Last Updated on August 22, 2022 by Pets Feed
Conjunctivitis in dogs is a very notorious disease since the eyes of our dogs tend to be very red, teary and with rheum. In this ‘ Pets Feed ‘ article you will learn about the symptoms and treatments for canine conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis in dogs is a condition characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids. Sometimes this inflammation can be accompanied by an infection. It is a very notorious disease since the eyes of our dogs tend to get very red, teary and with lizards.
There are several factors by which a dog can suffer from canine conjunctivitis, but its treatment is totally different for each dog. Therefore, if your pet has any of the symptoms that we will talk about later, it is not advisable to supply the medicine from another dog that suffers from a similar problem since this may be contraindicated for our canine. The best thing is that when detecting any abnormality in the health of your dog you immediately go to the vet.
When we talk about a localized problem, which is only present in the eye, it can be allergies, dry eyes, or other infections that directly affect the eye. However, conjunctivitis in dogs can also present itself as a symptom of really serious illnesses like distemper or hepatitis.
What factors cause the inflammatory process?
The reasons that can trigger the development of conjunctivitis in dogs can be internal and external. Often, inflammation occurs under the influence of internal factors – as a secondary disease against the background of a general weakening of the immune system, an inflammatory process against the background of a systemic disease, an individual body reaction to ingestion (with food, household chemicals, by inhalation) of an allergen. In dogs, a respiratory allergy often occurs – a runny nose, lacrimation, conjunctivitis, sneezing. This is the body’s usual response to the flowering of a plant, the appearance of aggressive detergents in the house, and the general dustiness of the air.
However, often conjunctivitis in dogs accompanies an allergic food reaction. We will not mention the use of strictly forbidden products for pets: sausages, smoked meats, chocolate and other sweets from the general table. They can provoke a breakdown of the gastrointestinal tract, an acute skin reaction. However, even in industrial feed, which, it would seem, is well suited to your pet, there may be toxic inclusions that gradually poison the body.
For example, in the role of such substances are:
- Pharmacological pollutants cause conjunctivitis in dogs
- Artificial dyes;
- Flavorings;
- Flavor enhancers;
- Pharmacological pollutants.
Particularly dangerous in the long run are antibiotics used in industrial animal husbandry. The meat of animals of industrial breeding acts as the basis of diets, and the antibiotic oxytetracycline contained in it acts as a catalyst for the development of food intolerances, skin diseases, and acute reactions of the gastrointestinal tract.
The systematic intake of toxic substances from food leads to chronic diseases. That is why it is necessary to identify food allergies and eliminate its source as early as possible.
Also, conjunctivitis in dogs can appear as a result:
- Prolonged exposure to active sunlight;
- Mechanical damage;
- Defeat by aggressive chemicals;
- Infectious or bacterial disease.
Among dog breeds, there is a separate group more prone to conjunctivitis and other eye diseases:
- Pug
- Toy terrier;
- Chihuahua
- Pekingese
- Basset hound;
- Boxer;
- French and English bulldog;
- St. Bernard;
- American Cocker Spaniel
- German shepherd dog.
The same breeds are more prone to the appearance of food allergies. However, regardless of which breed your pet belongs to, you should carefully consider its nutrition and determine exactly what causes inflammation of the inner mucous membrane of the eyes.
Conjunctivitis in dogs can be a symptom of a serious illness
Symptoms of conjunctivitis in dogs
In order to identify that our dog is presenting canine conjunctivitis, it is important to know its symptoms to start early treatment.
The most common symptoms of conjunctivitis in dogs are:
- Inflammation of the eyelid or eye.
- Constant tearing.
- Eye irritation, redness of the eye.
- Eye rejecting the light.
- Yellow or greenish discharge, lizards and crusts around the eye.
The yellow or greenish discharge occurs in cases where canine conjunctivitis is found in an advanced state, or they may also present this symptom due to other pathology, such as distemper disease.
Some dogs show small symptoms the first days, but it advances them with the passage of time. At other times they may present clear symptoms from the first day. In the event that your dog presents any of these symptoms, it is important to immediately see a veterinarian, since this type of disease must be treated quickly before its eyelids become too inflamed to the point that it prevents them from seeing.
Treatment for conjunctivitis in dogs
It is impossible to start a treatment without knowing the origin. So, it is important to go to a vet to determine what is the true cause of conjunctivitis. In general, its treatment is enough to apply an eye drop once or twice a day. However, sometimes you must administer another type of topical treatment, which must be prescribed by the specialist.
In general, topical antibiotics are used to reduce conjunctival inflammation or infection. The dose or frequency of administration should also be prescribed by the specialist, depending on the severity in which canine conjunctivitis occurs.
Use a sterile gauze with physiological serum for ocular use, to clean the lizards and crusts that are in the eyes of our dog several times a day.
In the event that our dog tries to scratch the eye infected by canine conjunctivitis, we must put an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from hurting, since it could cause ulcers in his eyes when trying to scratch to relieve itching.
It is also very important to maintain a balanced, quality diet with the necessary nutrients and proteins, so that conjunctivitis heals faster.
If your pet has any of the symptoms of conjunctivitis in dogs, it is important to immediately go to a vet.
This article is merely informative, at Petsfeed.co we do not have the power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the vet in the event that it presents any type of condition or discomfort.
