Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy for Conjunctivitis in Pets

Had I not seen this with my own eyes, I never would have believed this would work, but it's a miracle cure for sure...Four months ago we rescued a cat who's elderly owner could no longer care for her, she was aprox 2 years old and was in a hoarding situation, raised in a very unhealthy environment. She came to us with upper respiratory problems and severe conjunctivitis in one eye. During her first Vet wellness exam to check for infectious diseases that could be spread to my other cats the Vet checked her eye for scratches, or foreign debris in her eyes. Nothing was found so the Vet diagnosed a herpes virus and we started administering antibiotic drops into her eyes. Several weeks passed with no improvement. She was taken in for her spaying surgery and shots at which time they rechecked her eye and prescribed more ointment to put in her eye, this time containing a steroid. Several weeks passed with no improvement. Another call to the Vet and they prescribed an anti-inflammatory drop. Several weeks passed...no improvement. Another call to the Vet, this time they prescribed another antibiotic drop, this time with a stronger antibiotic...10 days later, still no improvement. I was ready to give up hope and just thought she would be plagued with a bad eye for the rest of her life, and just hoped it wouldn't get so bad that she would have to have it removed.

Googled "Feline Conjunctivitis" to see what I could find online when I found the "EarthClinic" site. I was skeptical to say the least...I couldn't believe something as simple as putting organic Apple Cider Vinegar diluted 1-1 with distilled water could cure her eye problem, after spending several hundred dollars already on her eyes, but I was ready to try anything...

Day one I put the mixture on a jumbo cotton ball and soaked the scruff of her neck 3 times throughout the day. I could tell by that evening she was already starting to open her eye, which she had been squinting shut since we brought her home!

Day 2, I continued with the treatment 3 times throughout the day, her eye was 75% better, much less redness and no eye boogies!

Day 3 & 4, I used the mixture 2 times.

By day 5 her eye was completely healed! No redness, no squinting, and no boogies! I don't know how this works but, it is a miracle, this is the first time her eye's have been completely clear, open and healthy looking since we got her! She was to the point that she would RUN and hide when she saw me coming with a bottle of eye drops, but she didn't mind the ACV treatment at all, I warmed the cold solution to about body temp and she actually enjoyed me rubbing it on her neck between the shoulder blades.

THANK YOU EARTH CLINIC! I have many friends in the animal rescue community and will definitely will be sharing this treatment with them all!

I put the diluted mixture of two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in one cup of water on my dog's goopy eye(s).

I also did a one-to-one ratio on his scruff and paws. The next day his eye was noticeably better. I have continued to do so for three consecutive days and I'm just delighted with the results. The vet, whom we love, guesstimated a charge of $400 were this remedy to have failed. We just had an expensive slipped disc fiasco and are thrilled this worked, especially given the upcoming holidays. Thank you!

My 7 yr old doberman has conjunctivitis; not sure how he got it but its in the left eye, which swelled up on top to the size of a golf ball. When I opened the swollen lids, the inner tissue appeared to be swollen, but no redness on the whites of his eyes. Flushed his eye with saline solution and took him to the vet. Vet poked around and used ultraviolet light to determine no corneal trauma and no foreign object. She prescribed eyedrops. Basically, its neomycin and polymyxin--the same stuff in generic antobiotic ointment you can get at Target or Walmart for $3. So I used the $35 eyedrops religiously for a week and the swelling and discharge went away.

But less than a week later, the swelling and discharge came back. I clean my boy's face everyday with babywipes and now I flush his eyes with sterile saline solution, so whatever foreign object might have irritated his eye to begin with was not an issue the second time his eye swelled up. Hmmm.

This time tried Refrigerated organic ACV on a cotton ball, saturated the back of his neck and wiped his eye. He seemed to like the cool sensation on his eye. Plus put a little generic antiobiotic gel on the corners of his eye. Swelling went away in less than 24 hours. I will keep this up for a week just to make sure it doesn't come back.

