When you give your dog the once over, don’t forget to include checking the eyes. Dog’s have a high pain tolerance and it’s not unheard of for a dog to have an eye injury or problem that cannot be readily noticed.
Symptoms of eye infection or injury in dogs
Healthy eyes should be clear, bright, and the area around the eyeball should be white. The eyes should obviously be free from scratches, no matter how tiny. Pupils should always be equal in size. Both eyes should be free of tearing, discharge and the corners of the eye should be crust free. If you pull down the inner eyelid, the inner lid should be a healthy pink not red, white and not irritated. Because the eyes can be window to your dog’s good health and the fact that even seemingly minor eye problems have the potential to develop into serious conditions, a quick check for the following could potentially save your dog from infection, disease, or potential vision loss:- Discharge
- Crusty gunk
- Excessive tearing
- Red or white eyelid linings
- Closed eye or eyes
- Cloudiness
- Change in eye color
- Visible third eyelid
- Unequal pupil sizes
- Noticeable change in vision
- Visible scratches
- Redness on the whites
- Anything unusual
- Bleeding in the eye
If your dog has any of these symptoms or there seems to be any sudden changes in vision, it’s time to see the vet. Any eye injury is cause for an emergency appointment as different treatments can possibly save a dog’s vision and even minor scratches, can cause blindness.
Eye hygiene in dogs
To keep your dogs eyes healthy or to clean pollens and such from the dog’s eyes, moisten a cotton ball with water and wipe from the inner corner outward. To avoid scratching the eye, never rub or wipe if the dog has dirt in the eyes. It is better to keep sterile doggy eye drops/flush on hand and put a few drops in each eye.
For dogs that have long hair, keep hair trimmed and out of the eyes and always keep soaps, lotions, oils, sprays, etc. out of the eyes.
Eye problem prevention
One of the best ways to keep a watch out for eye problems is to be familiar with the conditions inherent to your breed and be sure that your vet checks the eyes at the annual physical.
Common Dog Diseases and Conditions
- Conjunctivitis: The dog’s eyes will look red, swollen, and may have discharge.
- Dry eye: Diminished tear production can cause corneal inflammation, squinting and discharge.
- Cherry eye: Enlarged tear gland forms a cherry-like mass on the dog’s eye lid area.
- Epiphora: An overflow of tears creates stains on the dog’s facial fur.
- Glaucoma: The cornea becomes cloudy and the eye enlarges due to an increased pressure in the eyeball.
- Ectropion: A turning outward or rolling inward of the upper eyelid causes the lower lid to droop and tearing.
- Cataract: An opacity on the lens of the eye that can cause impaired vision and possible blindness.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Caused by degeneration of retinal tissue-night blindness is often its first sign.
- Pannus: an immune-mediated condition affecting the cornea or clear part of the eye. It occurs primarily in middle-aged German shepherd dogs, but other breeds may also be affected. Normally starts with the appearance of a non-painful, elevated pink mass on the cornea.
By keeping both eyes open for these common conditions and detecting potential problems before they get serious, you can help prevent and protect your dog from vision loss.
HOW TO PREVENT VISION LOSS IN YOUR DOG
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