The Canine Eye Inflammation may occur with unknown causes or events but it is often connected to many serious health problems. If your dog is suffering from eye inflammation in the outer skin and middle (muscle, connective tissue, and glands) of the eyes it is classified as Blepharitis, and if your dog is suffering from eye inflammation in the iris and ciliary body of the uvea of the eye it is classified as anterior uveitis, this may affect your dog’s vision and needs careful veterinarian attention.
Symptoms of Canine Eye Inflammation
The symptoms will depend on where is the inflammation (Blepharitis or anterior uveitis) occurs. If you see or notice that your dog’s eyes look abnormal or there is something different an immediate visit to your vet is a must so that the underlying cause can be investigated without a delay. Addressing the problem as early as it occurs can lessen the possibility of making it worse, further deterioration of the condition of the eye can lead to the risk of permanent vision loss.
The following is the common symptoms that your dog might show if they have Canine Eye Inflammation:
- The dog may blink or squint quite often
- Dog avoids bright lights
- Tearing and/or discharge
- Your dog may paw at the eye
- There may be bleeding within the eye
- The pupil may change in appearance
- The white area of your dog’s eye becomes red
- The iris may change color or shape Swelling of the eyeball
- The eye could become cloudy, appear dull or even look blue
Causes of Canine Eye Inflammation
The dog’s eye(s) can become inflamed for a variety of reasons, ranging from conditions that are easy to fix to some that are very serious.
- Canine herpes
- Distemper
- Adenovirus
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Lyme disease
- Rapid formation of cataracts
- Bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
- Parasitic disease
- Autoimmune disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Corneal ulceration
- Entropion
- Injuries such as blunt trauma, or penetration of the eye causing an issue like lens damage
Canine Eye Inflammation Treatment
The very important thing a fur parent should do if they think that their dog’s eyes are irritated is contacting their veterinarian for proper diagnosis. Your veterinarian will most likely perform a complete ophthalmic examination to determine the cause of the inflammation. In more serious situations, they may send you to a dog eye expert, also referred to as a veterinary ophthalmologist.
One of the most common treatments of Canine Eye Inflammation is to apply medicated drops or ointment to the affected eye, in more serious cases antibiotics will be prescribed or surgical removal of the eye will be advised.
Note: Check your dog’s eyes daily for any obvious signs of irritation, such as redness or tearing.