I know vets mean well but in today's grim economy why stick it to people with expensive pharma when there are inexpensive home remedies that are just as if not more effective. I have three dogs and three cats and I would have more if I could afford them. Maybe I could if vets would stop purchasing their vacation homes with unnecessary scripts for our furkids. Yeah, that sounds rather cynical but I have paid my share of unnecessary vet expenses over the years and finally wised up. Its great that we love our furkids, people, but please do your research first before making a vet appt. So much stuff is unnecessary if not downright harmful for your pet but most vets don't care, they just want your money. This website is a great start.

This stuff is a miracle!

My 10-year old Shih Tzu has had eye issues for years. The vet says he is 75% blind (not sure I believe that from the testing I have done at home) due to leakage from his corneas to lubricate his eyes. They have always been leaking nasty yellowish stuff that literally glues his left eye shut in the morning. And the whites of his eyes are bright red. He's had oodles of antibiotics and gunk that costs $84 for a tube the size of my pinky - and about 10% of that farts out air the first time you use it - that I have to use 3 times a day. I've spent over $1000 on vet visits and medicines to control it.

SO, I read this thread. Cleaned his eyes (AGAIN! - it's my second profession - if I got paid for it I'd be rich - or at least able to pay vet bills... ) with boric acid (1 tsp to 1 cup water, then I use cosmetic pads to wipe them well). Then I doused the back of his neck with 1/2 water and 1/2 apple cider vinegar from a spray bottle.

Holy $%^&!! He woke up the next morning with nothing! Nada! I couldn't believe it and kept checking his eyes for days. It's been almost a week and I douse the back of his neck before I shower every morning (so I can wash off the smell - yuck! ) and his eyes are 95% better. Next to no discharge.

This forum has saved my dog. The vet wanted $800 to remove his eye. He came very close to being put down and my sons would have been completely heartbroken. This wonderful but (formerly) miserable dog acts like a puppy again!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!

Ain't Google grand? :>)

I just had to report my results using Apple Cider Vinegar for my new kitten's conjunctivitis. I did the half water-half vinegar solution (50/50) and tho it made no sense to me I did soak a cotton ball and applied it to Onyxs' shoulder blades (this being after my third application @ 2x/day) and I also mixed up a solution of 1cp water/1tsp of the vinegar and wiped his eyes out three times a day with it.

I am floored by the results so far!! It's only now the second day and it was posted by others that results would be noticed on the second day and I can 100% say with no doubts that the treatment is actually working!!

When I got him his eyes had a lot of pus in both eyes. The eyelids were both crusty and partially sealed by the discharge so I think it's fair to say his infection was moderate heading towards severe. This morning his eyes were both open all the way, a very tiny amount of pus, mostly his eyes were watery. He was so happy to actually see his toy that he played and played for a good hour before passing back out again.

I now have a very hyper kitty. He does have worms also but once I finish taking care of that issue I can't imagine how much energy he will have when his poor tummy feels better especially if he's displayed this much energy just fixing his eyes. It was literally the best $4 I ever spent on any kind of product. And to think putting vinegar on the shoulder blades in the back AWAY from their eyes actually works!! AND it sure beats going to the vet paying for just being there and then the cost of some kind of medicine and my baby is very young, too young to have been taken from his mother however the mothers owner is far from a responsible pet owner and was literally throwing the entire litter outside in the woods next to her house. If I could have taken them all I would have and I've thought about them ever since. I know I'm going to try everything I can to help the one I did save. I don't know about the worms, if the vinegar would kill those but that's my next mission. If not it's off to the vet with him.

Thanks for the advice, this site is fantastic!! I spend many hours here going thru all the remedies and ailments. Keep up the great work!!

My dog had conjunctivitis in both eyes used 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar to 1 part water stood his feet in it one at a time then wet the back of his neck too. The next day it was completely gone such a relief. Thank you for the tip, it saved me a fortune. Will pass the advice on.

