Eye Care for Dogs

Your dog’s eyes can be an early indicator of any health problems, so regularly checking them, and knowing what to look out for can help you stay on top of any issues.
 
Simple cleaning and mild irritation can be taken care of at home, but it’s very important to know when to see your vet as the earlier that eye issues are picked up, the better the treatment opportunities. Many common eye issues can experience similar symptoms in the early stages.
 
Your dog’s eyes should be clear, bright and clean – the windows to their soul.
 
What are some common eye issues in Dogs?
 
Did you know? Dogs can experience many similar eye issues to humans. Here are some of the common ones: 

Commonly referred to as "pink eye". Conjunctivitis involves redness and inflammation to the tissue of the eye surface and eyelid. There are several possible causes from allergies to infections.

Symptoms can include redness, itching, and discharge.
 
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause, and you should seek advice from your vet.

Cataracts refer to the clouding of the eye’s lens. This can impair your dog’s vision if they cover the majority if they lens. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to cataracts and some dogs will get them in old age. There can be other direct causes like trauma to the eye, or diabetes, which will cause cataracts in all affected dogs. It’s important to see your vet to ascertain the underlying causes to provide the best treatment.
 
Symptoms can include the visible clouding of the eye, from a transparent lens to grey or white.
 
Treatment may involve surgery to remove the cataract, depending on the severity, causes and health of your dog. There are non-surgical interventions to manage cataracts, and these can be discussed with your vet.

Glaucoma is characterised by an increase in pressure within the eye. A problem with the normal fluid draining of the eye causes an imbalance in intraocular pressure. Glaucoma can cause eye pain and lead to blindness in serious cases. Glaucoma is either inherited or caused by disease or injury.
 
Symptoms can include pain, redness and or swelling, hazy eyes, dilated pupils and, or clear discharge.
 
Treatment will depend on the type and severity of the glaucoma but can involve medication, or surgery.

The cornea is the eye’s transparent outer membrane. There are three layers of the cornea, and the severity and type of injury depends upon which layer(s) are affected.
 
Corneal Abrasion: An abrasion refers to damage just to the outermost layer of the cornea; the epithelium. Corneal abrasions will usually heal within a few days.
 
Corneal Ulcer: If the injury reaches the middle layer, the Stroma, this is a corneal ulcer. The eye may appear cloudy with fluid accumulating on the Stroma.  
 
Descemetocele: This refers to damage that reaches and exposes the Descemet's membrane of the cornea and is the most serious issue.
 
Generally, injuries to the cornea will be caused by trauma such as a cut or scratch to the eye but can also be the result of an infection. Injuries can worsen over time if left untreated, so injuries that may appear superficial should be taken seriously and seen by a vet.
 
Some larger injuries may be visible, but many will not. To determine the injury to the cornea, your vet will use a coloured stain that is dropped in the eye to highlight any damage.
 
Superficial injuries will be treated with antibiotic drops or ointments while more significant injuries to the cornea may require surgery to support the healing of the eye.

Like many mammals, dogs have a third eyelid which sweeps across the eye beneath the outer eyelids. You won’t generally see this eyelid, unless your dog is sleeping, and their outer eyelids are not fully closed.
 
This eyelid provides additional protection to the eye and keeps it lubricated, as it contains one of the major tear glands of the eye.
 
Cherry eye refers to the prolapsing of this gland, where it is exposed outside of the eye, often becoming swollen and bright pink.
 
Cherry eye is mostly seen in younger dogs and some breeds, particularly flat-faced dogs, are predisposed.
 
Surgery to reset the gland to its regular position is considered straightforward and should be done as soon as possible to avoid further complications.
 
How to take care of your dog's eyes

For long haired breeds, it is best to trim excess hair away from their eyes. If your dog is peering out from beneath a fringe of hair it can be frustrating for them, and if they start to try and scratch and push it away, they can cause damage and irritation. It can also become an unhealthy trap for dirt and bacteria. 
 
When cutting the hair around your dog’s eyes, it’s very important to use suitable pet scissors, as these have rounded ends for use around the face.

Some crusty build up in the corner of the eyes is a normal part of being a dog but it may be exacerbated if your dog is affected by spring allergies. However, if it seems excessive or happens too often it can be a sign of something more serious like an infection, so a visit to the vet will be in order.
 
If your dog has some debris or discharge, you can simply wash it away with a damp cloth or specially formulated eye wipes.
 
It’s best to use an eye cleaner for dogs to ensure it’s sterile which can also help to clean and lubricate their eyes.
 
Ensure your dog’s eyes are closed and gently wipe from the inside out.

Tear staining is the red coloured stains you can often see around some dog’s eyes and down their muzzle. The colour of the staining is due to iron-containing molecules that the body breaks down. 
 
Tear ducts typically drain tears into the back of the sinuses and down the throat. In some dogs, however, this isn’t the case, and the tears will drain onto the face leaving some visible staining, particularly on lighter fur. Some dogs naturally experience excess tear production, while flat-faced breeds cannot drain tears normally due to their face shape.
 
Tear staining is generally not a cause for concern nor bothersome for your dog. In rare instances, however, it may point to an underlying issue with the eye, so also best discussed with your vet if you notice any dramatic changes around your dog’s eye area.

Gently rinse daily with a cloth and use a fine-toothed comb to brush out any build up. If you don’t like the look of tear stains, you can use a tear stain remover to help reduce the discolouration.