Eye diseases in dogs are very diverse. The mucous membrane may be affected upper eyelid, lens and cornea, as well as the entire eyeball at once. Often this leads to loss of vision. That is why every owner should be able to recognize the symptoms of the disease, and understand what to do in such a situation.

Eyelid involvement is the most common in dogs. Symptoms can be detected by external examination.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is an inflammatory disease of the eyelids. Pathology develops as a result of trauma, allergies, infections. The main symptoms of blepharitis include:

• swelling and redness of the eyelid;
• teary eye, but copious discharge No;
• a bump may be observed in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eyelid;
• the presence of crusts, scales, local loss of eyelashes.

Video "The first signs of eye disease"

In this video veterinarian talk about the first signs of common eye diseases in pets.

distichiasis

Distichiasis is pathological condition, which is characterized by the growth of hairs in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe eyelids where they are normally absent. Growing hairs irritate the mucous membrane of the eye.

Clinically, the disease is manifested by the following symptoms:

• lacrimation;
• rapid blinking;
• redness of the mucous membrane.

Most often, distichiasis occurs in puppies under the age of 6 months, in adult dogs the disease no longer develops.

Trichiasis

Trichiasis is a disease that is characterized by the reverse growth of eyelashes (toward the mucous membrane). Growing hairs can scratch the cornea, which will subsequently lead to the development of keratitis. The dog often blinks, there may be increased lacrimation.

Inversion and eversion of the eyelids

The disease has a congenital character and is manifested by eversion of the eyelid inward or outward. This causes considerable discomfort to the dog: mucous discharge, secondary inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva, frequent blinking.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a group of diseases that are accompanied by inflammation of the conjunctiva. The mucous membrane can become inflamed for several reasons. First of all, it concerns bacterial infections and allergic reactions.

Allergic

Allergic conjunctivitis develops when the mucous membrane of the eyes comes into contact with allergens or toxic substances. The symptoms of the disease are as follows:

• profuse mucous discharge from the eyes;
• frequent blinking;
• redness, swelling.

Often there are signs allergic lesion upper respiratory tract.

Follicular

Follicular conjunctivitis often develops due to chronic pathology. Signs of inflammation are usually absent, the formation of follicles is characteristic. Outwardly, it looks like barley, only the follicles are not localized in the place of the eyelash hair follicle, but directly on the mucous membrane.

Purulent

Purulent conjunctivitis is most often caused by a bacterial infection. The eye may be very swollen and red, there are abundant purulent discharge. In advanced cases, the affected eye is closed.

Pathology of the eyeball

Pathology eyeball manifests itself in the form of its protrusion and retraction, the development of strabismus.

exophthalmos and endophthalmos

Exophthalmos is a protrusion of the eyeball. May be acquired or congenital. Pugs are especially susceptible to the development of pathology.

Endophthalmos is a retraction of the eyeball. The reason may be its atrophy, impaired innervation, as well as congenital pathology.

convergent strabismus

Converging strabismus is a violation of the position and movement of the eyes. The disease develops when oculomotor nerves. The cause may be congenital changes, trauma, infection of the nerves.

Lacrimal apparatus disorders

During the normal functioning of the lacrimal apparatus, enough tears that moisten and moisturize the mucous membrane. When the lacrimal apparatus is damaged or blocked, dry conjunctivitis and dry keratitis develop. Clinically, this is manifested by dryness of the mucous membrane, frequent blinking.

Keratitis

The cornea is the transparent part of the eyeball that performs the function of light refraction. Keratitis is a lesion of the cornea, which is accompanied by a violation of its function.

There are two main forms of the disease:

1. Ulcerative keratitis. An ulcer on the cornea in a dog may appear as a result of prolonged mechanical irritation, exposure to toxic substances, after a burn.
2. Non-ulcerative keratitis. The non-ulcer form of the disease is often a sign of an infectious lesion. For example, with viral or bacterial keratitis.

Another common lesion found in dogs is corneal dystrophy. Ulcers and inflammation are absent, the disease manifests itself mainly as a visual impairment.

Pathology of the fundus and lens

Damage to the lens and fundus of the eye can lead to complete loss of vision in a dog. If you start the disease, irreversible changes occur, and it is almost impossible to restore the dog's vision.

retinal atrophy

Retinal atrophy is a hereditary disease characterized by gradual onset of symptoms. The main symptom is visual impairment, with the progression of the disease - complete blindness.

Cataract

Cataract is a disease characterized by clouding of the lens.

The lens can become cloudy for two main reasons:

1. Primary defeat. Occurs due to genetic predisposition in some breeds of dogs. Terriers are especially susceptible to developing idiopathic cataracts.
2. Secondary failure. Occurs due to systemic autoimmune diseases, injuries, other eye diseases.

Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment is accompanied total loss vision. The disease develops as a result of injury, vascular pathology, some infections. In addition to loss of vision, retinal detachment is manifested by a lack of pupillary response to light.

The disease occurs acutely, most often suddenly. For diagnosis, an examination of the fundus is used.

