Which dogs have eye loss: causes and treatment

Gastrointestinal tract

Some of the most common requests for help from a veterinarian are dermatological problems and adverse reactions to food in dogs. The Shih Tzu breed is at slightly higher risk of developing food allergies than other breeds.

Symptoms of food allergies can be divided into dermatological (skin itching, scratching and licking locally affected areas, reddened skin, peeling, otitis) and gastrointestinal (vomiting, rumbling in the abdomen, diarrhea, gastroenteritis). Shih Tzus may experience acne and hair loss. Atopy is a hereditary predisposition of dogs to exhibit allergic reactions to certain environmental factors.

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The allergic reaction manifests itself on the lower abdomen, paws, muzzle, and ears. The dog licks the affected areas, the hair begins to fall out, a secondary infection gets into the wounds, and the Shih Tzu develops pimples and sores. The causes of atopy lie in the genetics of the animal (predisposition to secrete special antibodies). But the manifestation of the disease is facilitated by external irritants: the tick and its excrement. Thick fur protects the animal from ticks, so it is better to keep your pet not in a warm and humid room, but in a slightly cool and dry room.

The disease can be successfully treated with antihistamines and a special hypoallergenic diet.

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How to help a dog?

The sight of a dog losing an eye is, of course, not for the faint of heart, and therefore the owners, in fright, forget how to help their pet, but they need to gather their will into a fist and begin to act:

First, you need to protect the affected eye from any touch to it. To prevent the dog from touching or scratching it with its paws, it is better to put a special collar on it or carefully monitor the animal’s behavior.
Using a clean bandage (preferably sterile), moistened with cool boiled water or saline, remove dirt and blood from the wound with blotting movements. Do not use cotton wool or cotton pads, particles of which will stick to the eyeball, or any antiseptic solutions - hydrogen peroxide, alcohol-containing liquids, etc.
Apply eye ointment carefully.
To relieve swelling, apply cold to the eye for 10-15 minutes.
Cover the affected eye with a clean, damp cotton cloth.

After providing first aid, you should immediately go to the veterinarian, and under no circumstances should you try to straighten the eye yourself, as such actions can lead to very serious consequences!

If a dog’s eye falls out and it was provided with unqualified help or treatment was started very late, then in the future the animal will have serious problems with vision:

due to stretching of the optic nerve or its rupture, its connection with the central nervous system may be disrupted, which leads to loss of vision;
rupture of the retina leads to atrophy of the eyeball and, as a result, the dog faces blindness;
corneal injury causes cataracts, increased intraocular pressure, and decreased visual acuity;
Violation of the integrity of the eye muscles in dogs causes strabismus.

Hereditary diseases

In addition to the atopy described above, Shih Tzus are predisposed to a number of different diseases:

eye: cataracts, corneal ulcers, entropion;
kidneys: urolithiasis, underdeveloped kidneys;
cardiovascular system: chronic heart valve defects, ventricular septal defects;
tracheal collapse.

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How to prevent proptosis

Dogs whose eyes fall out (photos of the main breeds are presented below) should not walk near larger animals to avoid fights with them.

It is not recommended to pick up these dogs by the collar, because then the scalp is pulled onto the neck, which provokes proptosis.

As a result of preventive plastic surgery of the medial canthus, the risk of proptosis decreases, as the fissure becomes narrower.

Well, in conclusion, it should be said that a dog is not just a pet. This is a friend, a comrade who for many becomes a member of the family. Therefore, one should approach its choice with special responsibility. If you like a breed of dog whose eyes fall out (we provided a photo in the review), be prepared for a special attitude towards the safety and health of your pet.

Taking care of our little friends is the responsibility of every person. And it doesn’t matter whether you have a pet or not. And if you see a sick animal on the street, spare no time and effort and help it.

Dogs are amazing animals. Their peculiarity is not only in their devotion, intelligence, and friendly character, but, unfortunately, also in some of the diseases that they suffer from.

For example, did you know that there is a breed that loses its eyes? These are Shih Tzu dogs that have such an unusual pathology. This type of problem can happen to any dog, but some breeds are more prone to this disease. For owners whose pets are at high risk, it is especially important to have maximum information about this problem and be able to navigate in an extreme situation.

Cardiovascular system and joints

As a rule, heart problems that appear in young animals are pathological in nature. If your dog is stunted, loses weight, suffers from fainting and swelling, shortness of breath, gets tired even from minor physical exertion and has lost his appetite, then you need to immediately seek help from a veterinarian.

Atrioventricular or mitral valve insufficiency is the most common form of the disease in dogs. One or more valves may be affected. The chambers of the heart must be tightly closed by the heart valves. As a consequence of the disease, the valves leak, allowing blood to flow in the opposite direction. Most often, the veterinarian recommends against surgical intervention and prescribes the necessary medications. To make the heart work more comfortably, inhibitors, beta blockers, nitroglycerin, and diuretics are prescribed.

A ventricular septal defect is a congenital heart defect characterized by a connection between the right and left ventricles. The formation of abnormal holes in the interventricular septum - defects - occurs due to exposure of the embryo to harmful factors that disrupt the normal intrauterine development of the heart. To diagnose this pathology, ECHO, ECG and radiography are prescribed. Drug treatment is accompanied by a special diet and a decrease in activity.

A common joint problem for Shih Tzus is a displaced patella.

Patella dislocation is accompanied by lameness and paw tightening. Usually it is enough to relieve the pain and realign the patella. However, severe cases require surgery to avoid the development of joint arthritis.

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Other diseases

Very often, Shih Tzus suffer from urolithiasis. Due to a specific infection, uroliths (stones) form in the dog’s urinary system. Due to contamination of the passages, uroliths can linger in the bladder, causing blockage of the urethra and difficulty urinating. The animal's body temperature rises, the urine becomes cloudy and dark, possibly mixed with blood.

