Eye care for dogs is one of those tasks that should be carried out regularly. Regular eye examinations can prevent diseases or help to detect them early. In this article, we show which eye diseases are typical for dogs and how you can recognize and treat them.
Eye care for dogs: which diseases you can recognize yourself
When caring for your dog's eyes, it is important to know at least the most important diseases and symptoms. This can help to examine the eyes more specifically for changes and to better identify unusual behavior.
General symptoms that a dog may show when suffering from an eye infection or other eye disease include increased sensitivity to light, conspicuous blinking or squinting of the eyes, and rubbing the head on the carpet. General irritability, lethargy, sensitivity to touch, or whining may also indicate disease, although these symptoms do not necessarily have to be eye-specific.
In any case, regular eye examinations should be part of a dog's eye care. If the dog shows symptoms of an eye disease, regular checks can pay off: If there are visible changes, such as clouding of the cornea or lens, the dog should be taken to a trusted veterinarian as soon as possible. Other symptoms that should be checked out there are glassy and very bloodshot eyes, unknown yellow or greenish discharge and different pupil sizes.
Cloudy eyes can indicate inflammation of the cornea or, if the lens is clouded, cataracts. Increased tear flow can be attributed to allergic reactions, foreign bodies in the eye (small particles, eyelashes, hair) or blocked tear ducts, but is often simply an effect of self-cleaning, which is why watery eyes should be observed first.
Eye drops can help dogs
Special eye drops for dogs can help with a range of eye diseases and also with general eye care in dogs. The eye drops can help dogs with complaints caused by dry eyes or conjunctivitis: dry eyes are irritated, bloodshot and often painful for the four-legged friend. Red, itchy eyes, swollen eyelids or heavily crusted or sticky eyes, on the other hand, indicate conjunctivitis.
Sticky eyes should be cleaned carefully during regular eye care for the dog. Even in cases where it is not an immediate symptom of illness, sticky eyes are of course unpleasant for the dog. A fresh, clean cotton cloth soaked in warm water can help here, with which you can gently rub the sticky areas. A fresh cloth should be used for each eye to avoid the transmission of possible germs.
Very important: Never use eye medications for humans - these can do more harm than good, as the ingredients they contain may be toxic to dogs or the dosage may be far too high. There are various eye drops that have been specially developed for dogs.
Eye care for dogs: carry out regularly, in case of doubt visit the veterinarian
Eye care for dogs is one of the various care tasks that should be carried out regularly, just like claw and coat care. You know your dog's eyes best - if there are noticeable changes, such as clouding, suppuration or very bloodshot eyes, this should be easy to detect, and not just during care. Nevertheless, eye care for dogs is an important, preventative activity that you can use to keep your dog's eyes clean. If changes do occur, it is best to clarify these with your trusted veterinarian. For breeds that are prone to eye diseases due to breeding or physiological characteristics (for example pugs, Maltese, French bulldogs or Boston terriers), it may also be a good idea to consult a specialist practice for eye diseases.
