Dog eye problems can range from pesky to severe and have numerous causes. Eye problems are often caused by bacterial or viral infections. Some of the most common dog eye problems are cataracts, corneal ulcers, in-grown eyelids, prolapse of the third eyelid, pink eye (conjunctivitis), red eye, and injury. This guide will provide you with some basic information about common dog eye problems, signs and possible treatments. Use this guide as a starting point, but remember that it is always best to seek the advice of your veterinarian.
A dog will usually make it quite clear if he is suffering from a eye health problem. He may squint or turn away from bright light, or he might blink excessively or rub his eyes with his paws or by rubbing his face on the ground. You should also check for bulging eyes, redness, cloudiness or discharge.
There are several steps you can take to prevent eye problems for your dog:
1. A healthy diet, including supplements is the first place to start. There are many foods that are beneficial for dog eye health, including leafy green vegetables, blue or purple berries, carrots, sesame and sunflower seeds. Supplements that you may want to try include Zinc, Vitamins A, D and C, and Bioflavonoids, Pycnogenols,(remember to speak to your dog’s veterinarian before giving your dog any foods or supplements).
2. Be sure to clean away the discharge, or “gunk” away from your dog’s eyes. Using a warm, wet washcloth or clean cotton ball wipe outward away from the inside corner of the eyes. Ideally you should clean your dog’s eyes daily to avoid buildup.
3. Trim the hair around your dog’s eyes if it gets long. Hair that is too long can scratch the surface of your dog’s eyes which may lead to infection and irritation. Long hair around the eyes will make it more difficult to clear away the eye gunk and may cause more build up. Be careful when trimming the hair away from your dog’s eyes. Make sure you always point the scissors down and away from the eye so that you don’t injure your dog’s eye with scissors.
4. Don’t let your dog stick her head out the window of a moving car. The wind can be drying and irritating to a dog’s eyes, and foreign objects can be blown into their eyes causing injury. A safer alternative is to crack a window enough that your dog can enjoy the fresh air and scents, but not stick her head out the window.
5. Avoid grooming products that might be irritating to your dog’s eyes. It can be very helpful to search for dog shampoo reviews when shopping for shampoo. You can find out what other dog owners think about a product before you buy it. You also want to look for natural, organic dog shampoos to make sure you are using the healthiest ingredients possible for your dog.
6. Dog goggles are a great option to protect your dog’s eyes during potentially hazardous activities like hunting, or when riding in the car so you can let them stick their heads out the window. Dog goggles can also be helpful after surgery or an injury as they can shield the eyes from further irritation from foreign objects, wind and sun.
You can take all the necessary precautions to protect your dogs eyes – feed him the healthiest diet, clean his eyes every day, use only natural, organic dog shampoo, and your dog may still have eye health problems. The following is a list of potential treatments your vet may recommend. (Again, always consult with your vet if your dog has eye health problems).
1. Your first step should be calling your vet. He or she will have some questions for you and may be able to evaluate whether or not you need an office visit.
2. If there is a foreign object floating on the surface of your dog’s eye you can try washing it out with artificial tears or saline solution.
3. If there is a foreign object lodged or stuck in your dog’s eye get to your veterinarian as soon as you can. If you attempt to pull something out yourself you run the risk of causing further damage.
4. A warm damp compress can be helpful and soothing to sore and inflamed eyes. Cover each affected eye for five minutes with a warm damp compress. If you dog doesn’t like having both eyes covered, you can do one eye at a time. Make sure you always use a clean cloth.
5. Protect your dog from fleas and ticks. There are many reasons to keep your dog free of fleas and ticks, and one of those reasons that you may not know about is eye health. Fleas and ticks can cause pink eye, or conjunctivitis.
6. Once a dog does have an eye injury or infection you will need to protect him from doing further damage to his eyes. In order to keep him from rubbing or scratching his eyes he may need to wear an Elizabethan collar, also known as a cone, or dog goggles.
It is difficult to watch our pooches suffer, especially because they can’t talk to tell us exactly what’s wrong. Pay attention to their body language, look for clues and consult with your vet on a regular basis to ensure your dog’s good health.
Joy Randel is the owner of Dazzle Dog Delight, an online store that offers a variety of high quality dog products. You can find everything from designer dog bathrobes to organic dog shampoo reviews. We are passionate about dogs and would love to send you a FREE e-Guide on how to solve barking problems and other great info. Get your FREE e-Guide now at www.DazzleDogDelight.com.
© HeidiDeCoux for Uber Articles, 2011. |
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