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Dog Eye Care – Recognizing and Preventing Diseases

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The proverbial puppy eyes regularly melt the hearts of dog owners. No wonder, as through them, the four-legged friends can perfectly communicate all their loyalty and love to their master or mistress. In addition to ears and nose, the eyes are also an important sensory organ in dogs, on which your dog relies. But like us humans, dog eyes also need regular care – even more so than ours, as they are more sensitive. So, it’s best to look into your darling’s eyes daily as part of the grooming routine and check if they look healthy. In this article, you will learn how to recognize whether your dog’s eyes are healthy or sick, what causes eye problems, and how to combat them.

Recognizing Eye Diseases in Dogs

If your dog’s eyes are clear, the conjunctiva is bright pink and not swollen, and you don’t notice any discharge, then the eyes are usually healthy. You can ignore the secretions that occur during sleep (“eye boogers”) – in most dogs, it disappears on its own during the day.

Your dog’s eyes need your special attention if…

  • they are red
  • they secrete (purulent) discharge
  • they tear excessively
  • they are crusted
  • the lenses are cloudy
  • the pupils are not equal in size
  • they are obviously injured
  • you see a foreign body in them
  • they are swollen.

Also, your dog’s behavior can indicate that something is wrong with its eyes. It’s time for a closer check, targeted eye care, or even a visit to the vet if your dog…

  • constantly rubs its head on the carpet or sofa
  • rubs its eyes with its paws
  • cannot open its eyes
  • blinks excessively
  • is sensitive to light
  • is aggressive
  • is restless
  • has no appetite
  • appears lethargic

Causes of Eye Diseases in Dogs

If any of the above symptoms occur in your dog, it can have various causes.

Conjunctivitis:

As mentioned above, dogs (and cats) have very sensitive eyes and therefore often suffer from conjunctivitis. In puppies, these occur regularly in two out of three dogs, but this should grow out after about a year and a half.

Conjunctivitis has various causes: Draft or car air is the most common, as dogs love it when there’s a fresh breeze around their nose. Therefore, they often lie in places where there is a draft or enjoy sticking their heads out of the car window while driving – of course, without knowing that this can lead to conjunctivitis.

Dust, smoke, strong perfume, or pollen can also cause conjunctivitis. Smaller dog breeds are more frequently affected by dust, as their heads are naturally lower, where the dust kicks up more during walks.

Bacteria can also cause conjunctivitis, as well as congenital anatomical abnormalities. For example, in breeds with a short nose, tears may not drain as easily, so conjunctivitis is very common in these dogs.

Corneal Inflammation:

Corneal inflammations can also occur in dogs. Such inflammation is usually the result of an injury and can be cured with a single treatment by the veterinarian.

Foreign Bodies in the Eye:

During walks, in a confrontation with another dog, or during rough play, foreign bodies can enter the dog’s eyes. This usually triggers a defensive reaction, causing the eye to tear, swell, or become red. If the foreign body is not removed quickly enough, it can also lead to conjunctivitis.

Fur/Eyelashes:

Even the dog’s own fur or improperly growing eyelashes can enter the eye and cause irritation, and consequently, conjunctivitis.

Congenital Diseases:

Like humans, dogs can have congenital eye diseases. These include, among others, green and gray cataracts, which can develop during their lifetime but are not necessarily present, or eyelid malformations, which may require surgical treatment.

Other Causes:

In addition, there are other causes of eye problems, such as allergies, injuries, blocked tear ducts, or simply your dog’s advanced age.

Proper Cleaning of Dog’s Eyes

To prevent diseases or treat existing problems properly, regular eye care for dogs is necessary.

How often should you care for your dog’s eyes?

If your pet is healthy, regular eye care for dogs is reduced to a visual check – every day. If your dog tends to have eye boogers that do not disappear from the eye on their own or crust quickly, you can gently remove them every day to prevent further problems.

If your dog’s eyes are ill, you should discuss with your veterinarian how often and with what you should treat them.

Equipment for Eye Care:

There are various aids for eye care for dogs that you can use:

  • Clean cloths, for example, made of cotton. It is very important that the cloths do not lint, as small particles can re-enter the eyes during cleaning.
  • Special disposable wipes for eye care, which are already soaked with a cleaning agent – ideal especially when on the go
  • Warm water – this is sufficient for normal eye care when there is no illness
  • Special eye cleaners for dogs
  • Medications such as ointments, gels, or drops, if prescribed by the veterinarian

Please do not use eye drops from your own home pharmacy – what is good for dog owners is not good for dog eyes, as their composition is not tailored to dogs.

Procedure for Eye Care

When it comes to simply removing dirt like eye boogers, moisten a lint-free cloth or cotton pad with lukewarm water and clean the eyes from the inside out. You can gently dab away crusts. For each eye, either use a different cloth or fold the cloth so that you treat both eyes with different areas of the cloth to avoid transferring any bacteria or viruses from one eye to the other. If your dog has conjunctivitis, be sure to use a separate cloth for each eye.

If you use a special cleaner for eye care, read the package insert and follow the instructions. For example, with the cleaner from our range, you drop it into the eyes, where it distributes itself.

For long-haired breeds, eye care also includes fur care: The hair around the eyes should be kept short to prevent irritation to the eyes. For this purpose, it is best to use facial scissors with rounded tips. Some dogs, like Yorkshire Terriers, wear topknots – which is often ridiculed but is actually not a question of beauty: This way, the hair is kept out of the dog’s face.

Home Remedies – Yes or No?

For daily care, clean water is sufficient. Chamomile tea is often mentioned as a tip for cleaning dogs’ eyes, but we would not recommend it – chamomile tea can dry out the eyes.

Other home remedies that you may use yourself are usually not suitable for four-legged friends. If you are not sure what you can use for eye care, ask your veterinarian.

When do I need to take my dog to the vet?

If your dog is prone to conjunctivitis, you will soon become a pro and be able to quickly recognize and treat the inflammation yourself. But sometimes a trip to the vet is unavoidable:

  • If your dog has a foreign body in the eye that has visibly injured the eye, or if you are not confident enough to remove it.
  • If the discharge from the eyes is purulent yellow or green.
  • If the eyes are heavily bloodshot.
  • If you have noticed a change, if they are cloudy, glassy, enlarged, or have a gray haze.
  • If your dog cannot open its eyes.
  • If the pupils are dilated or of different sizes.

Tips for Tear Stains

Especially owners of dogs with light fur know the problem: The fur around the eyes becomes discolored dark, which simply looks unsightly. This phenomenon is called tear staining: Your dog’s tears react with the bacteria naturally present on the fur, causing the dark discoloration.

Therefore, it is recommended to clean the eyes daily for dogs with light fur. If tear staining is already present, there are special cleaners that can restore the original color. Please only use these cleaners to ensure that you do not further irritate or even injure your dog’s eyes!

Conclusion

Look into your dog’s eyes daily! This is usually sufficient for regular eye care. If the eyes are dirty, you can clean them yourself with a cloth and water. If you notice other symptoms or if you are unsure, it is best to consult your veterinarian.

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