I bought terramycin for my dogs eyes, he has a secretion in his eyes. Is it ok for me to put the ointment in his eyes or

Good evening, my name is***** to JustAnswer. I am so sorry to hear that your dog is having an eye issue. I am happy to help and see if there is something we can do at home or if a vet visit is needed. May I ask his name and age? Do you think you can attach a picture of the eye so I can see what you are seeing?

Awe, poor guy.  I am very sorry you are dealing with this!  Congratulations on Kirby's adoption though, as he is quite adorable.  I am seeing a bit of discharge in that right eye, although it does not seem terribly swollen or irritated. Can you tell if it is red?  Does he seem to be rubbing at his eye or squinting at all?

Ahh, I understand.  Kirby sounds like he is keeping you busy!  I am suspicious that he might have a bit of an infection, which can cause the signs we are seeing.  A bit less likely is a scratch or something else affecting him, like an autoimmune disorder, especially since it is in both eyes.  He has had this since you adopted him?

Thank you so much for that information.  I know you are worried about Kirby! If possible, I would recommend a veterinary visit for an eye exam, since there is a chance that this could be a scratch rather than an infection/irritation as I mentioned.  It would also be a good idea to establish care, as it would be easier to keep him up to date on vaccinations and deworming as well. However, in the meantime, we can try the following things to see if we can help clear this up for him:

--I would place an e-collar if Kirby continues to scratch at his eyes (which could make it worse).

--You can rinse his eyes out with artificial tears several times a day to help dilute the irritation or allergens, which might be affecting him. Since pollen in the air (allergies) can also cause some eye irritation, you can also consider giving Benadryl at 1mg/lb twice daily as needed.

--In the meantime, you can also try the Terramycin antibiotic ointment you have at home.  It can be applied every 6-8 hours for 5-7 days.  This is a great help for mild infections, and I suspect will likely help Kirby.  You will want to make sure you are not touching his actual eye with the applicator tip, and instead place the ointment at the corners of the eye.  You can apply it even with discharge in the eye, but it would be better to rinse the eye first, wait a few minutes, and then apply this ointment.

--If his eyes are not getting better within 2-3 days, I'd absolutely recommend getting Kirby seen by a vet to make sure there is not something more severe going on.

You are so very welcome.  I think that sounds like the safest option here, especially if Kirby is not improving.  I know eye issues can be quite scary, especially with everything so new.  I do hope that he recovers quickly!  Do you have any additional questions for me at the moment?

Awe, I wish I could help!  You are very welcome.  It is my pleasure to assist tonight.  If you do have any additional questions, please feel free to reach back out.  Wishing you and Kirby all the very best!