May is National Service Dog Eye Examination Month. As part of a complete medical exam, every dog should have a complete ophthalmologic or eye exam as well. This often involves special instruments known as a direct and indirect ophthalmoscope, which are special hand held instruments needed for a thorough and complete eye exam. Veterinarians will also often first check to see if adequate tears are being produced in the eyes, as well as whether any scratches or ulcers on the cornea are present. Using the ophthalmoscope, the veterinarian will be able to look into the middle and back chambers of the eye, as well as check the health of the retina located at the back of the eye.
Very often topical anesthetic drops are placed on the eye, so that the veterinarian may check for glaucoma using a special device called a tonometer, which gives the doctor an accurate measurement of the intraocular pressure. Symptoms of common eye problems may include squinting of the eye, redness of the eye, as well as changes in the pupil size. In certain diseases of the eye, swelling and/or pain may also be present, as well as in some cases a sunken in appearance may also appear. If these signs are noted, it is important to have a veterinary evaluation as soon as possible. Every pet should have a complete eye exam at least once yearly.
Uveitis is defined as an inflammation of the inner structures or uvea of the eye, and may include inflammation of the iris, ciliary body and choroids. This condition occurs in both dogs and cats. Clinical signs of uveitis may include squinting and redness of the eyes, inflammation of the cornea or covering of the eyes, as well as the finding of narrowed or constricted pupils. This inflammation is usually mediated by some sort of vascular damage to the eye, which can occur secondary to many diseases. Many of these diseases are systemic diseases of the rest of the body.
Some of these causes may include viral/bacterial infections, cancer, trauma and immune mediated. Diagnosis of uveitis is only made through a proper veterinary ophthalmologic exam. Because of the many above possibilities, a full veterinary workup is usually indicated to determine the underlying cause of the uveitis.
Treatment as well as prognosis will vary depending upon the underlying cause. In many cases where infectious causes have been ruled out, many conventional veterinarians will manage these cases with topical steroid eye drops, and/or non-steroidal anti inflammatory eye drops.
Entropion is defined as an anatomic abnormality where there is inversion of either the upper or lower eyelid. In many cases the inverted eyelids will contact and rub on the underlying cornea. This genetic condition may be seen in any breed of dog, but is more common in certain breeds such as the Chinese Shar-Pei and the Akita. The severity of the entropion will determine what the presenting clinical signs are. The many clinical signs include spasm and closure of the eyelids, light sensitivity, varying amounts of eye discharge, as well as secondary scratching and irritation of the cornea. Treatment of entropion involves surgical correction of the anatomic abnormality, as well as treatment of the secondary eye inflammation with topical antibiotics and antispasmodics. The prognosis is excellent for a full recovery.
Excessive tearing of the eyes of pets can have many potential causes. Allergies and viral/bacterial infections are certainly potential contributing factors. Foreign bodies in the eyes such as plant or grass material may also occur. In some pets, anatomic problems such as inversion of the eyelids or ingrown eye lashes or hairs are possible factors as well. Scratches of the cornea can be quite painful and may cause sensitive eyes and secondary eye tearing. Finally in some pets, especially the toy breeds, clogged tear ducts may also be involved in excessive eye tearing.
Treatment of excessive tearing involves differentiating the underlying potential causes listed above. A veterinary exam is usually required to help guide specific treatment of any eye condition. In many cases, topical antibiotics may be necessary to control potential bacterial infections. Surgical correction of anatomic defects or clogged tear ducts may also be necessary. Products such as Angels’ Eyes can also help with tear staining in those toy breeds predisposed.
| Dry eye is a fairly common eye disorder of many breeds of dogs. Clinical signs of dry eye in dogs include increased redness or injection of the eyes, thick often yellow or greenish mucous discharge built up on the surface or cornea of the eye, as well as secondary infection or ulceration of the cornea.
Many pets are visibly uncomfortable, often holding the eye closed in light, as well as pawing at affected the area. |
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Dry eye typically occurs when the third gland of the eye stops producing adequate tears, often due to an underlying autoimmune disorder. Sometime these glands will just stop producing tears for unknown reasons. Diagnosis is only made by veterinary exam and measurement of the tear production in the eye.
Treatment of dry eye may range from simply providing artificial tears to the eye a few times daily, and/or stronger topical eye medications now available like Optimmune. Topical Optimmune works by decreasing inflammatory processes in the eye involved with low tear production. It has been quite effective for me over many years of use; however it is often quite expensive.
Other natural modalities to use in management of dry eye include placing one or two drops of cod liver oil in the eye twice to three times daily. This can act as a lubricant for the eye, as well as promote healing of the corneal surface. Cod liver oil can also be used in food as a supplement as well. Supplementing pets with liver supportive supplements like Denamarin, as well as Canine hepatic support may also help long term, as many in holistic medicine believe the liver to be out of balance in pets with dry eye.
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As a blogger for 1-800-PetMeds I am often presented with from customers regarding what to do about various eye symptoms for their pets. Some of these topics can range from treatments for red eyes, eyes that are held shut, eye discharge, and cloudy or swollen eyes. Nearly 100% of the time I will inform clients that they should see their veterinarians for proper diagnosis and treatment. This is often the case because it is difficult for me to recommend even an over-the-counter eye treatment when I don’t know the diagnosis of the eye problem.
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The reason being is that the eyes of our pets are complex and there are many possible eye illnesses pets may suffer from, including scratches or ulcers on the corneas, glaucoma, cataracts, and problems with the retinas. All of which are treated differently. While many veterinarians are skilled in treating eye disorders, I will often recommend clients to consider seeing or inquiring about a veterinary opthomologist or specialist in eye diseases for complex cases, or where initial treatment by their veterinarians does not result in adequate resolution of symptoms.
