Eye disease in dogs: symptoms, treatment

There are many diseases of dogs, about which the owners may not suspect until the disease develops and manifests itself in the form of serious symptoms. These diseases include the majority of pathologies concerning the organs of vision of the animal. What eye diseases in dogs should you pay attention to as soon as possible to find out that the dog is not healthy? After all, early diagnosis can promptly cure a pet before complications appear.

Blepharospasm: Symptoms and Treatment

If the pet starts blinking quickly and without stopping, then this is a sure sign of blepharospasm - an accelerated and unconscious contraction of the eyelid muscle tissue. In addition, the following symptoms are present:

• the eye and the area inflamed around it may swell;
• palpation causes pain;
• the pet has photophobia, that is, it avoids looking at the light;
• An inflammatory fluid, exudate, is released from the eyes.

By itself, this pathological condition is not dangerous, but its manifestation should alert the owner, since blepharospasm is not an independent disease, but only a symptom of inflammatory or infectious eye processes developing in the body, for example, inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.

Separate treatment of blepharospasm does not exist, as it disappears only after the elimination of the root cause, that is, the cure of the disease that caused this condition.

For anesthesia used special drugs used in ophthalmology, for example, Ledocaine. Without certain skills such tools can not be used! Most of them, due to the high content of toxins, are used only in this area and, if not properly dosaged, can poison a pet.

Third century prolaps: symptoms and treatment

This ailment has another name - "cherry eye", it is due to the fact that the eyeball really becomes like overripe cherry berry. With this pathology, the third eyelid of the dog leaves its usual place and finds itself in the corner of the eye. In most cases, only one eye is affected, but double-sided prolapse also occurs.

Modern medicine has not yet fully clarified the reasons for this state, but most often the third eyelid is moving away due to the weakness of the tissues holding it. There are breeds of dogs in which this condition is innate and all representatives have a tendency to display a “cherry eye”. These include: Bulldogs, English Cocker Spaniels , hounds.

Studies have shown that the disease can be hereditary. If the parents of the dog, or at least one of them, have a predisposition to this pathology, then in subsequent generations it will definitely manifest. If when you purchase a pet, a similar diagnosis is recorded on the card, then it is better to refuse the purchase.

The disease does not threaten the life of the animal, but there are several negative points:

• the pet spoils the appearance;
• dogs with this disease are not the best breeding option;
• prolapse affects the activity of the lacrimal glands, which provokes frequent inflammatory processes of the conjunctiva ( conjunctivitis ) and the cornea of ​​the eye ( keratitis ).

Definitely, this disease requires timely treatment and most often it consists of surgery. This is due to the fact that once dropped, the eyelid will constantly leave its place.

The operation itself is not complicated, but leads to dysfunction of the lacrimal gland. The pet owner will need a maintenance therapy all his life - use eye drops or saline to moisturize the eyeball mucous membranes.

Clinical manifestations and therapy of eyelid dermatitis in dogs

This disease can not be called an eye disease, but the pathology often develops into an eye disease. Among the main features are the following:

• inflammatory process develops on the skin of the eyelid, they turn red;
• wet areas appear;
• may cause pus;
• an unpleasant nauseous odor emanates from the dog;
• eyes turn sour;
• exudate is released from the eyes (inflammatory fluid).

In such conditions, it is quite logical that over time, pathogenic microorganisms spread to the conjunctiva. Most often, this disease is diagnosed in pets with long hair and drooping ears.

As treatment, antibiotics with a wide spectrum of action are used. Hair from the affected areas must be trimmed, a special ointment with an antiseptic effect is applied to the skin. Antimicrobial preparations should be instilled into the eyes, before that it is desirable to flush them with saline, which must be sterile.

In order to exclude combing of patients with a century by a pet, a medical collar is used.

Symptoms and treatment of conjunctivitis

Conjunctival inflammation of the eye is the most common eye disease in both humans and animals, which in most cases is infectious. In addition, the causes of the disease can be:

• viruses;
• allergic reaction ;
• inflammatory process in the lacrimal ducts or their clogging (in this case, the conjunctiva is left without the necessary moisture);
• hit in the eye of a foreign object;
• irritant substances that have penetrated into the region of the conjunctival cavity;
• irritation resulting from the twisting of the eyelid (eyelashes damage the eye tissue);
• mycoses.

The clinical picture is as follows:

• mucous eyes become pink or red;
• eye and eyelid tissue may swell;
• discharge from the eyes - it may be a clear tear fluid, watery exudate or purulent clots;
• In the inner corner of the eye may appear part of the third century - the owners of the dog, who have no experience, it may seem that it was rolling eyes.

A pet may have a squint or a constant blink. The last symptom can be painful, the dog in this case will be restless, often rub eyes and whine plaintively.

Often conjunctivitis accompanies the same symptom as with keratitis - clouding of the cornea of ​​the eye.

If we talk about the treatment of the disease, it depends on the cause of inflammation of the conjunctiva. The most common therapy involves the use of antibacterial drugs - drops, ointments and other forms of medicines. Among the topical medications, tetracycline ointment is the most popular.

But before prescribing treatment, the veterinarian should conduct a thorough diagnosis, examine the tests, and only after receiving the results, decide the issue with the therapy.

Ectropion and entropion: symptoms and treatment

Speaking in simple language, it is about the inversion and twisting of the eyelids in dogs. These pathologies can be called truly canine ailments, since they are rarely diagnosed in other animals.

Diseases are hereditary, and especially to them are representatives of the following breeds - Staffordshire Terriers, Basset Hounds , Shar Pei , Great Danes, Ridgebacks, Dachshunds, Chow Chows , Newfoundlands, Some Spaniels, St. Bernards.

When considering these ailments (volvulus and inversion), they can be combined, as they often have a parallel development. Of course, an inversion of the eyelids leads to more serious consequences, but their eversion leaves the eyeball without any protection against pathogenic pathogens.

In addition to the pathological changes in the appearance of the eyes, these diseases are accompanied by the release of fluid, constant blinking, the animal feels pain when pressed.

When ectropion conjunctiva loses moisture and dries out, which can cause the development of keratitis and other serious disorders.

Sometimes turning the eyelids causes eyelash ingrowth in the eye tissue, and this ailment is considered an independent disease.

Treatment of inversion and torsion of the eyelids is most often performed surgically, and it can only be done in adults, whose growth has stopped. Conservative therapy takes place, but only if the pathology is in the initial stage of development.

To eliminate the symptoms and causes of the disease, antibacterial agents, antiseptics, hormone therapy and other medicines are used.

See also: How dogs see the world

How is blepharitis manifested and treated

This disease is an inflammation of the eyelids, both skin and subcutaneous layers. The causes of the disease include infections, hereditary predisposition, the action of allergens, eye injuries.

Symptoms of blepharitis are obvious - eyelids swell, redden, purulent masses may appear, which then become covered with scabs.

The disease requires emergency treatment, since it is often combined with other pathological conditions of the eyes. Therapy depends on the cause of inflammation - sometimes antibiotics, anti-microbial drugs, anti-allergic drugs are prescribed.

Any eye disease in dogs must be diagnosed in the early stages of development and be treated in a timely manner in order to avoid serious and serious complications.