Seven Common Eye problems with dogs

Eye problems are very common in some dog breeds. It can be very frightening to go to work and come home to find your dogs eyes swollen or watering excessively. Timely attention to any eyes problems can be the difference between your dog retaining his vision or being blind.

Your dog can develop eye problems at any time so it is very important pay close attention to your four legged friend’s eyes. The sooner you catch an eye injury or a possible infection, the better the outcome will be. It’s always best to have any eye concerns checked by your veterinarian as soon as possible.

While any dog can develop an eye infection or be injured, some dogs are more prone to problems than other simply due to the shape and structure of their eyes. Some of the things that could indicate that there is a problem with your dog’s eyes include any unusual discharge, cloudiness, redness, swelling and squinting. Even without any of these red flags, if you notice that your dog is running into objects or maybe doesn’t want to go up and down steps, it may be a sign of vision loss.

There are seven common eye problems in dogs.

1. Conjunctivitis. This condition is caused when the membranes on the inside of your dog’s eyelids become inflamed.

2. Entropion. With this condition, the dogs eyelids are grow inward instead of outward. Every time the dog blinks, the eyelashes scratch the cornea leading to irritation.

3. Cataracts. Dogs with cataracts have cloudy eyes which limits their vision.

4. Dry Eyes. Dogs with dry eyes do not produce enough lubrication and over time this condition will lead to blindness if not treated.

5. Cherry Eye. Dogs with cherry eyes have a condition that causes the third eyelid tear gland to protrude outward.

6. Glaucoma. This disease cause the pressure in the eye to increase to an unhealthy level. The pressure in the eye is a result of fluid building up.

7. Progressive Retinal Atrophy. This is a hereditary disease that will cause vision loss in the dog by deteriorating the retina.

The list above is only the most commonly diagnosed conditions however there are many other conditions and diseases. In most cases these conditions can either be corrected or managed to prevent them from getting worse.

Just because your dog’s eyes are running or fluid filled doesn’t mean that there is necessarily a problem. Many dogs have allergies which can be very simply treated. It is also possible that your dog is just experiencing irritation from dust in his eyes. It is always better be safe and err on the side of caution. A veterinarian will be able to examine your dog’s eyes and determine if there is a problem that needs to be treated.

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