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Dog Eye Problems

Dog eye problems are perhaps one of the most common problems we dog owners have to deal with one time or another.

During the lifespan of our dog, it is likely that she will get dirt, debris, or hair into her beautiful eyes. Or worse still, her eye(s) may suffer injury due to, say, a fight with the nextdoor neighbor's cat. She may also develop other eye diseases as she grows old. It is important, therefore, to have an idea of how to cope with these situations before serious damage occurs to the dog's eyes.

Common Dog Eye Problems

Common dog eye problems come in the following forms:

Corneal Ulcers

Trauma such as a cat scratch can ulcerate the cornea. Sometimes the injury is very small and difficult to detect, but you may realize that your dog is always "squinting". If you know that your dog has had a cat fight, and that he continues to squint, take him to a veterinarian to have his eyes checked. Care has to be taken to ensure that the cornea do not ulcerate further, and that bacteria do not infect the wound.

Dog Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)

Dog pink eye (dog conjunctivitis) refers generally to the inflammation of the mucuous membranes and soft tissues surrounding the dog's eye. Visit our page on Dog Pink Eye for more information.

Dog Glaucoma

Dog glaucoma results when there is too much inner eye pressure and is rather common in dogs. Visit our page on Dog Glaucoma for more information.

Dog Cataracts

Just like people, dogs get cataracts as they age. Cataracts cloud the lens and block the passage of light into the eye. Visit our page on Dog Cataracts for more information on this dog eye problem.

Sometimes, eye diseases may also be secondary to other health problems, such as distemper, diabetes (may cause cataracts), or sinus and upper respiratory problems (may cause excessive tearing). It is therefore important to watch your dog carefully and see if he is actually suffering from other health problems.

When to See a Vet

As a rule of thumb, consult a veterinarian when your dog shows the following symptoms:

red eye
painful eye (squinting, pawing, rubbing, tearing, decreased appetite)
excessive tearing
cloudy eye
blood in or around eye
suddenly blind eye
dilated pupil
swollen eye

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Dog Eye Care

While we have no control over our dog's aging process and getting cataracts on its way, we can at least prevent injury from occuring to our dog. Here are a few things we can do:

Do not allow Doggie to hang his head out a window of the car while riding. Damage to the eyes can easily occur from debris, insects and the wind. Also the ears and nose can be affected.
When Doggie is out for a walk, make sure he is on a leash to minimize the chance of dog or cat fights.
Check Doggie's eyes while grooming to see if there is any swelling, redness, clouding, etc. in the eye or area of the eye.
Watch out for abnormal behavior such as squinting, blinking, pawing, and/or excessive tearing.
If Doggie has long hair, trim it so that the hair does not rub against the eyeball.
Do not attempt to remove foreign objects (e.g. foxtail, a thorn, etc.) from Doggie's eye. Take him to a veterinarian immediately.

Natural Herbal Dog Eye Remedies

Herbs can be used both topically and internally to treat dog eye problems. For more information, please visit our page on Herbal Dog Eye Drops and Remedies.

References

R. Kidd, Dr. Kidd's Guide to Herbal Dog Care (Storey Publishing, 2000).
Pitcairn & Pitcairn, Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Rodale, 2005).
M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Herbs for Pets (Bowtie Press, 1999).

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