Life Hack: Pet Edition: TEA-rrific Eye Cleaner

Nothing’s fancier or more refreshing than a cuppa at afternoon tea, is there? If you’re a black tea lover, your dog or cat may potentially benefit from the aromatic leaves too. Here in the U.S., I’ve predominately been a coffee drinker myself. But when my dog had mild eye discharge, my hunky Irish husband, also a veterinarian, introduced me to a vet trick he had learned across the pond utilizing black tea… and I was hooked! As The Meowing Vet, I just had to share with you! Read on to learn more… ☕

Disclaimer: The following information on the benefits of black tea is theoretical and based purely on anecdotal, “old-school” veterinary recommendations. No evidence-based veterinary research on the use of black tea as a natural eye cleaner for dogs or cats has been established, and no known veterinary ophthalmology report guarantees the improvement of conjunctivitis with its use in pets. Consult with your own veterinarian prior to using this suggested use. The Meowing Vet is not liable for failure of improvement or worsening in your pet’s ocular health. Additionally, please note that black tea may temporarily stain light-colored fur.

Life Hack: Pet Edition #3: TEA-rrific Eye Cleaner - The Meowing Vet

Ocular discharge in the corner of your pet’s eye may be an indication of conjunctivitis.

Black tea contains theaflavins and thearubigins, which are thought to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions on the body. While not fully proven, these molecules have the potential to aid in mild cases of canine and feline conjunctivitis (a.k.a. pink eye). Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, sensitive tissue overlying the inner eyelids, third eyelid, and sclera (or white part of the eyeball). Bacterial or viral infections are often the cause of conjunctivitis though any irritation may induce this inflammatory response, which involves swelling, redness, and discharge to develop around the conjunctiva. You may also observe your pet gently rubbing his or her itchy eyes.

Though many cases of conjunctivitis require a veterinary-prescribed antibiotic or anti-inflammatory ointment or eye drop, if your pet wakes up with “a bit of sleep in its eye” and does not seem painful, is not squinting its eye closed, and does not have a severely red eyeball, a black tea eye cleaner may help. The antioxidant properties of black tea are theoretically capable of speeding up the body’s natural process of healing conjunctivitis.

While the jury’s still out concerning black tea’s use as a mild conjunctivitis treatment, in my personal experience, it makes for a fine everyday eyelid cleaner for otherwise healthy eyes. So the next time your dog or cat wakes up with a few “eye boogers” (alright, alright, I’ll use my professional veterinary speak: ocular discharge), consider reaching for some black tea.

How to make black tea eye cleaner:
Simply brew a black tea solution just like you would if you were making yourself a strong cup to drink. Select a plain teabag (not decaffeinated, flavored, or sweetened), and place in a cup of boiling water and let steep for 3-5 minutes. Once fully cool, use a cotton pad or soft washcloth to clean the inner corners of each eye (i.e. the medial canthus) and around the rim of the eyelids. Be careful not to use the same pad or bit of washcloth for both eyes; use a new cotton pad or opposite side of the cloth for each eye. And no double-dipping back in the tea solution! We don’t want to contaminate the mixture. (Some vets suggest instilling a drop or two of the solution into your pet’s eyeball, but as this is not a sterile concoction, I do not recommend putting the tea directly into the eye. Merely use it as an eye cleaner to wipe around the outside of the eyelids.) When you are done cleaning, immediately store the tea solution in a clean, air-tight sealed container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.

Shhh! I’ll let you in on another little secret… or two. Read and share our other Life Hack: Pet Edition tips:
Life Hack: Pet Edition #1: Empty Gel Caps for Easier Medicating
Life Hack: Pet Edition #2: Weight Loss Tricks

When NOT to use black tea eye cleaner:
As explained, many cases of conjunctivitis are caused by bacterial or viral infections. If your pet’s ocular discharge is not improving with the use of black tea and is instead becoming more copious or worsening in color (i.e. becoming green or blood-tinged), discontinue use and talk to your local vet. Furthermore, allergies, dry eye (known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS), damage to the conjunctiva (such as a laceration or trapped foreign body under the eyelid), and rare conjunctival tumors are other causes of “pink eye” that require your vet’s expertise to diagnose and treat. Therefore, if your pet’s eye is not improving on its own or with the use of eye cleaners (including black tea), seek veterinary attention. If you pet has the beginnings of a painful corneal ulcer, he or she may show the same initial signs as conjunctivitis: a red eye with surrounding swelling and ocular discharge. However, if your pet is holding its eye tightly shut, avoiding bright lights, or hiding as if in pain, call your vet ASAP rather than attempting this black tea trick. Glaucoma (or high pressures inside the eye) may also cause your pet’s eye to appear red. Since untreated glaucoma is very painful and can cause your pet to lose vision in the affected eye(s), see your vet if your pet is not improving with an eye cleaner alone.

While tea may have benefits for your pet’s ocular health, never give tea or tea products for your dog or cat to drink or eat. Like coffee, most teas contain caffeine, which can be toxic to pets if consumed in large enough quantities. Ingestion of enough caffeinated tea can induce heart abnormalities (including an irregular rhythm), gastrointestinal upset, hyperactive behavior, and muscle tremors – the same signs seen with chocolate toxicity. So stick to using tea as an eye cleaner rather than as a yummy treat for your dogs and cats.

Click here to read our article on other human foods that are toxic to dogs and cats. More of an optimistic “cup half-full” kind of person and would rather know what fruits and vegetables are safe for pets instead? Click here.