Dogs are adorable, cute, joyful, soulful, entertaining and their eyes are surprisingly beautiful, delicate, and durable that requires some special care. They also attract diseases and get dirty. They have a habit of sniffing starting from food bowls to garbage and attract bacteria easily to cause numerous diseases. Hence, require frequent grooming, short hair breed need routine grooming to stay clean. The ideal time to wash their face and eye is during baths, don’t focus on its body but also at its eye and face. There are different ways to care pet’s eyes to prevent infections and diseases later. The main thing is to observe to recognize the problem early and avoid it.
Suggestions for Infection free Eyes
Close Check
Take it into a bright area and give a thorough check. It should be bright and clear. Eyeball area should be white. There should not be any tearing, crust or any discharge from its corners. With the help of the thumb, slowly lower down the eyelid to see if it has any lining, it should be pink in color and not white or red.
Things to check
- Tearing
- Tear stained fur
- Red or white eyelid linings
- Visible third eyelid
- Closed eyes
- Discharge and crusty gunk
- Change in eye color or cloudiness
- Unequal pupil size
These signs indicate some problem with eyes if such issue is seen, it is advisable to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Sweep
With a damp cloth or cotton ball wipe gently to keep its eyes gunk free. Wipe outwards from the corner and do not touch its eyeball or scratch cornea. If it is suffering from runny eyes, seek medical help immediately, it might be suffering from an infection.
Controlling Eye-Fro
Breeds with long hairs tend to get eye infections more than the short haired breed. They have long furs which can scratch and poke their eyes more. Trim their hairs with scissors or clip them, so they get a clear vision and reduce poking and scratching. Some medications and soaps are essential irritants. Hence, bath them carefully while using soaps and shampoos or apply ointments or try flea control formulas.
During a drive make sure to keep its head inside, for a safer trip. If insects or debris touches its eye, it will suffer pain and get an injury which will be long-lasting. Wind can also dry out its eyes and cause infection or irritation.
Genetics
Before opting for a pet, do thorough research on the breed and check if it is susceptible to an eye problem or not. However, one will need to make annual veterinarian visits, but knowing they're genetic will help to understand more about the inheritance and will allow taking necessary precautions.
Behavior
Observe its behavior, if it catches its eye area again and again with its paws, it will be a symptom of some eye problem like infection, etc.
Common Eye Disorders
Dry Eye – Reduced tear production can cause corneal inflammation, discharge, and squint.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy- Degeneration of retinal tissue causes it, night blindness is the early sign often seen.
Conjunctivitis – One or both eyes look red and swollen with sometimes discharge
Glaucoma- Cornea becomes cloudy with enlarging eye due to increased pressure in the eyeball
Cherry Eye – An enlarged tear gland that forms a cherry like mass
Cataract – Opacity on the lens of the eye that can cause impaired vision and sometimes blindness
Entropion – A rolling in of the eyelid that causes tearing and discharge
Epipohoria – Overflow of tears that creates stains on the dog’s facial fur
Ectropion - A turning outward of the upper eyelid that causes the lower lid to droop.
Tips:
- Bacteria cause infections and antibiotic solutions can treat them
- Common eye problem is conjunctivitis
- Diseases can be caused by foreign bodies or trauma in the eyelash or eye.
- Eyelash problems are genetic, and they abrade against cornea causing infection and ulceration
- Trim hair from eye area with blunt nose scissors. Preventing hair scrapping on eye area will thwart bacteria to get into the eye.
- Make a sure corner of its eyes are mucus-free, bacteria often feed on mucus and can migrate into the eye
- Sterile veterinary eyewash is an ideal way to keep mucus away
- To prevent eye irritations use ophthalmic ointment before bathing pet or applying insecticides
- Keep it away from eye trauma like animal fights, irritating substances and head inside a car windows
- Tear stains are ideal for bacteria and can cause eye infections
- Poddles, Small Terriers, Cockers can’t drain their tears out of the tear duct (lacrimal gland). Trimming hairs and keeping it clean will help
.png)
