The red eyes in dogs They could be caused by multiple factors, such as diseases, behaviors, race or age, however there is a very obvious condition such as conjunctivitis, where red eyes could be one of its most common symptoms, we tell you everything about this condition right here.
Red Eyes in Dogs
The red eyes in dogs they can have different causes, where they almost always come together with other symptoms, which makes it clear that something is wrong in the body, some of these symptoms can be purulent, inflammation, green fleas, watery eyes, apathy, among others.
When observing this in dogs, the best thing to do is go to the veterinarian and have him give us instructions to follow. The breeds of dogs that have the most bulging eyes, such as Pekingese puppies, Bulldog and Pug are the breeds most likely to suffer from conjunctivitis, which is usually the most common cause of conjunctivitis. red eyes in dogs.
This is a very common disease in dogs, the body of these animals pumps more blood to the affected area to facilitate the action of natural defenses, which causes irritation that in turn is caused by the external agent, this is called says redness of the sclera.
What are the common causes of red eyes in dogs?
When we have a pet dog, it can be very common for it to have red eyes, caused by different pathologies, below we mention what are the most frequent causes of this:
Conjunctivitis
Both conjunctivitis and viral bacteria cause inflammation of the different membranes of the eyes, which can increase the production of lagañas, increases vascularization and for that reason the organ turns red. This is highly contagious, it usually occurs in both eyes and if there are more dogs in the house, the disease can also be transmitted to them, it is best to visit the veterinarian to prescribe some medication.
In the case of allergic conjunctivitis, these are generally not contagious and the most common causes are insect bites or contact with an irritating plant, it can also be generated when the dog comes into contact with a cosmetic or cleaning product, this type of conjunctivitis usually has a good prognosis and usually resolves quickly.
On the other hand, infectious conjunctivitis can have a viral or bacterial cause, these are highly contagious and in these cases antibiotics are recommended, although corneal crosslinking can also be applied to eliminate all the bacterial flora on the surface of the eye, favoring rapid control. of the infection.
episcleritis
This is a hypervascularization of the white part of the eye or sclera due to the thickening of the capillaries, if it turns red it is due to the inflammation of the Harder gland that is located next to the third eyelid or nictitating membrane. This is a benign disease and can be improved with a good indication from the veterinarian, always depending on the symptoms in each case.
If the pet that we have at home suffers from this condition, we will easily notice it when we see the swelling of the sclera, we will observe the general thickening in the eye and the different coloration in the white part of the eye, which can be from pink to brown. or red.
Another symptom of this may be that the dog keeps its eyes closed and is sore when it is very inflamed, in this way you can also see how the contour of the organs turn red, its feet are very inflamed and many lagañas or make a crust on top.
To carry out the treatment of episcleritis in dogs with red eyes, you must wait at least 12 hours, in order to wait to see if the eye improves by itself, if not, then we will know that it is time to go to the veterinarian, This will ask a series of questions in order to find out what could have happened to the pet and will carry out the corresponding tests, in order to obtain a diagnosis and indicate the treatment.
All Dog diseases already mentioned can happen in one or both eyes, for example; If the dog has only one of its eyes red, it indicates that it could be suffering from the symptoms of conjunctivitis generated by a foreign body inside it, it could also be a bacterial infection or it could be that the canine scratched too much.
However, when it is an allergic conjunctivitis, both eyes could turn red, on the other hand, if we talk about keratitis, it can occur in only one eye, which also causes the eye to become inflamed and close, producing redness and crusting, When we refer to a corneal ulcer, styes, bacterial blepharitis and a wound are also possible causes of red eyes in our canine pets.
Less Common Causes of Red Eyes in Dogs
There are many causes that could cause the appearance of red eyes in canine household pets, for example; the shape of their eyelids, because if they are very droopy, this makes it easier for them to dry out, as is the case of Bulldogs and Boxers, which are the ones that this situation occurs most frequently.
Among the causes of red eyes in dogs also found:
- Keratitis.
- Poisoning
- Styes
- Blepharitis
- Strange body.
- Glaucoma.
- Wounds.
- Allergies
- Corneal ulcer.
Allergies can also cause redness in the eyes of dogs, especially reactions to environmental allergens, such as pollen, mites and dust, which use the nose, mouth and eyes as their main route of access, which is why that these areas are always the most affected for allergic reactions.
Environmental pollution can also cause redness in the eyeballs of our canine pets, dust, smoke and other particles are not good for the eyes of dogs or humans, an example is that of people who smoke and have dogs, these usually suffer from red eyes due to pollution in the air.