I just want to say thank you for this information! Cat started with watery left eye. Progressed to both eyes and thick discharge. Vet said no need to bring her into the office. I applied ACV to her neck and then her paw. Cleared her eyes up in 3 days. Use it once a day. Thank you again. This was so helpful.

My 5month old gsd mix woke up Saturday with nasty eye gook and red in one eye, had it all day. Started the Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with water, put it on cotton balls and rubbed on both his eyes and on the back of his neck. Sunday he was already getting better by this morning his eye is back to normal. Worked great!

I have a 5 year old Schnauzer that has had conjunctivitis for the last 2 months. I took him to the Vet and we applied antibiotics drops for 2 weeks, it came back and we reapplied for another 2 weeks. To no avail it came back again. I read this site, and have tried the ACV to wipe his eyes, the back of the neck, and in his water. It was gone in about 5 days, his eyes look normal.

I was just wondering how long should I use it? Not trusting because of the antibiotic, and worrying it may come back.

So I stumbled upon this site searching for a cure for conjunctivitis for my 5 yr old cat, Milo. After reading all the posts about Apple Cider Vinegar and how it worked for so many others, I had to give it a try. I mixed 1 tablespoon of ACV and 1 tablespoon of water and soaked a cotton ball with it. Put it on the back of her neck, in between her shoulder blades, and when we got up this morning she was 99% better. I was blown away with how quickly it worked. I will do another dose today just to be on the safe side. This certainly saved me $$ for not having to go to the vet. Plus Milo is not a fan of going in the carrying crate, so less frustration on both our parts.

I saved this site to my favorites for future ailments.

One day I noticed that my cat's eyes looked swollen and were partly shut. There was also a white discharge and she looked like she didn't feel well. I tried the half filtered water and half apple cider vinegar that's been tried by people on earth clinic. I mixed the water and vinegar and then put some on a small cotton pad and cleaned her closed eyes along the eyelids. I did that once in the evening and the next morning and that's all it took to heal whatever was wrong.

Hi thankyou so much for your post. We have a 9 week old kitten whom we took to the vet on Tuesday as 1 of her eyes started to swell really badly and it was really red and she couldnt open it properly. We didnt know what was wrong or why it swelled. The vet gave her some eye drops which we used but it was not any better yesterday, so the vet wanted to give her an anti-inflammatory injection, which could kill her as her organs aren't yet fully developed. We obviously were horrified that she would suggest that, so after alot of money spent, I remembered this site. We used your recommendation of dipping her paws in ACV mixed with water, and within hours she could open her eye, and this morning its fully cleared and better. We are amazed and so thankful to you and everyone else who post on this site xx

So, I adopted a rescue cat 2 years ago. She was on eye medication at the time and I thought it was just an eye infection that would be cured shortly. Unfortunately we went back and forth to the vet 3x initially for new medications because nothing was curing the infection. She would go for maybe a week or 2 with drier eyes but then back it came. I was told that she probably had herpes virus and would have flare ups all her life. She has been on every medication that my Vet suggested. I have tried probiotics for a stronger immune system, TONS of lysine, colloidal silver. etc. Nothing has worked period. I don't use air diffusers, plug-ins, carpet powders, nothing that I think might irritate her eyes. SO.... for the past 2 days I've doused her back with organic and raw apple cider vinegar and her eye is BETTER! Not sure if I am going to have to do this on a daily basis but it matters not. My Fifi is better :) This is fantastic stuff!!!

I got a kitten with FIV and with that she has conjunctivitis; I looked up some of the best home remedies for what could be done to keep her from loosing her gorgeous eyes and prevent her from feeling so uncomfortable, and was thoroughly pleased to see that apple cider vinegar is the solution. I've noticed some people on here are saying that their kitty will refuse their wet food if the vinegar is put into their food?

For my kitten, I did 1/4 teaspoon to one teaspoon of chicken broth for one 8 oz can of wet food. She loved it! I'd go for an organic broth, however, if you're a skeptic like me and don't want anything harmful getting into your kitty.

Hope this helps anyone still having trouble with coaxing their kitties to take their treatment.

