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Old Dog Resources
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Dog Eye Care
One of the most important and vulnerable parts of a dog's body are their eyes. The eyes of a dog, as with human beings, get damaged easily and when
damaged the eye can take a long time to get back to its natural healthy state once again.
Have your your dog's eyes checked regularly. If the eye shows any irregularities it is very important to contact your vet.
The eye is a very delicate organ and shouldn't be messed around with. If you have any doubt, go to the vet, as mild
conditions can deteriorate quite quickly. Do not put anything in or near the eye that is not specifically labeled for ophthalmic use
(particularly antiseptics), and don't use an old eye preparation left over from a previous occasion. Growths or swellings in the area of the
eyes need immediate veterinary attention, as they may spread or cause other complications.
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Prevent infections
Source -
Drs. Foster & Smith
 Educational Staff
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Trim hair from around your pet's eyes using blunt-nosed scissors. Keeping hair from scraping on the eye will help
prevent bacteria from getting into the eye.
By making sure the corners of your pet's eyes are mucus-free, you may be able to prevent infections. Bacteria often feed on mucus and can
migrate into the eye. Using sterile veterinary eyewash is a convenient way to do this
Make sure to use
protective ophthalmic ointment
before you apply insecticides or before bathing your pet. This can prevent eye irritations that can lead to infection.
Keep your pet from situations where he may get eye trauma. Fights
with other animals, exposure to irritating substances, or letting your
pet hang his head out of the car windows are three preventable
situations when your pet could receive eye trauma.
Tearstains are also an area that may become a hotbed for
bacteria. Some dogs, such as Poodles, Cockers, and small terriers, may
not have the proper mechanism for draining the tears out of the lacrimal
gland (tear duct). The excess tears spill down the lower eyelid causing
unsightly staining. Trimming hair around the eye, keeping the eye clean,
and using a tearstain remover such as
Show Eyes®
Solution or Pads can all help.
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Medicating the eyes
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Tilt dog's head back and pull lower eyelid down slightly. Drop the lotion from its own applicator into the inner
corner of eye. Continue to hold the head back for a moment or two while the drops disperse over the whole eye surface. Do not touch the eye
itself with the dropper.
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Eye ailments:
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Eyelids:
Ectropion - is the turning out (eversion) of the eyelid. Besides being unattractive,
ectropion can cause irritation because it exposes the sensitive inner lining of the eyelids and eyeballs to irritants. It also allows drying
of the eyeball due to increased tear evaporation. It may also prevent efficient spreading of the tears during the blink reflex.
Ectropion may be normal and harmless in some dogs, but abnormal and harmful in others. Causes include inherited factors, birth defects, and
injuries.
Ectropion is corrected by surgery, with the animal under general ansthesia.
Source Dr. James Farnham
Entropion - is a rolling in of the eyelids. It may cause the eyelashes to rub against the
sensitive front layer of the eyeball (cornea) and is often uncomfortable or painful. It can also cause serious eye damage.
Causes include birth defects, injuries and other eye disorders.
Entropion may be permanent or temporary and may occur at any age after
the eyes open at around 2 weeks.
The objective of treatment is to permanently evert or roll the affected
lid(s) outward. Hospitalization and general anesthesia will be
required. Further lid adjustment may occasionally be needed at a later
date due to tissue contraction or growth. "Tacking" is a term used when
the lids are temporarily turned outward with the use or sutures.
The sutures remain in for an average of 2-3 weeks. The procedure is used on
very young animals to protect the sensitive front of the eyeball until
the lids attain less harmful eyeball contact through natural maturing.
In some instances, a more permanent, surgical repair may be required at
a later date on these patients.
Source Dr. James Farnham
Distichia
Trichiasis -
Distichiasis is an abnormal condition in which extra eyelashes appear
along the lid margin(s) where ordinarily they should not grow. This
condition is inherited, but prolonged eye irritation may also cause the
unwanted lashes to appear.
Trichiasis is a similar condition in which the eyelashes grow from
normal areas but turn inward and touch the eyeball.
Both conditions may cause excessive tearing, discomfort and serious
injury to the eye. In some cases, however, the conditions cause no harm
or discomfort, and treatment is not required.
Early eye damage is not readily apparent but may be detected with the
aid of special optical instruments. Thus, treatment can be initiated
before serious damage is done.
Both distichiasis and trichiasis may be present at the same time.
Various procedures can correct either disorder. The choice of the
treatment will be based on your individual pet’s needs. Due to the
complex, ongoing nature of distchiasis and trichiasis new irritating
eyelashes may appear after the initial corrective procedure. Therefore,
the procedure may need to be repeated. One should not become
discouraged since correction can be attained, and each additional
procedure reduces the likelihood of recurrence.
Notify your veterinarian if your pet shows excessive tearing or signs of eye irritation.
Source Dr. James Farnham
Chalazion - is a cyst in the eyelid that is
caused by inflammation of the meibomian gland, usually on the upper eyelid.
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Lens:
Cataracts - are an opacity
(describes opaque material, impenetrable to visible light) in the lens of the eye.
Lens Luxation - is a displacement of the lens from its normal position.
Nuclear Sclerosis - is an age-related change in the density of the crystalline lens nucleus that occurs in all older animals.
It appears as a bilateral bluish-grey haziness at the nucleus, or center
of the lens.
More Eye Conditions
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Resources
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Animal Eye Specialist -
Dr. Hacker is one of only 180 ophthalmologists certified by the A.C.V.O. in the world. Members of
this elite veterinary specialty board are located throughout major
metropolitan areas in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Norway and
Australia. Dr. Hacker¹s expertise is in diagnosis and surgery of the eye
including microsurgery and cataract surgery.
American College of Veterinary Opthalmolosist
Canine Eye Registration Foundation -
was then established in conjunction with cooperating, board certified, veterinary ophthalmologists, as a means to
accomplish the goal of elimination of heritable eye disease in all purebred dogs by forming a centralized, national registry.
Veterinary Vision
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