What to do if your dog's eyes are red and watery? – Advice from professionals

Every diligent pet owner will pay attention to changes in their pet's condition. However, spotting red eyes in dogs is not easy. This is due to the fact that their iris is much larger than that of a human. Physiological changes are virtually invisible. There are many reasons why the eyes become inflamed. They may not be serious, for example, after a walk in the wind or in a smoky room, fatigue also affects them, or, on the contrary, require immediate medical intervention.

Characteristics of the symptom

A dog's eyes are optical instruments with a complex structure. They consist of the cornea, blood vessels and retina. In healthy dogs, the iris has an opaque white color. Normally, redness can only occur in albinos due to translucent capillaries. In other cases, this indicates the development of pathological processes in the body.

Dog with hyperemic eyes

Depending on the provoking factors, the disease can develop in different ways:

• with the development of glaucoma, clearly protruding blood vessels are observed;
• spot redness may appear against the background of physical trauma and hemorrhage;
• with developmental pathologies or diseases of the lacrimal sac, the corners of the eyes become inflamed;
• total redness may be a sign of developing conjunctivitis, allergic reactions and injuries;
• limited inflammation is predominantly caused by autoimmune diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus, as well as benign and malignant neoplasms, hypertension.

In any case, if a limited or total red spot appears on the dog’s eye, then the puppy must be shown to a veterinarian.

Note! It is unacceptable to independently diagnose the disease and prescribe treatment.

The nature of inflammation depends on the factor that provokes it. Quite often, in addition to red eyes, animals are bothered by other symptoms:

• disruption of the digestive system - diarrhea and vomiting;
• complete or partial loss of appetite, malaise;
• loss of coordination, at times the animal is disoriented;
• frequent blinking, swelling of the eyelids and the eyes themselves;
• dyspnea;
• eyes may itch, fluid may leak from them, blinking frequently;
• discharge also from the nose;
• increased body temperature;
• eyes fester.

Physical injuries to the eyeballs in dogs

If your dog's eyes begin to turn red as a result of chemicals coming into contact with the mucous membranes, they should be thoroughly rinsed with plenty of clean running water. If bitten or foreign bodies get into the eyes, the pet must again wash its eyes and take it to the nearest veterinary clinic.

Eye diseases in Chihuahuas

If this doesn’t help, it’s time to contact a specialist. Experimenting with the selection of medications on your own is dangerous. This can cost your pet’s health, including deterioration or loss of vision.

Tests taken at the clinic will reveal an infection or a lack of vitamins or microelements. If there is an infection, the veterinarian will select the right medicine; in case of vitamin deficiency, he will offer a corrective course of vitamins and nutritional supplements.

Profusely watery eyes in the presence of additional signs, for example, redness of the whites, redness of the eyelids, itching, purulent discharge, may indicate the presence of diseases such as:

1. conjunctivitis;
2. kerato-conjunctivitis;
3. inflammation of the middle age;
4. eyelashes that curl inward;
5. glaucoma.

Conjunctivitis occurs as a result of mechanical damage to the cornea or eyelid. If you do not pay attention to this in time, the watery eye turns red, the tissues of the eyelids become inflamed, and more complex forms of conjunctivitis may develop:

Watery eyes due to inflammation of the middle eyelid are characterized by ulceration or itching of the eyelids. The cause of the disease may be vitamin deficiency, the ingestion of foreign objects (the same villi from unsuitable bedding), irritation from dust.

Glaucoma - a disease caused by increased intracranial pressure, which is typical for Chihuahuas (certain skull structure, not overgrown fontanel, weather dependence, etc.)

Another cause of leaky eyes in Chihuahuas is improperly growing eyelashes. They bend inward and scratch the cornea, causing microtrauma. You may not be able to see this on your own, but it’s worth keeping in mind.

When visiting a veterinary clinic, it is advisable to show the dog to an ophthalmologist or, if there is no such specialist in the clinic, ask the attending doctor to examine the watery eyes for ingrown eyelashes.

