Many eye disorders are common in pets, which can lead to redness, excessive tearing, and discomfort. Your pet’s cornea or other ocular structures could be harmed if the underlying cause isn’t detected and treated quickly. Squinting, tearing, irritation or pain in the eyes are signs of one of the following prevalent eye disorders in pets.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, also called “pink eye” is an infection that causes swelling, redness, and a sticky discharge from the eye. The mucus membranes inside your pet’s eyes are called the conjunctiva, and they are hidden on both sides of the eye. When these membranes are exposed to natural forces, they are easily infected. Pink eye is a reaction caused by various factors, like:
- A bacterial or viral infection
- Allergy
- Dirt that gets into the eye
A simple clean and sterile eye wash is normally required to eliminate the symptoms when there is a foreign object or an allergy. On the other hand, bacterial and viral infections need prescription antibiotics that a veterinarian or an ophthalmologist from vet clinics like Harbor Animal Hospital can only give. Vaccinating your pet against infectious ailments such as feline herpesvirus or canine adenovirus can also protect them from conjunctivitis.
Corneal Wounds
The cornea is a clear, skin-like tissue that covers the eye’s surface area and can be easily harmed. Injury, poor tear production, or abnormal ocular anatomy can cause corneal ulcers and other wounds, and the affected eye can be red, swollen, and excessively draining. Your pet will rub or squint the affected eye in pain. Treatments for this problem include:
- Using antibiotic eye drops or ointments to eliminate or cure infections
- Managing pain with pain medications like atropine
- Giving the cornea time to heal
In extreme cases, the cornea may require surgical intervention or other advanced treatments to protect or address it and speed up the healing recovery. Some pet vaccinations, such as the one for canine or feline distemper, can also aid in the prevention of corneal ulcers by improving your pet’s immune system.
Glaucoma
When fluid production in the eye becomes unbalanced, pressure builds up, causing glaucoma, a condition commonly seen in pet dogs. These are some of the symptoms:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Excessive tears
- Dilated pupils
- Bulging eyes
- A cloudy look in the eyes
Glaucoma can permanently damage the optic nerve if left untreated. While medicines can help, veterinary surgery performed by an ophthalmologist is normally the most reliable solution for minimizing the disease’s potential damage.
Cherry Eye
The cherry eye is one of the most prevalent ocular conditions in animals. While human beings have two eyelids, dogs and cats have three. The inner corner of the eye is the location of the third, usually concealed eyelid. In some pets, the eyelid ligaments that hold the gland that produces tears in place become weak.
When these ligaments become loose, the gland bulges of its position, resembling a red cherry stuck in the corner of the eye. To permanently treat this issue, you must take your pet to the vet clinic for surgery to make a deeper pocket where the gland can sit.
Conclusion
While you can’t always avoid an eye issue, there are measures you can take to keep your pet’s eyes in a healthy condition and free of injury. Bring them to your vet regularly for wellness care, get them vaccinated, and keep their nails short so they don’t hurt themselves by scratching.
You can also keep the hair around their eyes short and carefully clean their eyes when they’re taking a bath. Whatever eye condition your pet may be experiencing, seek advice from your veterinarian if you have any queries or concerns about your pet’s eye health.
