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Dog Eye Problems

Dog Eye Problems

Do you notice that your dogs eyes are red or swollen? Do you find him frequently rubbing his eyes against something? Do you feel that the eyes of your pet dog are unhealthy and making his life miserable? Well, alike humans, dog eye problems are numerous and diverse in nature. There can be several possible disease conditions behind reddened or bloodshot eyes in dogs. The following account describes some common dog eye problems in brief. Take a look, to help yourself determine the possible dog eye disease that could be affecting your dog.

List of Dog Eye Problems
Following is a list of common eye problems in dogs.

Glaucoma
One of the leading causes of blindness in dogs is glaucoma. It is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure. This, in turn, is caused by improper drainage or accumulation of aqueous humor in the eyes. It is quite easy to recognize glaucoma in dogs. The dog frequently rubs his eyes with his paw or against some hard object. Secondly, the affected eye protrudes out. Thirdly, there is a marked dilation in the pupil and delay in its reaction to light. Fourthly, there is an increase in the number of blood vessels in the affected eye and finally, the eye is painful and makes the dog blink it at an increased frequency.

Scleritis
The white outer coating of the eye is known as sclera and the condition of inflamed sclera is called scleritis. It is mostly caused by some underlying parasitic diseases. The most common among them is toxoplasmosis or lyme disease in dogs. Scleritis usually affects the eye and the most noticeable symptom is the formation of red lumps in the eye. The red, lumpy area is immovable and hard. Scleritis needs immediate veterinary attention as the delay may result in loss of vision.

Cherry Eye
Dogs have a third eyelid that is located at the corner of each eye. It contains tear glands. The gland is invisible and aids in producing tears. The prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid in dogs is called cherry eye. The gland swells and comes out of its normal position.The exact reason behind the origin of cherry eye is unknown but many doctors believe that it occurs due to the weakening of the connective tissue that holds the gland within the enclosed area. It is a common young dog eye problem. The treatment involves surgical replacement of the tear gland.

Nuclear Sclerosis
Cloudiness of the eyes is not always cataracts and can be another disease condition called nuclear sclerosis. It occurs due to a hardening of the lens. As dogs grow older, the lens fiber continues to regenerate. This causes the dense packing of the center. As a result, the lens loses its flexibility. The dog eye problem nuclear sclerosis appears as bluish-gray haziness at the center of the lens. It usually occurs in both the eyes. Fortunately, it does not affect vision. Still, the condition needs to be treated well.

Cataracts
The clouding that develops either in the crystalline or envelope of the eye is known as cataracts. It obstructs the passage of light rays and brings opacity. The opacity may be partial or complete, depending upon the severity of cataracts. The causative factors that lead to cataracts are diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, eye injury, microbial infections, etc. It badly destroys the quality of vision. The medical treatment involves surgical removal of the cataracts.

Uveitis
The part of the eye that supplies blood to the retina is called uvea and the inflammation of uvea is called uveitis. The inflamed uvea causes the release of proteins in the eye, which in turn results in cloudiness in the eye. There can be several disorders that lead to uveitis in dogs. These are injuries, microbial infections, cataracts, hepatitis virus, tumors, lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, etc.

Distichiasis
The abnormal growth of eyelashes from the orifice of meibomian gland is known as distichiasis. This gland is located at the posterior side of the tarsal plate. It occurs when two eyelashes originate from a single follicle. Dogs suffer from intense irritation of the eyes as a result of distichiasis.

The given list includes only a few out of the numerous dog eye problems. All the dog eye diseases need timely veterinary care and assistance. Delay in treatment may even result in grave situations like complete loss of vision. The veterinarian may refer your pet dog to a specialized vet ophthalmologist. Take your canine friend to him for effective and complete cure of his eye problems.

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