I had a kitten with an eye infection and I knew that vinegar was the solution, based on my experience with other animals (chickens, cows, etc), but I also knew that cats won't drink vinegar. I tried putting some vinegar mixed in with canned cat food, and they refused it. So I read on this website to put it on their back. I did that, and her eye got much better. Then I figured out that to make it easier to apply, just dip her foot in it. I put 1 to 1 vinegar and water in a little jar and dipped her feet in it. It's well known that feet are super absorbent. Thankfully, the kittens eye is much better today. I tried several remedies that didn't work and it had gotten bad, so it took a few days to get better.

Amazing. organic raw unfiltered apple cider “with the mother” vinegar”. Mixing 1/1 with water and wipe liberally on the back of the neck and scruff has cured my Siamese cat Meezee's conjunctivitis. It's the 3rd day and it is 99% healed. Gonna do it for another 2 days which will be more than enough. I had this problem once before and it cost me $150 for the vet visit and eye drops.

Just wanted to add my experience to the mix. Bottom line, it works.

Hi Carole,

in rescue kittens with gooey eyes, I used to use Terramycin ointment from the feed store, or online purchase. it worked on 90% of the kittens eye infections. If you use it, just be careful not to touch the eye. just gently put it inside the bottom eyelid.

Hi! Should a fresh batch be made daily? I've been using the same solution for a few days but was thinking the eyewash should be made and applied fresh daily.

Perhaps the solution applied externally would be ok for a week? I am concerned because I read that a solution made with water risks bacterial growth, but that was an article based on a homemade saline solutions...maybe one made with vinegar might be okay for a few days? What do you think?

Today is day four since trying ACV, and so far my fur baby is responding well. I'm hoping he is clear by Christmas =). Is it reasonable to take a week or two for complete healing? I read somewhere that three days is typical.

Happy Holidays! Thank you so much for all you do!

Today is day four since trying ACV, and so far my fur baby is responding well. I'm hoping he is clear by Christmas =). Is it resonalbe to take a week or two for compleate healing? I read somewhere that three days is typical.

Happy Holidays! Thank you so much for all you do!

Posted by Theresa

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Theresa

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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(Mpls., Mn) on 08/16/2015

Steph -is there a reason you have not taken your dog to the vet? I understand in the UK a vet cannot refuse you service if you are unable to pay immediately. Your dog sounds as if she is suffering: this does not sound like a simple eye infection - please take your dog to the vet. Then report back and see if there is a remedy that applies once she has been stabilized.

Hello, Michelle --- for conjunctivitis the best remedy is colloidal silver. I personally would not use apple cider vinegar although some people use ACV.

In fact CS is THE remedy for eyes and kills viral infections. Chamomile tea is also excellent.

Namaste, Om

Hi all, I am a first timer and I found the posts on ACV hopeful so I started treating my cat with it just now. I noticed when I got home this afternoon that he was squinting on the left eye, it looks a bit puffy. I got disheartened because I am unemployed and I feel any extra thing I have to spend on; I thought about how much is this gonna cost me, to go to vet. So I searched the internet and found this website. Thank you for all the valuable information posted here. I just washed his eye with diluted ACV (1 part ACV to 3 parts purified water). I drink it myself so I have plenty handy. I didn't get much resistance from kitty, he let me help him. I am going to also try to give it to all of my kitties (I'm a proud mama of five) in their food, as many of you are doing. I am positive the ACV is going to work on kitty's eye. Thank you, thank you, thank you :)

ACV for Dog Conjunctivitis

OMG - It really works. My Bichon suffered with eye issues for YEARS. Each vet vist cost nearly $200 for the service plus anitbiotic cream...but the infection would return.

Last night after seeing more of those green eye-boogies with the black crust, I decided to search for a more holistic solution -> EarthClinic lead me to rub a capful of organic ACV to the back of his neck and rub extra virgin coconut oil around his eyes. This morning I was gerated by a bright-eye dog instead of the usual raccoon-masked dog. Thank you EC