Eye Infections

There are various reasons because of which a dog can have eye infections. So if your furry friends is being uncomfortable or having redness around the eyes, or the eyes have become sensitive to light, they are warning signs that are saying, "you should immediately consult a vet."

If untreated, infection of one eye can eventually cause damage to the other eye. More scarring is the fact that some major infections can even make your little joy of blind for the rest of its life. Some regular kind of infections are:

1. Clinically called Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, these are infections of the thin mucous membrane which covers the inside area of the eyelid and the front area of the eye.
2. Common corneal inflammations.
3. The onset of infections of the inside part of the eye, which includes the ciliary body and is a spheroid natural formation just behind the iris, and choroid (tissue hiding behind the iris).
4. A sudden abnormal state in the tear glands and the eyelids.

Possible Causes of Eye Infections 

Just like us, dogs also can have a variety of eye infections. Some of the common causes are:

• Viruses like herpes, distemper, canine influenza, and hepatitis
• Bacterias like leptospirosis,  canine brucellosis, Lyme disease canine ehrlichiosis.
• Some common fungus
• Common irritation such as smokes and shampoos
• Foreign bodies such as grass seeds, dirt, or a dog’s hair
• Sudden traumas
• Sudden parasitic attack
• A minor or significant cut in the cornea

Some other possibilities are:

• Glaucoma
• Vitamin deficiency
• Tumors
• Dry eye
• Poisoning

Signs and Symptoms

• Reddish tinge in the eye
• Swelling of the eyes
• Thick water and smelly discharges
• Squinting and whining
• Frequent blinking
• Keeping the eye closed
• Sensitive to  light
• Pawing or scratching the eye

Diagnosis

Experts says, eye examination for dogs is very much similar to the humans. The only exception is that it's tough to make the patient read an eye chart. But still, we can ignore these shortcomings as our furry friends can only dispose of their pain and agony through their eyes. They cannot use words like us.

• Measuring the dog’s tear production a Schirmer tear test. The vet conducts this test if a dog has frequent discharges or redness in the eyes
• Next is the visual test, with a source of focal light, involving the visible part of the eye and the eyelids
• Intraocular pressure measurement, by a tonometer is also used to check for glaucoma
• Eye drops with dilation properties will help the doctor to see the back of the eyes. This test will also include monitoring of the health of the retina and the optic nerve. Also the tapetum reflectivity, which is a sleek tissue layers in an animal’s eye that improves night vision and improves light sensitivity
• Fluorescein dye for corneal staining that can reveal things like breaks in the shallow part of the cornea
• A culture of the bacteria
• Some other tests for allergies

Treatments

• Dogs with KCS will need lubrication of the eyes with drugs like puralube vet ointment and liquid tears. Optimmune is also a great option.
• To treat conjunctivitis, allergic medications will the best way of treatment. A low energy diet with a lot of fatty acids may also help the dog in the long run.

Prevention

• The owner will have to avoid thin eye traumas or the natural establishment of foreign materials. By far the best ways will be to shut down the window when the owner is driving the car. Doing this will keep the dirt and other foreign materials away from entering the dog’s eye through the wind.
• The dog will need occasional trimming of the hair on the eye area.
• The owner will have to keep the dog's face neat.
• Safeguard the eyes with eyewear specially created for dogs.