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Males suffer from this disease more often. The disease usually appears after 4 years of age. Treatment of the disease depends on the size and quality of the stones. Small ones can be dissolved by following a special diet and with the help of medications; large ones can be removed through surgery. If the disease is accompanied by infection, antibiotics are also prescribed.

Chronic respiratory failure accompanied by coughing or shortness of breath may indicate a collapsed trachea in a dog. The tracheal rings will change, narrow and become denser. As a result, obstruction occurs. The animal develops a cough and mucous discharge from the throat. Treatment methods are selected according to the stage of the disease: early - therapeutic, late - surgical intervention.

Prevention of treatment and emergency care for a pet with eye loss, tips and recommendations

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The eyes are the weak point of any purebred dog. It is poorly protected and very vulnerable. Therefore, it is important to regularly clean and apply eye drops to your Pug.

For this you will need a medical physical therapist. solution: apply a few drops to a dry cotton pad and wipe around the eye area in the evenings.

We recommend purchasing drops for redness and inflammation of the eyes at a pet pharmacy and using them according to the instructions. Take your pet to the vet at least once every six months, because prevention is always better than cure. icon-bell

If you have an unexpected situation and one or both of your dog's eyes fall out, remain calm. Judiciously and promptly take your pug to the veterinarian, where the doctor will put the deformed organ back in place. icon-bell

After applying first aid, apply gauze pads to your pet's eyes and secure them. Try to let the pug lie quietly or sit without sudden movements.

On the way to the hospital, do not allow your dog to touch the injured part of the body with its paws or move actively - this can cause complications.

If you have experience with eye loss in a pug breed, you can help him yourself. Wash your hands with soap and use a thin piece of gauze to lightly press the pupil in the desired direction. The organ should return to its original position.

If a pug's eyes fall out, remember that help must be timely, otherwise the animal's organ may atrophy, significantly worsening the quality of life. Even a delay of half an hour can cost your pet his sight.

Painfully bulging eyes in a dog are a serious pathology that is characteristic not only of a number of diseases, but also of certain breeds. That is, it can be either a symptom or a feature of the animal that you have to put up with. Even if the cause is not illness, still, when a dog’s eyes fall out, it needs special care to maintain a comfortable life.

Why do my eyes fall out?

Like other toy breeds, Shih Tzus have eye loss. The small size of the head and the specific location of the eyeball causes the dog's eyes to fall out. The following are common reasons why Shih Tzus lose eyes:

mechanical head injuries;
blows to the neck and temporal region;
lifting the animal by the skin in the neck area;
any pressure in the cervical area.

The larger the animal's eyes, the greater the likelihood of proptosis. Not every injury necessarily results in eyes falling out. The occurrence of proptosis may be preceded by infection, allergy, and conjunctivitis. Therefore, as soon as you notice that the area around the pupil of your pet is red and the animal is constantly scratching its eyes, try to remove the dog from irritants, reduce physical activity and consult a veterinarian.

If it happens that your eye falls out, do not panic. First of all, try to relieve stress in the animal, then treat the eye in a circle with any eye preparation and ice-caine solution (if available), cover the eye itself with a soft sterile material moistened with clean warm water and apply cold for a short time. After this, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic.

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Causes and symptoms of eyeball prolapse

A dog’s eyes fall out if it finds itself in a situation that provokes the occurrence of such a pathology:

a blow to the neck or head from the side or from above;
lifting and carrying the animal by the skin of the withers.

As a result of such mechanical action, the eyeball shifts and extends beyond the eyelid that holds it. The loss can be complete or partial.

After an injury, the dog experiences a feeling of pain and discomfort, accompanied by the following signs:

excessive protrusion of the eyeball;
bloody discharge from the eye;
increased blinking of the eyes;
drying and dullness of the cornea;
swelling of the conjunctiva;
fear of light;
animal depression.

Such symptoms will not go unnoticed by the dog owner, so you need to try to help the pet before arriving at the veterinary clinic.

Prevention and vaccination

From birth, you need to ensure that all vaccinations for Shih Tzu puppies are done in a timely manner. Vaccination will help prevent infections and fungal diseases. Don't skimp on vaccines, choose the best. If your dog itches, hair falls out and the skin turns red, immediately seek help from a veterinarian, because the animal is prone to atopy.

Since the Shih Tzu's eyes fall out, try to protect your pet from possible damage and injury, do not overload with active walks and physical activity.

Remember, you should not treat your pet yourself - you can harm it even more. If characteristic symptoms occur, seek advice from a specialist.

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In which breeds does the problem occur most often?

All dogs are beautiful, it is impossible to stop a fan of the breed, even if his future pet has a list of potential genetic pathologies. On the contrary, knowing about the possible risks, it is easier to prevent problems in advance with proper care. The breeds that often suffer from protrusion of the organs of vision up to their loss include the following:

Dogue de Bordeaux;
Shar Pei;
English bulldog;
bullmastiff;
boxer;
spaniel (mostly Cavalier King Charles);
boston terrier;
Chihuahua (most often Corby);
pug;
Shih Tzu;
Japanese Chin;
Pekingese.

All these breeds are brachycephalic. This is the name given to dogs with a shortened, clearly flattened muzzle. Due to the structural features of the skull, they tend to suffer from respiratory and visual diseases, including proptosis. This is what protrusion of the eye organs in animals is called.

It is not necessary that the Pikinese and other breeds on the list always lose eyes. This is only probable, but not a verdict. Moreover, this condition is treatable. These breeds are simply more sensitive and have a harder time withstanding falls and accidental injuries even during play.

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