Any foreign body that enters the dog's eye can cause redness, it can even cause the appearance of ulcers on the cornea, the treatment of the cornea is very specific and if it is not carried out, it can quickly worsen the state of the organ.
Also when you take your pet to a day at the beach it could have red eyes, due to the salt water and the sand, it is recommended that after a day at the beach the canine have their eyes washed with physiological serum. There are many reasons why the red eyes in dogs, but the most important thing in any case is to go to the veterinary doctor.
When to take the pet to the vet?
At the moment of observing the dog and seeing that one eye (or both) is red, then you should visit the veterinarian promptly, as he is the specialist who can help you diagnose the condition that the pet may be presenting, as well as its corresponding watch out. We must go to the veterinarian in the presence of any of the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea.
- He is down.
- Does not eat.
- Fever.
- dry nose
- Tremors
- Scabs.
- Secretion.
- Green lags.
- purulent discharge.
- Crying eyes.
How is the diagnosis of red eyes in dogs performed?
When an owner and his dog with this discomfort go to the veterinarian, the expert, before being able to find the proper diagnosis or indicate any treatment, needs to carry out a check-up using an ophthalmoscope, which is used to observe the eyes very clearly and to be able to determine what is the problem. the pathology of the animal.
It is necessary for the owner to explain to the veterinarian in detail what are the symptoms that our pet has been presenting, how many days has the dog had red eyes, if he has applied any medication on his own and any details that must be notified, because this helps the specialist to give the instructions
If the expert observes that it is something more serious, he should indicate blood tests or any other type of study that helps the diagnosis for adequate indications and the recovery of the pet.
How to cure red eyes in dogs?
After the veterinarian checks the animal and makes the proper diagnosis, he will proceed to indicate what remedies are indicated according to the pathology of the canine.
All diseases have different treatments, that is, it will depend on whether it is conjunctivitis or glaucoma, a foreign body or an ulcer, for this reason it is indicated to go to the veterinarian and not to medicate the animal on its own, because it does not all cases are the same and some diseases are more serious than others.
Pharmaceutical products
When the veterinarian has ruled out an infection or some serious pathology, the most common treatment is eye drops containing corticosteroids or cortisone, which contain a wide variety of hormones that are responsible for regulating the inflammation of the immune system, although in some cases these also can have opposite effects.
Another of the medicines that can be prescribed are ophthalmological ointments that can include different active ingredients, that is, components that contain anti-inflammatories for dogs and pain relievers.
Generally, the treatment when it comes to drops is to place 6 drops on the dog in each eye in order to decongest and reduce inflammation. These treatments can be carried out in the comfort of home, where the pet owner must take responsibility, comply with the instructions and keep track of the canine's recovery, in order to quickly inform the veterinarian if it is not favorable.
Non-compliance with the treatment can result in the animal returning to its initial state or even aggravating its condition, which is why treatment indications must be respected to the letter, in addition to responsibly complying with the hours and days indicated. by the specialist.
Home remedies
Home remedies can often help us calm certain pathologies, but in most cases it can end up being counterproductive because it does not work or can worsen the condition, so it is not recommended to apply home remedies when we do not have a diagnosis. or they are not indicated by your veterinarian, it is essential that the dog is treated with the correct medications according to the pathology that it presents.
Caring for dogs with red eyes
The diseases that produce redness in the pet also cause them a lot of discomfort, for this reason we must go immediately to the veterinarian, who will explain what are the procedures to follow to alleviate the discomfort of the canine pet, such as:
- Clean the dog's eyes with physiological serums, since these serums respect the body's pH and do not cause irritation, these solutions are easily accessible and can be obtained at veterinary offices and pet stores.
- Clean the tears and legañas, this is done regularly with a sterile gauze, we can buy these in pharmacies and the same gauze should not be used in both eyes, nor reuse again for the same procedure.
- Apply a moist and warm compress on the pet's eyes for approximately 5 minutes, this helps reduce the discomfort that the animal has and improve the condition, the compresses cannot be refused and should only be used in one eye.
- If the dog has long hair, it is recommended to keep the hairs short around the eyes, in order to keep that area clean and clear, avoiding causing further irritation to the organs and worsening the condition.
- It is necessary to clarify that if after following these steps the dog does not improve, we must immediately go to the veterinarian and explain the situation so that the expert provides the corresponding recommendations so that the pet recovers, it is necessary that we do not apply any remedy on our own, not even eye drops, drops or any other medicine, even if we have used it before.