What You Should Know About Common Dog Eye Problems

A common pastime of pet lovers is staring lovingly into their pet’s eyes. Each time they make eye contact, it revitalizes and renews the human-animal bond. Paying close attention to your pet’s eyes is necessary because it enables you to find issues as soon as possible, should they arise.

Prevalent Eye Problems in Dogs

In dogs, eye problems can range from moderate pain due to allergies or minor scratches to more severe issues like glaucoma or extensive traumas. You need to seek immediate medical attention if your dog shows eye issues.

Identifying the symptoms can aid protect against the health problem from worsening, which is always a relief when your dogs begin showing illness indications. The most typical canine eye issues pet owners must watch out for are listed below.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a typical age-related problem for canines, just as they are for people. Cataracts can damage your dog’s sight and, if left untreated, can lead to complete blindness. Often they indicate a more major illness, like diabetes. Cataracts cause obscured vision, swelling, and irritation of the eyes.

Take your dog to a vet for ophthalmology as quickly as you see these signs. If a dog’s cataracts have dramatically damaged its sight, a surgical procedure can be done to eliminate the cloudy lenses. Check out vet clinic websites like northwestanimaleye.com if you want to schedule an appointment with a competent veterinary ophthalmologist.

Dry Eye

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), also called dry eye, is where a dog’s tear glands stop producing as many tears as they typically would. Tears clean the look of debris and feed the cornea; therefore, they’re necessary. Corneal ulcers, chronic discharge of mucus from the eyes, and pain are only some more severe problems that can occur from a deficiency of tears.

In extreme circumstances, surgical intervention is available to reroute saliva-carrying ducts to the eye, where they can restore moisture.

Damaged Cornea

It’s not uncommon for dogs, like people, to obtain something in their eyes. If they like to run around on the lawn, it’s probably due to the grass and dirt. Your dog’s cornea is in danger if they scratch at their eyes to relieve inflammation. Eye redness, excessive tearing, and pawing at the affected eye are all signs and symptoms of a corneal ulcer or corneal injury in your dog.

There should be no delay in taking a dog in for an OFA and genetic screening exam if there is any suspicion that the dog’s cornea has been wounded. The vet can examine the eye injury and recommend actions to minimize the risk of infection.

Cherry Eye

Cherry eye occurs when the tear gland on a dog’s third eyelid prolapses (is displaced). Most typically seen in brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breeds like English Bulldogs and Pugs, as well as droopy-eyed large dog types, although it can occur to any dog. The tear gland of the dog travels from behind the third eyelid, gets irritated and bloated, and ultimately develops a pink ball of tissue that obstructs the dog’s eye.

If you think your dog has cherry eyes, you must take them to a veterinarian with access to a veterinary diagnostics lab.

Bottomline

Before putting anything in your dog’s eyes, you should consult a veterinarian. Do not give your dog any eye drops, particularly red ones, or include medication. An e-collar can also aid you in training your dog to stop wiping its eyes. If the saline eye wash does not help or you observe any squinting or cloudiness in your pet’s eyes, take them to the veterinarian instantly.