2/11/2013

As a pet owner responsible for keeping your dog healthy and away from eye infections can dog should be a primary concern. Dog eye problems can be viral or bacterial, and unlike humans, dogs cannot remove any foreign object that may come into contact with the eyes. Some breeds may be prone to some eye problems, than others, so it's important to consult a veterinarian if symptoms persist to avoid any more serious health problem.



There are some general signs to look out for eye infections. Check if your dog is too blinking or squinting. There might also be an infection if your dog seems to be in pain and refuses to be touched on the head. Check if the dog is not too light or rubbing your eyes against the floor or furniture and see if there is any redness in the eyes or there is no apparent abnormal bulging. A clear loss of appetite and constant whine can also mean a dog eye infection or injury. If there is a dull membrane over the eye or appears cloudy, or if the eye appears red and inflamed, it could be conjunctivitis. The change in pressure within the eye can affect the firmness of the eyeball. A softer eye can mean uvetitis, while a more difficult eye may indicate glaucoma.



Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is one of the most common dog eye problems and can also be caused by allergies or parasites. This infection occurs when the membrane inside the eyelids and the eye opposite are inflamed. Symptoms of conjunctivitis may be one of the following: inflamed red eyes, excessive tearing and a greenish or yellowish mucus often. The usual treatment for this infection is dog's eye with antibiotic eye drops several times a day. There might also be some allergy medications or oral antibiotics, depending on the cause. Home remedy for conjunctivitis involves cleaning the dog's eyelids and wipe away discharge with a cotton ball moistened with warm water. There are also over the counter scrubs, eye that can be applied at least twice a day or as many times as necessary. By applying a warm compress to the affected eye and wet for five minutes can provide relief for your dog.



Another common dog eye infection is dry eye or otherwise known as keratoconjunctivitis Sicca. This is what happens when natural tears are not produced to keep the eyes moist, which can damage the tear ducts. This dog eye infection must be treated immediately, otherwise it can lead to more serious problems like corneal ulcers and even blindness. Treatment for dry eye or KCT includes surgery and medications to keep the eye lubricated.



Cherry eye is when there is the protrusion of the third eyelid of the dog with the corner of my eye. This can be easily treated with surgery and has a high success rate. Another dog eye infection is entropion, where the eyelids roll inward, causing the eyelashes to come into contact with the eyes that can lead to irritation and pain. This disease can be inherited, so you better check if your dog is prone to this condition. Entropion can be treated with a simple surgery, but it is important to have this treatment immediately or it can become a health problem worse. Meanwhile, ectropion is a dog eye infection, when the eyelids roll outwards and exposes the inner eyelid. Breeds with droopy eyelids as St. Bernards are prone to this infection, but this can be treated with eye drops and ointments.



Glaucoma is one of the more serious dog eye infections and can cause blindness if not treated immediately. This canine eye problem occurs when fluid builds up inside the eye which increases the pressure inside it and can ultimately lead to more serious damage. As for glaucoma is painful for people, that's even more painful for dogs. Surgery is usually necessary as a treatment for glaucoma, to reduce the build up of fluid in the eye to save the vision of dog, plus there are also medications for pain and pressure. Early signs of glaucoma can be exchanged as conjunctivitis, but other symptoms include cloudy cornea and the dog is visibly in pain and bloodshot eyes.



Another common dog eye infection is a cataract and, as with humans, it is usually due to the aging process. Cataract is usually genetic, but other factors include canine diabetes, infections or injuries. The symptoms that pay attention are cloudy or opaque membrane covering the eye of dog and check if the dog has trouble finding his way around. This can be treated with eye drops or surgery, depending on the cause, severity, and the condition of the dog.



Corneal ulcers in dogs usually happens when the infection or injury causes lesions in the cornea and gives extreme pain to the dog. Canine corneal ulcers may be slightly harder to detect but some symptoms include dog rubbing his eyes against things like carpet, tear-like drains and strabismus. Has the best chance to be treated when detected early, because if you don't, it can lead to loss of vision. Ointments, eye drops and antibiotics are needed to treat this dog eye problem.



Doing some preventive care is still the best way to maintain the health of the dog. One way might be gently and with care the dog's eyes with a damp cloth to clean at least once a day to remove any accumulations of material or gunk around the eyes, without scratching or rubbing the eye. Another way would be to keep the hair around the eyes short to prevent scratches or irritate the eyes. By mixing a teaspoon of sea salt in one liter of water can be used as a quick solution to clean your dog's eyes. If a foreign object is stuck in the eye, take the animal to the veterinarian immediately because pulling alone could be more damaging than useful. Keep pets away from any injury as dog eye infections is an essential part of being a good pet owner, and also pets deserve the best possible health care that they need.
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