Dog Eye Health Is Important, Don’t Let Your Dog Go Blind
There are many aspects to dog health that a pet owner needs to be aware of if they want to keep their companion in tip top shape. A visit to the vet at least once a year for vaccinations and a physical is a must, and of course whenever problems arise.
To keep your pet healthy it is necessary to feed him a balanced and nutritious diet and to pay attention to its dental and eye health. Sometimes what seems like a minor problem can escalate to affect the dog’s quality of life.
Dogs are susceptible to a variety of eye diseases that can occur at any time in their lives. Because of the structure of their eyes and the natural inquisitiveness of dogs, eye injuries are often the reasons for visits to veterinarians.
It is important for dog owners to check their pet’s eyes and teeth in between visits to the vet, and keep a watch for any squinting, cloudiness, discharge, redness or swelling. If you are concerned and your dog exhibits other symptoms their possible causes could be:
Fluid build up in the eye – can be the first indication of glaucoma;
Inflammation of the eyelids – possible conjunctivitis
Opacity of the lens – definite sign of cataracts
Third eyelid’s tear glad protruding – a sign of cherry eye
Eyelids turning inwards, scratching the eye – Entropion
Although not possible for most owners to detect, Progressive Retinal Atrophy is another common disease that causes blindness due to the retina’s cell deterioration.
While allergies and dust are often the causes of redness and itchiness, the possibility of other problems should not be ruled out. Tear ducts can become blocked, and virus or bacterial infections can cause a creamy discharge from the dog’s eyes.
If your dog is prone to allergy or irritated eyes, having some natural eye wash on hand is a great preventative move. If left to scratch, a dog can do further damage to an otherwise good eye with excellent vision. By scraping along a foreign object to relieve the itch, he can pick up splinters or otherwise exacerbate the problem.
By pet owner’s being alert to their dogs’ everyday health, they can take early steps to prevent their pets from suffering eye disease.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter for More Tips, Special Offers, and Coupons.
Got something to say?
Carolin Shadler’s Blog
