A typical pastime of pet lovers is gazing lovingly into their pet’s eyes. Each time they make eye contact, it freshens and renews the human-animal bond. Paying close attention to your pet’s eyes is essential because it enables you to discover problems as soon as possible, should they arise.
Prevalent Eye Problems in Dogs
In dogs, eye problems can range from moderate discomfort because of allergies or tiny scratches to more severe issues like glaucoma or extensive traumas. If your dog shows eye problems, you need to look for immediate medical attention.
Recognizing the symptoms can prevent the disease from intensifying, which is always a relief when your dogs start showing illness indications. Listed here are the most common canine eye problems pet owners should keep an eye out for.
Cataracts
Cataracts are a usual age-related problem for canines, just as they are for people. Cataracts can harm your dog’s eyesight and, if left untreated, can cause complete blindness. Sometimes they show a more significant health problem, like diabetes. Cataracts cause blurred vision, swelling, and irritation of the eyes.
Take your dog to a vet for ophthamology as quickly as you discover these signs. If a dog’s cataracts have dramatically impaired its vision, surgical treatment can be carried out to remove the cloudy lenses.
Dry Eye
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), also called dry eye, is a problem 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 crucial. Corneal ulcers, chronic discharge of mucus from the eyes, and pain are only some more extreme issues that can arise from a deficiency of tears.
In extreme conditions, surgical intervention is available to reroute saliva-carrying ducts to the eye, where they can bring back moisture.
Damaged Cornea
It’s not unusual for dogs, like people, to acquire something in their eyes. If they like to run around in the backyard, it’s probably because of the grass and dirt. Your dog’s cornea is in danger if they scratch at their eyes to relieve inflammation. Eye redness, extreme 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 OFA exams if there is any suspicion that the dog’s cornea has been injured. The vet can assess the eye injury and suggest actions to reduce the risk of infection.
Cherry Eye
Cherry eye occurs when the tear gland on a dog’s third eyelid prolapses (is displaced). Many are generally seen in brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breeds like English Bulldogs and Pugs, as well as droopy-eyed enormous dog types, although it can occur to any dog. The tear gland of the dog travels from behind the third eyelid, gets inflamed and swollen, and forms 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 vet with access to a veterinary lab in Kirkland.
Bottomline
Before putting anything in your dog’s eyes, you should consult a vet. Do not give your dog any eye drops, particularly red ones, or include medication. An e-collar can likewise assist you in training your dog to stop wiping its eyes. If the saline eye wash doesn’t help or you see any squinting or cloudiness in your pet’s eyes, take them to the veterinarian immediately.
