Eye infections in dogs can be extremely painful and require immediate care. There are many telltale signs to help determine if it’s a dog’s eye allergy or an infection and the appropriate treatment.
Your dog may not tell you he has eye pain, but here are some very clear clues that he may be suffering from an eye infection in dogs:
- Close your eyes or close your eyes completely. This is called Blepharospasm.
- Constantly rubbing your eyes or rubbing them on the ground or on the couch.
- Your dog is very sensitive to being approached or touched near the affected eye.
- Redness and signs of inflammation around the eyelids/inner mucosal tissue are signs of conjunctivitis.
- The redness around the iris in the “white of the eye” is called a perineal sting due to blockage of the perineal vessels.
- Swollen conjunctival tissue is referred to as chemoradiopathy.
- Excessive secretion of fluid from the eyes. It may be clear or, if the infection is severe, it may become discolored, resembling pus-like material. This is called an epiphora.
- General redness/inflammation on the inside of the eye is called Uphlebitis.
Dog eye allergies and infections
“Determining whether it is an infection or an allergy can be a difficult diagnosis for pet parents,” explains veterinarian Chad Maki, BVM&S, of Huntington Beach, California. “If the inflammation is severe, the eye looks sore and it’s oozing with pus (purulent) then it’s most likely an infection.”
Dr. Maki points out that if the symptoms are milder, even with clear discharge, but the eye doesn’t seem to hurt, it could be an infection or an allergy. Allergies also often have other symptoms, such as sneezing, itchy skin (itching), constant licking of feet, scratching of ears, and irritated anal glands.
“Moreover, if symptom occurs year-round, the problem may be atopic dermatitis. It is important to check that the problem is not food related. So with so many variables, it’s best to let the vet make the final diagnosis,” he added.
Diagnosing eye infections in dogs
Since there are so many causes of eye infections, your veterinarian will usually inject a topical anesthetic to relieve pain and then conduct a more thorough eye exam.
Typical dog eye infection tests include:
- The Schirmir Tear test (STT) measures the amount of tears produced. If it’s low, it could be a case of conjunctivitis keratitis (KCS), or dry eye. This is an autoimmune condition that attacks the patient’s own tear glands and can be treated with topical immunosuppressants.
- The ophthalmoscope examination allows the veterinarian to see the back of the eye through the pupil and also to look for any misplaced hairs or eyelashes or foreign objects such as a mink tail that may be lodged in the eyelids. third, as well as any signs of a tumor.
- A test to read the intraocular pressure will determine if it is a more serious condition such as glaucoma.
- Fluorescence staining will determine if a corneal ulcer is present, which is more serious and requires close treatment and monitoring to resolve.
- Sometimes a discharge sample is sent for analysis.
More serious conditions, such as glaucoma, distal vitreous, oozing ulcer, or foreign body infiltration, require immediate referral to an ophthalmologist because prompt surgical intervention can save the eye.
Dogs often get eye infections from other dogs. Common canine eye infections are caused by Mycoplasma bacteria and a variety of viruses such as adenovirus, distemper virus, herpesvirus, parainfluenza virus, Pneumovirus, respiratory coronavirus, and influenza A.
Treating Dog Eye Infections: When to See the Vet
Treatment depends on the diagnosis. Routine treatment for sores or bacterial infections is antibiotic eye drops or ointment. More severe infections require a course of antibiotics in addition to topical eye drops.
Bad news about doggies: Your dog won’t be impressed as a hat is usually required on his head to keep the area scratch-free. Luckily, there are plenty of more comfortable soft options that will do the job instead of hard plastic cones.
How to treat eye infections for dogs at home
While there’s no cure for a dog’s eye infection at home, pet parents can do a lot to prevent their dog’s eye problems.
Use the following tips to prevent eye infections in your dog:
- Keep eyes, fur and surrounding skin clean. Keep nails short and dull so they don’t accidentally scratch the eye area. And avoid other pets that can scratch and cause injury.
- Dog eye lubricating gel is especially a good preventative to use before and after outdoor activities to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering the eyes and also before bathing to prevent shampoo from irritating the eyes. Ask your vet for recommendations.
- Do not allow your dog to dig Randomly in the yard or places with a lot of bushes, plants can cause eye injury.
“We see a lot of eye injuries from tree branches, spines, tailgates and other areas where dogs are exploring narrow places,” Dr. Maki warns.
If your dog is prone to allergies, have an over-the-counter antihistamine like Benedryl (diphenhydramine) on hand. Dr. Maki recommends 1mg/lb., Up to 50mg per dose, up to every 8 hours.
Eye infections can also be controlled if you avoid interactions with dogs that show any signs of an upper respiratory infection or eye irritation. Also, upgrade your dog regular grooming habits to make sure the eye area is always clean. Also, wipe your dog’s face with specially formulated wipes after every hike and all day at the beach. Your dog will thank you with grateful kisses.