The main causes of red eyes in dogs

Your dog's eyes are watering: why and what to do

There are many reasons why a dog has red eyes. The nature of their appearance is different, therefore, the approach to treatment can vary significantly. The alarm should be sounded in the following cases:

• Eye or head injury. In addition to redness, the animal may experience a visible decrease or enlargement of the eyeballs, pupil dilation, profuse lacrimation and a pronounced vascular pattern. Continuous whining is also possible, indicating severe pain.
• Allergic reactions are often additionally accompanied by profuse nasal discharge, coughing and shortness of breath, itchy eyes, and swollen eyelids. Most often, dogs develop allergies to food, shampoos and other care products, and medications.
• Helminthiases. Quite often, the eyes of animals turn red as a result of the active activity of worms in the digestive tract. In addition to this symptom, there is a high body temperature, stool disturbance and vomiting, weight loss, despite a good appetite. Sometimes helminths directly infect the eyeballs, causing the dog’s vision to deteriorate sharply, making it almost impossible to lift the eyelids.
• Anemia has another common name - iron deficiency. Other symptoms of the development of the disease are lethargy, increased pulse, pallor of the mucous membranes in the oral cavity, complete or partial lack of appetite.
• Oncological diseases. During the course of tumor processes in animals, the whites and corneas can acquire a deep red color, the pupils become asymmetrical, and vision rapidly deteriorates.

Important! Rabies also causes redness of the whites and cornea.

Foreign objects getting into the dog's eyes

Diseases of bacterial, fungal or viral origin can also provoke the development of such a pathology. Among puppies and particularly curious individuals, cases of foreign bodies getting into the eyes are not uncommon.

Which breeds have physiology?

In breeds such as beagle, yorkie, labrador, husky, shepherd, spaniel, toy terrier, husky, chihuahua, shih tzu, pekingese, bulldogs, red eye syndrome is often diagnosed due to insufficient production of tear fluid by the body. It is also common for a pug to have red whites of its eyes.

Note! This is not the norm, it’s just that in these breeds the disease develops much more often than in their relatives.

Overheating is the cause of redness

Redness of the mucous membranes of the eyes can be caused by hyperthermia - overheating of the dog. This condition is predominantly accompanied by a number of other symptoms - the appearance of shortness of breath, vomiting, increased body temperature, impaired coordination of movements.

Dogs can overheat as a result of staying in a sunny place for a long time. To alleviate the condition of your four-legged friend, you need to take him to a cool place, wash him with water and use “Artificial Tears” drops. After a short period of time, the irritation will pass and the eyes will take on a natural appearance.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease that affects poodles, dachshunds and Spitz dogs, as well as unsterilized older pets. Against the background of diabetes mellitus, animals often develop cataracts, which is expressed by the formation of a whitish spot on the eye.

One of the main symptoms of the disease is sudden surges in glucose, which damage blood vessels and cause redness. Other signs of the development of the disease are deterioration of the condition of the skin and fur, unpleasant odor from the mouth, rapid pulse, and dry mouth.

Artificial tear drops

Diagnostic methods

If one or both eyes of your dog are red, you should contact your veterinarian for a diagnosis. It is especially dangerous to ignore professional help if the redness does not subside within several days. The veterinarian will carefully examine the pet's medical history and also collect anamnesis.

It is recommended to prepare answers to the following questions in advance:

• When was the redness first noticed?
• Have you noticed a sharp worsening of symptoms over the past few hours?
• Has your pet's behavior changed?
• How often does the dog interact with other animals?

After receiving the initial information, the veterinarian will conduct a full ophthalmological examination. During the examination, the specialist will evaluate the condition of various parts of the eye, including the conjunctiva, cornea, tear ducts, retina and eyelids.

The Schirmer test is also performed. During the procedure, the doctor will check the intensity of tear production and confirm or rule out dry eye syndrome. There is no need to be afraid that the animal will be in pain: the specialist will simply place a small strip of paper between the eyelid and the eye. The strip will act as an irritant. The tears that appear will color the tester, which will allow you to find out the volume of liquid.

If glaucoma is suspected, tonometry is performed (measuring the internal pressure of the eye using a special device). To prevent the animal from twitching during the procedure, local anesthesia can be performed.

Fluorescein paint is used to identify microcracks. A small drop of yellow-green dye is placed on the surface of the eye. Damaged areas will be illuminated under the influence of a special lamp.

Sometimes a comprehensive blood test is also prescribed. Indeed, in rare cases, redness of the whites of both eyes may indicate dysfunction of the kidneys, liver, or hormonal imbalance.

What to do if your dog's eyes are red

Snot in a dog: causes of runny nose and what to do

If a dog's eye is red and watery, what should you do? There are many reasons for the development of such a pathological phenomenon, so solving the problem on your own at home is strongly not recommended. It is much wiser to show your beloved pet to a veterinarian, who will collect the required medical history and, based on the results, make the correct diagnosis and develop a therapeutic course.

In severely advanced cases, differential diagnostic methods can be used to make a correct diagnosis:

• Ultrasound examination (US) and radiography;
• general blood and urine analysis, cytological tests;
• blood pressure measurement;
• measurement of intraocular and intracranial pressure;
• Conducting color tests and tear tests.

Inflammation of the eyes may indicate the development of serious infectious, systemic and oncological diseases, which can only be diagnosed through a thorough medical examination of the pet.

