Dog Eye Infection
Did you know dogs can get pink eye? Yep, that’s right; your beloved pup can contract conjunctivitis, otherwise known as pink eye. This is also the most common dog eye infection according to Pet WebMD. The good news, though, is that conjunctivitis is usually not painful and pretty easy to treat.
Beyond the common pink eye, another dog eye infection comes when dogs have allergies. Like humans, dogs exhibit symptoms of allergies including red eyes that discharge fluids.
Other common dog eye infections include keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea that leaves the eye cloudy. This is also known as cloudy eye. Pet WebMD states that the symptoms of cloudy eye are excessive tearing, squinting, pawing at the eye, avoiding light, and protrusion of a third eyeball over the eye. Any keratitis is serious and requires immediate attention.
Uveitis is a fourth dog eye infection possibility. Also known as soft eye, this is an inflammation of the iris and ciliary body. Pet WebMD claims that uveitis is very painful and often accompanied by other bacterial infections and systemic diseases. This needs immediate attention.
The final, and most important, dog eye infection as explained by Pet WebMD is glaucoma. Just like in humans, glaucoma in dogs can and often does lead to blindness. Though it is a slow-progressing eye disease, it is one that is worth paying attention to. Two types of glaucoma exist: primary and secondary. Primary is hereditary while secondary is often a complication from another eye disease like uveitis. Glaucoma is incredibly painful. Diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian eye exam.
A veterinarian can provide the best information and diagnoses for curing these types of infection. The simple advice about dog eye infection is that if you notice any issue with your dog’s eyes, you need to contact your vet as soon as possible. Though dogs can live happy and healthy lives even when blind, dog eye infections are often painful, so make sure to take care of your pup.
If your dog’s eye or eyes look infected, don’t ignore that. Call your vet for proper diagnosis and start treating the dog eye infection as soon as possible.
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About Rayshell Clapper
Rayshell E. Clapper is an Associate Professor of English at a rural college in Oklahoma where she teaches Creative Writing, Literature, and Composition classes. She has presented her original fiction and non-fiction at several conferences and events including: Scissortail Creative Writing Festival, Howlers and Yawpers Creativity Symposium, Southwest/Texas Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association Regional Conference, and Pop Culture Association/American Culture Association National Conference. Her publications include Cybersoleil Journal, Sugar Mule Literary Magazine, Red Dirt Anthology, Originals, and Oklahoma English Journal. Beyond her written works, she successfully created a writer's group in rural Oklahoma to support burgeoning writers. The written word is her passion, and all she experiences inspires that passion. She hopes to help inspire others through her words.