Dog Eye Diseases

" Dog eye diseases result from even minor issues due to the delicate nature of the eye. There are many canine eye diseases, ranging from minor allergies and infections to severe conformational abnormalities, tumors and permanent loss of eyesight. Major symptoms representing eye disease in dogs are redness, discharge, swelling, irritation and eyesight defects. But, these are only common symptoms. Any diagnosis needs to be definite and must be based on clinical examination with the help of an opthalmic apparatus and laboratory techniques. Treatment of each eye disease dog requires a specific approach, including the use of therapeutics, surgery and supportive measures/management. ."

Common Dog Eye Diseases:

Dog eyes can be affected by various diseases. These can be minor issues such as allergies or secondary infections, or they can be severe infections in different parts of the eyes caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites and allergens.

Similarly, non infectious dog eye diseases include conformational abnormalities, glaucoma, cataracts, opacity and atrophies (weakness). There are some congenital (inherited) canine eye diseases as well, which are retinopathies (damage to a dog retina). Dog eye cancers and dog eye tumors are the most severe type of eye diseases in dogs, and are considered to be fatal and destructive.

The following is a brief overview of a few of the major dog eye conditions:

• Dog Eye Infections: Canine eye infections, which are infectious and that spread from animal to animal and from one to the other eye and which progresses over time are commonly known as infections. These infections in dog eyes are specifically caused by various species of bacteria, viruses and least commonly by fungus. Some parasites like dog eye worms also cause diseased eyes in dogs, which also are infectious or spreadable to other animals.
  
  
  
  Canine Eye Diseases Photo
  Dog Eye Worms
  
  

  Dog eye infections can be primary or secondary in nature, i.e. they either build up within the dog eyes or are extended into the eye from infectious lesions around the eyes, i.e. face, nose or ears. Some allergens, like foreign objects, dust etc. also cause primary forms of inflammation in dog eyes, which becomes complicated due to secondary infections.

  Some common examples of dog infections are conjunctivitis (Pink eye), blepharitis (Inflammation of outer eyelids), Dacryocistitis (Inflammation of tear sac), chorioretinitis (Inflammation of Choroid and Retina) and orbital cellulitis.
  
  

  
  Canine Eye Disease Photos
  Blue Eye Dog Infectious Hepatitis
  
  
• Conformational Abnormalities: These types of dog eye problems include non infectious and comparatively mechanical dog eye diseases. Some of the conformational abnormalities in dog eyes are:
  
  
  • Entropion; Dog entropion is an inversion of some or the whole eyelid into the eye. This is one of the most common non infectious diseases noted in dogs. Secondary problems that are the result of dog entropion includes irritation and the formation of secondary infections over the surface of the affected dog eye. Surgical adjustment along with supportive measures are required to treat this condition.
    
    
    
    Picture Dog Eye Condition - Entropion
    
    
  • Ectropion: A dog entropion is an abnormal turning out of the inner part of the eye, In other words, it is an everted eyelid. It occurs bilaterally (both eyes) and some breeds like the Bull Mastif, Great Dane, St. Bernard and Spaniels are more prone to this conformational dog eye abnormality. The condition results in the conjunctiva becoming exposed to environment, thus irritation and secondary infections are the most common complications related with this dog eye problem.
    
  
  Basset hound with severe lower lid ectropion and upper entropion
  
  
  • Lagophthalmos: This canine eye disease is simply the inability to close the eyelid, thus the cornea is not protected by the outer layer - the dog eyelid. This usually occurs due to mild dryness and eye trauma, facial paralysis etc. This condition leads to permanent loss of corneal function, nerve paralysis, ulcers and opthalmic lesions due to eye exposure to various pathological and physical factors.
  • Disorders of Canine Cilia: Abnormalities of opthalmic cilia includes distichia (misdirected eyelashes over margin) epiphora (watery eyes) and corneal ulceration. These dog eye conditions cause severe irritation and abrasions, which turns into clinical complication such as ulcers, lesions and opthalmic parts gradually becomes necrosed (cell death).

Other Common Dog Eye Diseases:

Along with eye disease dog infections and conformational abnormalities, there are certain other conditions, which are not truly infectious but the pathogenesis shows that some infectious, age, genetic and physical factors are involved in their occurrence.

• Canine Glaucoma: Glaucoma in dogs is a collective term for a group of dog eye diseases, which involves an abnormality in the production and flow of fluids in dog eyes. Dog Glaucoma can result in destruction of the retina and orbital disc along with the loss of eye functionality due to pressure. Different forms of Dog Glaucoma can be open described as angle or closed , i.e. progressive or acute in nature respectively. Treatment is performed either with the use of therapeutics and initial massage or with dog glaucoma surgery in latter stages of the disease.
  
  
  
  Dog Eye Diseases Picture - Dog Glaucoma Picture
  
  
• Canine Cataracts: Cataracts in dogs are related to cloudiness or opacity of the lens. This is one common dog eye disease related to the lens of the dog's eye. It usually occurs as a secondary condition to some systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, severe eye traumas, congenital conditions and gradual weakness of the opthalmic apparatus with age.

Geriatric Miniature Poodle Picture Dog Cataracts

• Dog Eye Tumors: One of most complicated and hard to treat eye disease dog is dog eye cancer or a canine eye tumor. Cancer can occur in any part of a dog eye, but dog eye tumor problems in the outer eyelids are the most common. Adenomas and adenocarcinomas are the most frequently occurring eye cancers in dogs.
  
  
  
  Canine Eye Diseases Photo - Hemangioma (Benign Dog Eyelid Tumor) on Third Dog Eyelid
  
  

  Metastatic (spreading) types of dog eye cancers are usually secondary in nature which spreads from other parts of body to the eye. Papilloma, histioocytoma and mastocytoma are other types of dog eyelid cancers.

  The retina and orbital parts of the eye are other common sites for the occurrence of dog eye cancer. These and dog eyelid cancers are treated with therapeutics, radiation and surgery. the prognosis for dog eye cancer depends upon metastasis (how fast it is spreading or has spread) and the clinical chronicity of cancer (length of time dog had disease). Metastatic dog eye cancer usually has a poor prognosis.

Management and Treatment of Dog Eye Diseases:

Dog eyes, like those of other animals and humans are very delicate organs, thus even minor irritation can turn into a complication due to severe clinical symptoms and response of the patient towards inflammation and irritation. It is thus always recommended that dog eyes should be frequently observed for any unusual symptoms and development of any progressive condition which sometimes does not show any symptom of irritation or pain at all.

Dog eye diseases should be carefully diagnosed, and then treated specifically, meaning with medications manufactured for the particular dog eye condition identified. In support, measures such as regular cleaning with an isotonic solution such as Opticlear.  Be sure to select a product for dog eye cleaning that is an isotonic  wash solution in the form of drops.

Natural remedies such as  i-Clenz for cleaning tear stains and the area around the eye (can be used on the surface of the eye if diluted per the manufacturers directions, but an eye wash such as the Opticlear mentioned above is preferred for cleaning the surface of the eye) and the use of  local eye health tonics such as Eye Heal can help to hasten recovery. Natural remedies are one way to support eye health, both in cases where there is eye disease dog and as a preventive measure.

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References:

Merck Veterinary Manual (Merck & Co.)

Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine