Signs of eye problems in dogs. Whether they sparkle with mischief or shine with adoration, your dog’s eyes reveal their feelings and personality while serving as a window into the world.
However, dog-eye infections and other disorders can impair vision. There are numerous disorders that can influence the health of your dog’s eyes, including many secondary diseases and a congenital eye problem in dogs; therefore, regular examination is essential. Eye problems in older dogs are more prevalent.
You don’t need a veterinary degree to recognize healthy eyes, just check them every day when you glance into your devoted hound’s eyes. If you don’t often gaze lovingly into your dog’s eyes, how about setting aside a few minutes once a month for a short home checkup? Senior dog eye problems are more common and should be checked more frequently.
Knowing what to look for can help you to notice eye problems in dogs and assist you in keeping your dog’s eyes healthy. Begin by reviewing this list of six signs of eye problems in dogs.
What Are Some Signs of Eye Problems in Dogs?
Infections in the dog’s eyes can affect the eyelid, the conjunctiva (the pink area of the eye), or the eye itself. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all cause them.
If you detect any of the following symptoms, take your dog to the vet:
- Eyes that are cloudy
- Changes in behavior, such as anxiety
- alterations in the color of the eyes
- stumbling across items (a sure sign that vision is impaired)
- grabbing the eyes or face
- Inflamed eyes, edema, or puffiness
- Squinting or half-closed eyes
- unwillingness to jump or utilize stairs
- Reluctance to visit new areas
- sensitivity to bright light
- Your dog’s eyes may be inflamed and streaming with fluid, impairing vision.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma in dogs is characterized by increasing intraocular pressure. Normally, fluid moves in and out of the eye to keep pressure constant. With glaucoma, either too much fluid enters the eye or there is a drainage problem, resulting in increased pressure.
Causes
Trauma, tumors, infection, eye abnormalities, or inflammation.
Symptoms
Eye pain or redness, as well as visible capillaries on the whites of the eyes, are early indicators of glaucoma in dogs. As the disease worsens, a dog’s eye might swell and become uncomfortable and the cornea can become opaque due to stretching.
Treatment
Early glaucoma is treated with medicine that reduces fluid production in the eye and allows for improved fluid drainage, lowering the pressure.
If the medication fails to relieve the eye pressure and pain, your veterinarian may prescribe eye removal, commonly known as membrane rupture. This may appear dramatic, but dogs can still live a full life without the damaged eye.
If you observe any of the indicators of glaucoma in your dog, take them to the vet as soon as possible. This is one of the more common eye problems in older dogs.
Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye
Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is a bacterial infection of the conjunctiva of a dog and a sign of eye problems in dog, which is the moist mucosal tissue around the eye and under the eyelid.
Causes
Infection from a virus or bacterium, or an allergic reaction to irritants such as a certain scent, cigarette smoke, or outdoor allergens.
Symptoms
- Green or yellow eye discharge
- Squinting or keeping one’s eyes closed
- Rubbing the eye because it hurts or itches
- The whites of the eyes will be red or bloodshot, but the cornea will usually be clean.
Treatment
A bacterial eye drop or ointment is used to treat it, and a steroid is occasionally used to minimize inflammation. It normally goes away after a week. There’s a slim possibility you could develop conjunctivitis from your dog. Take your dog to the vet so they can be checked and treated properly.
Cataracts
When a dog has cataracts, their lens becomes opaque, making the macula (the center region of the eye) appear hazy. It is possible for cataracts to affect both eyes. This haziness is one of the easier to spot signs of eye problems in dogs. It is also one of the most common eye problems in older dogs.
Causes
Cataracts can be inherited or induced by other medical conditions. Diabetes is one cause of cataracts because extra glucose causes the lens to enlarge. Uveitis, or serious inflammation of the eye, can result from a ruptured lens.
Symptoms
The eye appears white, blue-grey, or hazy. This can also be caused by aging, so visit your veterinarian to establish the true cause.
Treatments
Cataract surgery for dogs involves removing the damaged lens and replacing it with an acrylic or plastic lens.
Corneal ulcers
A corneal ulcer in a dog’s eye is a scratch or lesion to the clear part of a dog’s eye, the cornea. The front of the eye of a dog with a corneal ulcer will be cloudy. This is also a sign of eye problems in dogs. A green, yellow, or clear discharge is possible.
Causes
A corneal ulcer on a dog’s eye can be caused by an injury or infection, or they can be caused by corneal inflammation induced by chronic dry eye. Dogs with “buggy” eyes, such as brachycephalic breeds, are particularly vulnerable to this.
Symptoms
Tearing, redness, squinting, blinking, rubbing at the eye, and potentially blood in the eye are all symptoms of a tear.
Treatments
Ointment or antibiotic treatments may be used, or eye surgery may be required. If left untreated, a corneal ulcer on a dog’s eye can lead to dead tissue that restricts vision and can lead to blindness.
Uveitis
Uveitis is an infection of the iris, and also a sign of eye problems in dogs which can also affect the deeper tissues of the eye. The inflammation can cause an increase in intraocular pressure, resulting in glaucoma.
Causes
Trauma, toxins, infections, ocular tumors, cataracts, and excessive blood pressure are all causes of uveitis.
Symptoms
Uveitis symptoms include intense pain, squinting, redness, and dilated pupils. Your dog may dislike bright lights, and his eyes may appear clouded.
Treatment
The treatment will differ depending on the cause. Many types of uveitis can be treated with eye medications and pain relievers, but in some cases the eye must be surgically removed.
Diabetes
Diabetes is becoming more common in dogs. It is more common in elderly, large-breed dogs, breeding females, dogs with inadequate nutrition, and dogs suffering from obesity. Cataracts develop in more than 75% of diabetic dogs, resulting in full or partial blindness.
Signs of Eye Problems in Dogs
As you can see, there are a number of common signs of eye problems in dogs that you should be aware of and know what to do or get your dog to a vet. The good thing is that almost all eye problems are visible if you are paying close attention to your dog.
Whether you are having eye problems in French Bulldogs, mini schnauzer health problems, or any other pet, refer back to this post to get information on any signs of eye problems in your dog.
Probably the most important thing is early detection to hopefully correct the problem before it is too late. Proper nutrition is also an important part of a dog’s health along with feeding the right amount. It is also important to know that you should never give cat food to a dog.
It’s not a bad idea to research health problems in dogs when deciding on what breed of dog that you want. Whether you are looking for the best small to medium-sized dog breeds for your home or the best small dog breeds for seniors and retirees, it’s always a good idea to check out the possible eye problems that are prevalent.
It is also good to note that there are many human foods that should never be fed to your dog. See my post on What Human Food is Bad for Dogs.
Check out my post on common health problems with Jack Russells for specific issues with this breed.
As always, thank you for visiting Small Dog Living and leave us a comment if you can.
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