Canine (Dog) Conjunctivitis

Canine (Dog) Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva: the tissue that covers the eyeball and lines the eyelids and third eyelid. Your dog has a third protective eyelid at the inner corner of each of its eyes. This eyelid sweeps the eyeball to moisten it or to remove dirt.

CAUSES OF CANINE CONJUNCTIVITIS:

The most common causes of Conjunctivitis are bacterial or viral infections. Puppies can even have an infection before their eyes open.

Other causes include:
* Allergies
* Environmental or chemical irritants
* Eye diseases (ex: glaucoma)
* Dry eyes
* Trauma to the eye

SYMPTOMS:

* Bulging third eyelid
* Redness in eyes
* Swollen eye area
* Discharge from the eyes (cloudy tears, mucus)
* Discharge from the nose
* Squinting
* Excessive blinking

DIAGNOSIS:

The veterinarian will first rule out problems like a foreign object in the eye, blocked tear duct or glaucoma. Then, the veterinarian will likely do the following:

* Blood tests: determines the underlying cause of the conjunctivitis
* Eye exam: close examination of the eyes, lids, lashes, tear ducts, third eyelid
* Schirmer tear test: paper strips inserted into the eye for a few minutes to measure tear production
* Corneal stain: a fluorescent dye is put in the eye and then studied with an ultraviolet light to determine if the cornea (the outer covering of the eye) is damaged

TREATMENTS:

To treat conjunctivitis, it is essential to first determine the cause. Treatments may include:

* Systemic medications: antibiotics (oral or injections) or anti-inflammatory drugs
* Medication: to stimulate tear-production
* Topical medications: eye drops, ointments
* Surgery: for dogs with abnormal eyelids or eyelashes

Most dogs will respond quickly to medication. To avoid a relapse, it is important to give your dog the medications for as long as your veterinarian recommends.

PREVENTION:

Keep the areas your dog uses clean. Have plenty of water available so the dog does not dehydrate. Keep a close watch on your dogs’ eyes for a relapse.

PROGNOSIS:

Occasionally, the underlying cause is not curable, but you can usually keep conjunctivitis in check and your dog can live comfortably if you follow the prevention tips above.

Protect yourself from large vet bills…check out a Pet Insurance alternative below…

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.