Treatment and prevention

Medicines for a dog with eye diseases must be prescribed taking into account the cause of their occurrence.

Treatment of traumatic injury is often reduced to surgical intervention. Strabismus, inversion and eversion of the eyelids, cataracts and some other diseases cannot be treated conservatively. The only way out- operation.

Allergic, bacterial and viral nature are treated conservatively. Use the appropriate medicines:

• at bacterial infection- antibiotics;
• with allergies - antihistamines;
• at viral infection- antiviral agents and immunomodulators.

How to treat an inflamed eye in a dog depends on the severity of the pathology. For this purpose, the following means can be used:

• chamomile decoction;
• saline;
• weak green tea;
• solution "Furacilin".

With the help of any antiseptic solution, the inflamed eye is washed. How often to flush depends on the severity of the inflammation. If the eye is slightly reddened and the discharge is mucous in nature, it is enough to drip the solution 1-2 times a day. If the discharge is cloudy, brown or yellow color, it is necessary to carry out washing more often - 3-5 times a day.

If the disease is infectious, for example, purulent discharge is present, then washing is not enough. Need to apply local preparations With antibacterial action, for example "Tetracycline ointment".

In order to prevent the development of the disease, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. So that the eyes do not turn sour, it is necessary to carry out regular treatment of the mucous membrane. Spend several times a week hygiene procedures using a cotton pad and saline solution.
2. Get vaccinated on time to prevent development infectious diseases.
3. To exclude the ingress of damaging substances on the mucous membrane of the eye. Including contact of the mucous membrane with alcohol solutions, some ointments (for example, Protopic), systemic drugs.

Eye diseases significantly reduce the pet's quality of life and require long-term and heavy treatment. Prevention is much more effective.

Sharp eyesight for a dog is not as important if it were an eagle, but still dogs rely on their eyes to a large extent. Basically, like all animals. Therefore, eye diseases in dogs should be treated immediately after they are discovered, without starting the process.

This is the name of the rapid and unconscious contraction of the muscles of the eyelid, as a result of which the animal blinks non-stop. In addition, there is photophobia, when the dog cannot look at the light at all, exudate is released from the eye. How dangerous is this condition for your pet? By itself, this pathology is not fatal, but ...

In almost all cases, blepharospasm is not an independent disease. Rather, it is a sign that extremely unfavorable conditions are going on in the animal's body. pathological processes. So, sometimes this condition can be a “hint” to inflammation. trigeminal nerve. In general, blepharospasm can very often be observed with any injuries or inflammatory diseases eyes. At the same time, the organ itself often swells, with palpation the dog shows signs of a pain reaction.

There are no specific methods of treatment, since this eliminates the underlying disease that caused blepharospasm. To deprive an animal discomfort, drops with lidocaine or other anesthetic used in ophthalmology can be used. At home, these drugs do not need to be used! Many of them are used only in ophthalmology due to increased toxicity. general surgery requires such doses that can easily poison the dog. So leave the use of such specific drugs to experienced veterinarians.

Prolapse of the third century, aka "Cherry eye"

A pathology in which the third eyelid slips out of its place and ends up in the corner of the eye (which is clearly visible in the photo). Prolapse most often manifests itself only on one side, but there are also cases of bilateral pathology. The disease got its second name because of the specific type of eyeball, which really becomes like an overripe cherry. The causes of the "cherry eye" are far from fully identified, but usually the weakening of those tissues that usually hold the third eyelid in its "rightful" place leads to the appearance of this disease.

In some breeds, this attachment is initially weak, so cases of prolapse in these animals occur regularly. Among those, almost all, hounds, were noticed. There is information about hereditary predisposition. If at least one parent individual has a tendency to prolapse of the third eyelid, it will inevitably manifest itself in the offspring. If a description of something like this appears on the dog's veterinary card, you should not buy such a puppy.

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deadly dangerous disease this one is not. But! Firstly, she definitely does not add a “presentation” to the dog. Secondly, with prolapse, the functionality of the lacrimal gland is disrupted, which can already lead to keratitis and conjunctivitis. So this disease should be treated without delay.

Unfortunately, treatment often consists of surgical operation because an eyelid that falls out once will fall out again. The problem here is (the intervention itself is not too complicated) that the surgery suffers lacrimal gland, and therefore the dog, until the end of its days, will have to be instilled into the eyes with either special preparations, or a simple saline solution (of course, sterile).

Dermatitis of the century

Of course, it is difficult to consider dermatitis as an eye disease, but in this case, these pathologies are absolutely interconnected. The skin of the eyelids becomes inflamed, gets wet, and cases of suppuration are not uncommon. Naturally, under such conditions, the migration of pathogenic microflora into the conjunctival cavity becomes only a matter of time ... Moreover, this pathology is typical for long-haired dogs and breeds with long ears.

