Is your dog rubbing her face against the bed or carpet? Is your pup pawing at her eyes?
These may be signs that your dog may have a problem with her eyes.
“Your dog does not have a safe, effective way of keeping her eyes clean. You have to provide this important part of her health care. During your weekly health maintenance check, be sure to include an at-home eye exam to catch any possible problems early. To do this, position yourself in good light and look closely at your dog's eyes,” said Marty Smith, DVM and Angela Walter, DVM, in “The Eyes Have It: Eye Care 101 for Dogs” in petcoach.com.
Healthy eyes vs eyes with problems
A dog’s eyes are healthy if:
1. they are moist and clear;
2. they are not causing any discomfort; and
3. the area around the iris (the sclera) is white.
These are signs of an eye problem:
1. redness
2. swelling
3. squinting
4. discharge
5. excessive tearing,
6. or pain.
When one or two of these signs are present, please bring to the vet for immediate attention.
Here are other indicators that your dog’s eyes are healthy:
1. Your dog's pupils should be equal in size.
2. Your dog’s pupils react to light.
3. Your dog should be able to hold her eyelids open. Closed eyelids mean there is a problem.
4. The third eyelid is usually not visible in healthy dogs.
“Monitor your dog's eyes closely and do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you suspect something is wrong,” Smith and Walter said.
“If you have an older dog and her eyes appear a bit hazy or opaque, do not panic. This can be a normal change due to aging. Your veterinarian will be able to distinguish if this is an age-related condition called nuclear sclerosis, or if it is caused by cataracts. Nuclear sclerosis requires no treatment, but cataracts can cause blindness. If your dog has cataracts, your veterinarian may refer your pet to a veterinary ophthalmologist (eye doctor) for treatment,” Smith and Walter added.
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“It is also a good idea to monitor your pooch for changes in her vision. If you notice that your pet seems to have difficulty seeing objects or runs into walls or the furniture, schedule an exam with your veterinarian,” Smith and Walter said.
Tips for Eye Care
Here are tips on how to care for your dog’s eyes:
1. Keep hair/fur out of your dog's eyes. The hair rubbing on the cornea can cause scratches to the cornea (the clear membrane across the surface of the eye).
“Trim the hair using only blunt-nosed scissors, cutting parallel to the edge of the eyelid. This is especially important where the skin folds near the eyes in breeds like Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, and Maltese,” Smith and Walter said.
2. Remove mucus from the eyes at all times.
“Use a sterile eyewash and/or eye wipes to keep the skin around the eyes clean. Be sure not to touch the cornea of the eye with the tip of the eyewash bottle or the wipe to prevent damage to the eye,” Smith and Walter said.
3. You can put a protective ophthalmic ointment to protect the eyes before bathing or facial cleaning. Ask your vet for this ointment.
“Even 'tearless' shampoos can irritate if too much gets in the eyes or if it is not rinsed out soon enough,” Smith and Walter said.
4. Tear staining is common among some breeds like poodles and cocker spaniels. This causes a reddish-brown discoloration of the hair at the corners of the eyes.
“Normally, tears flow across the surface of the eye and quickly drain through the tear duct. This discoloration at the corners of the eyes is caused by normal tears that spill out and lay on the surrounding hair. For breeds that tend to have tear or saliva stains, you could clean hair in affected areas at least weekly with a tear stain remover product,” they said.
Smith and Walter stressed: “Your dog's eyes are too important to take any chances. Be sure to take care of your pup's eyes and to monitor for any problems. Contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns regarding your dog's eye health.” DC