Symptoms of rabies in dogs

Important! When diagnosing serious diseases and abnormalities in the functioning of the body, a comprehensive treatment is developed for the treatment of the underlying disease and symptomatic therapy.

Treatment

First aid consists of washing the eyes with strong tea, instilling an antimicrobial drug (Albucid) or applying tetracycline eye ointment. If severe itching is observed, a collar should be placed around the neck to prevent scratching.

The main therapy is selected by the attending physician only after a final diagnosis has been made. Depending on the nature of the pathology, these or other medications may be used:

1. Antibiotics for general or local use depending on the severity of inflammation. They are indicated for conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratitis, dacryoadenitis and other infectious diseases.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve inflammation and relieve pain.
3. Glucocorticosteroids are used strictly according to indications. They are prescribed for the treatment of complicated ophthalmological pathologies when other anti-inflammatory drugs are ineffective.
4. Antihistamines are necessary to relieve allergic reactions.
5. Antiseptic agents are used in solutions for washing the conjunctival cavities and lacrimal openings, as an auxiliary antibacterial therapy.
6. Vitamin complexes help strengthen the condition of the eye structures.

Surgical intervention is indicated mainly for traumatic eye injuries. If the redness is caused by blockage of the tear ducts, then it is surgically cleared. If necessary, the salivary glands are transplanted into the conjunctival cavity to restore the process of hydration of the ocular cornea.

Timely consultation with a doctor, early diagnosis and treatment for ophthalmological pathologies is the key to returning your pet’s vision.

Preventive actions

Diseases are always easier to prevent than to treat. That is why it is recommended to familiarize yourself with a set of simple rules that will reduce the likelihood of developing eye diseases:

• During walks and active games, do not create traumatic situations and, as far as possible, protect your pet.
• Keep household cleaning and chemical compounds out of the reach of not only children, but also animals.
• Do not allow your four-legged friend to overheat in the open sun or indoors.
• Carefully approach the development of your dog’s diet. Industrial formulations must be nutritious and healthy premium or super-premium. If the food is natural, you need to introduce vitamin and mineral supplements into the diet with a certain frequency.
• It is necessary to take a timely and serious approach to the treatment of systemic, invasive, fungal, viral and infectious diseases.
• If there are developmental pathologies or chronic diseases, take them into account when planning your diet and daily routine.
• Regularly undergo preventive examinations at the veterinarian, taking blood and urine tests.
• If you suspect eye inflammation, you should immediately visit a veterinarian.

Measuring eye pressure in dogs

For a dog, the eyes are an important sensory organ that is not very well protected from external stimuli. If you neglect to go to the doctor and do not treat the disease in a timely manner, this can lead to loss of vision or death.

What to do?

A question that plagues all dog owners. Of course, seeing how your pet is suffering, you want to help him and cure him as soon as possible. In order to identify the cause of tears and redness of the eyes, it is necessary to observe the dog and show it to a doctor. The doctor will be able to accurately determine the diagnosis by collecting analysis. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin. Let's look at the treatment of major diseases.

For conjunctivitis it is necessary:

• Rinse your eyes with a cotton swab soaked in tea as often as possible;
• Do not allow the pet to be in a draft or allow the wind to get into the eyes;
• Keep dust and dirt out of your dog's eyes;
• Keep other dogs away from your pet to avoid infection;

For the most competent treatment, you need to consult a doctor. It is the veterinarian who will select an ointment with an anti-inflammatory effect. Treat your dog's eyes and do not allow your pet to scratch the affected areas with its paw.

Disease of the cornea of ​​the eye

In this case, you will need to follow a diet

and increase your protein intake. Antibiotics may also be prescribed. When using antibiotics for treatment, it is necessary to provide the dog with adequate nutrition. This means increasing protein foods in the diet. To relieve inflammation, you will need to wash your eyes with antiseptic solutions.

Inflammation of the eye

In case of inflammation of the eye, an in-depth examination

. After all, during inflammation, the main task is to preserve the pet’s vision. It is also essential to measure eye pressure. A disease associated with inflammation requires emergency care and medical intervention. Therefore, it is best to take your pet to the veterinarian immediately in order to select treatment.

For other causes of redness and tears, it is necessary to identify the cause. Allergies are also common. In this case, you will have to limit and even exclude some foods from the dog’s diet. It is also necessary to show the animal to a doctor; perhaps something else needs to be done for treatment.

Do not self-medicate and under no circumstances select an anti-inflammatory drug on your own.

Sometimes pet owners wonder if this can be considered a sign of illness. It is worth understanding the main causes of redness in the whites of the eyes in your pets.