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Puppy got Dawn soap in eye. Red, swollen, squinting. Is it serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | unneutered | 3 months and 9 days old | 4 lbs

Tonight I washed my puppy with dawn dish soap, and I have done so many times before, but when I was pouring it he moved and got it directly in his eye. We have rinsed it a few times, but it is slightly swollen. The bottom lid is red but his cornea doesn't look too irritated. He is playing normally but squints and he is tearing up some. Is this to be expected?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Catherine Stecyk

Veterinarian

Published on May 8th, 2019

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Soap is very irritating to dog's eyes and can cause superficial damage to the cornea. This is painful, and causes dogs to squint their eye and produce more tears. I recommend trying to flush the eye with eye wash - you can purchase from a pharmacy - 2-3 times per day. If Dobby is still squinting his eye in 16-24 hours, he should be seen by a veterinarian for an eye exam. Depending on the severity of injury, a cone collar may be recommended as well as other topical eye medications. If Dobby's eye seems to improve in the next day, he may be OK. I hope this is helpful! Please consider purchasing a puppy-safe soap that won't be so irritating to Dobby in the future!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 11th, 2017

    Hi and thank you for your question on PetCoach! Soap can be very irritating to the eye if it isn't washed out well. Flushing the eye with sterile water or saline will help. Here is what I would recommend or something similar you can find at your local pet supplies store. https://www.chewy.com/sentry-sterile-eye-wash-dogs-4-oz/dp/107332?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=Sentry&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7_y6zo6e1gIVVLnACh0tAQKzEAYYASABEgKoV_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds I hope this helps!

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 21st, 2019

    Poor girl. Unfortunately it sounds like Coco has a chemical burn on her cornea. YOu will have to take her in to your vet to get this treated. After a quick eye exam and stain test the vet should be able to idenitfy the ulcer and then prescribe her eye antibiotic ointment to resolve this. Please take her in soon to help the eye heal quickly and not risk deepening of the ulcer, which will further injure the eye. Until you can get her in, its best to wipe the outside gunk that accumulates with a salt water solution to help prevent irriation around the eyes. But please schedule her an appt as soon as possible. I hope that your fur baby Coco gets better soon! Best wishes and take care.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 17th, 2016

    I would gently flush our your dog's eyes with cool water for a couple of minutes if she will allow you to do this. Monitor her eye, and if it's still swollen around the eye in the morning, or the eye itself has become red, then I would take her into the vet to have her eye examined.

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