so we didn't start them until it got cold yesterday. His eyes are FANTASTIC. Very normal and all the redness (which was really bad yesterday) has cleared up significantly. I am so relieved. He isn't at all itchy anymore, either.

I think I'll probably still take him in for the test for the KCS this week just to be totally sure. Eyes aren't something I want to cut corners with. Especially his deep magical green eyes... Swoon...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad the drops are helping him. :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I still think goggles are worth a try : )

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

What about goggles to help keep his eyes out of the cold?  Just a thought.

[Kate, Mel, Tenley & Harper]

I'm thinking about it, Diane. Tenley is such a diva in that he LOVES wearing clothes. He brings me something to put on him every morning and isn't satisfied until I put it on him. I think it's because one thing our trainer did with them as pups to get them used to being handled was put them in tshirts, etc. He loves it now. I think he'd totally rock the doggles and if they're going to help protect his eyes, why not...

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We use over the counter eye drops (Systane or Refresh) for our Springer Spaniel - he also has the droopier lower lid.  We use the drops daily to lubricate his eyes which are often dry.

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

If you do try the goggles be sure to post a picture!!