Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My dog got flea shampoo in his eye this morning during his bath. What can I do? It's real irritated and painful.
3 Answers
Published on July 30th, 2017
Poor pup! Flea shampoo can be extremely irritating and may even cause chemical burns or corneal ulcers in the eye due to the chemicals in it. You can try to help by rinsing his eye thoroughly with plain saline eye wash, or plain warm water if you don't have any eye wash handy. After that, if the eye continues to look red and irritated, he really needs to be seen by a vet for treatment - if he does have a burn or corneal ulcer, he will need prescription eye drops to treat the problem.
4Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Published on August 20th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This depends on how the eye looks. If it is a dog shampoo, it should not be harmful if it touches the eye other than causing irritation. Eye irrigation with an eye saline solution would be indicated and if it is already looking better, there is no need to have him evaluated by a veterinarian. However, if there are any concerns about eye discharge or discomfort, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a great day!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Published on June 15th, 2017
It depends on the shampoo used. Most mild shampoos purchased at a pet store (i.e. puppy shampoo or oatmeal shampoo) may cause some mild irritation but won't damage the cornea (this is the surface of the eyeball). Some medicated shampoos may be more irritated. If your dog got shampoo in his eyes, you can rinse with a sterile eye wash (available at the pharmacy/grocery store) and observe closely. If your dog's eyes appear irritated after this, or you see a cloudiness over the surface of the eyes, excessive tears or redness, or your dog is scratching/rubbing at the eyes or squinting the eyes then a vet exam is needed.
3Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.