Clinical signs are quite characteristic: the skin on the eyelids turns red and inflamed, suppuration is possible, extremely bad smell. Souring of the eyes occurs, exudative discharge appears. Treat the disease with antibiotics a wide range. Hair in the affected area must be cut off, antiseptic ointments should be applied to the skin. Instilled into the eyes antimicrobials, washed with sterile saline. To prevent the animal from rubbing and scratching its eyes, a surgical collar is used.

Conjunctivitis

It's easy to guess what they're called eye diseases in dogs, the main symptom of which is inflammation of the conjunctiva and adjacent tissues. Most often it has an infectious etiology. The clinical picture includes the following signs:

• Pinkish or even reddish tinge to all visible mucous membranes.

• These same tissues (like the eyelids) can swell noticeably.

• There are tears from the eyes and discharge, and the characteristics of the latter may vary from the usual watery discharge to pus.

• A piece of the third eyelid may protrude from the inner corner of the eye (as we just talked about above). At the same time, novice breeders may even think that the dog's eye popped out.

• , constant flashing. Moreover, in the latter case, the process can clearly cause pain to the dog, she constantly rubs her eyes with her paws, whines.

• Clouding of the cornea (although this may indicate).

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As for the causes of this disease, they (as already mentioned) most often have an infectious background. But this is not always the case:

• Viruses.
• Chlamydia is a fairly common cause.
• Allergic reactions.
• Inflammation or blockage of the tear ducts, due to which the conjunctival cavity does not receive sufficient moisture.
• Foreign body in the eye.
• Irritant substances that have entered the conjunctival cavity.
• (when the eyelashes literally scrape the delicate tissues of the eye).
• Diverse.

So how to treat this unpleasant pathology? First, it all depends on the root cause. Usually prescribed various antibacterial agents, including drops and ointments (tetracycline, for example). It all depends on the results of the tests taken and on the recommendations of your veterinarian.

Eversion and inversion of the eyelid

Ectropion and entropion are the scientific names for eversion and respectively. Both pathologies are truly "canine", since they are incomparably less common in cats and other domestic animals. Great Danes, Newfoundlands and some spaniels are especially predisposed. Thus it is hereditary diseases dog eyes.

Both pathologies should be considered together, since these varieties often develop in parallel to each other. Of course, eyelid eversion, unlike eyelid inversion, rarely leads to really serious problems for the animal. But here everything rests on the fact that the eye, left without a reliable cover, becomes predisposed to the introduction of pathogenic microflora. In addition to direct surgical manifestations, in sick dogs, multiple outflows from the eyes are visible, they constantly blink, when you press the eyeball, a strong pain reaction. Dogs with ectropion suffer from drying out of the conjunctiva, which is fraught with other severe disorders.

Some kind of cases should be considered separate pathology, in which eyelashes begin to grow incorrectly, literally growing into the eye. This disease develops for a long time, sometimes for several years. Symptoms are similar to volvulus, that is, animals constantly have watery eyes, pus flows, pain occurs when pressed, but in this case clinical picture worsens more slowly.

This eye disease in dogs is treated exclusively surgically. It is only important to note that it is advisable to perform the operation on an already adult animal, in which the process of changing the size of the eyes has already stopped. To relieve the manifestations of the disease, apply antiseptic ointments and drops, hormonal preparations and other medicines. Only in very rare cases, when eversion or inversion (which is generally rare) of the eyelids are insignificant, is it possible conservative treatment. In any case, the decision here remains with the veterinarian.

Inflammation of the eyes in a dog is immediately noticeable. It is manifested by redness of the eyes and sometimes eyelids.

There can be quite a few reasons for this.

Causes of eye inflammation in dogs

Enough common cause eye inflammation. During a walk, an awn of grass, a splinter, small fragments can get into the eye of an animal, a branch can hit. An equally common cause of inflamed eyes is.

Also, the cause of inflammation can be an infectious disease:

• carnivore plague,
• etc.

So, helminth larvae travel through the body and may also be in the tissues of the eye. In older animals, neoplasms can lead to inflammation of the tissues of the eye.

What to do with inflammation of the eyes? Basic Treatments

With ordinary conjunctivitis, the owner of the dog can cope on his own.

1. The eyes of the animal must be instilled with eye antibacterial drops– tobrex, chloramphenicol eye drops or others. The main thing is that the drug does not contain anti-inflammatory hormones.
2. Instillation is carried out per eyelid 1-3 drops 6-8 times a day for 3-5 days.
3. Tetracycline eye ointment also treats well, which should be applied 2-3 times a day behind the eyelid for 3-5 days.

If there is no significant improvement during this period, you should contact your veterinarian. If an eye injury is suspected, it is important for the animal on time. While waiting for the veterinarian, the eyes should be carefully examined for the presence of injuries or foreign objects on the cornea, such as splinters, awns of grass, small fragments, etc.

If a foreign body is found, it must be removed. First, a special anesthetic is instilled into the eye (for example, Inocaine, Oxybuprocaine hydrochloride, Benoxy) - 1-4 drops. After waiting five minutes, you can delete foreign object with tweezers. After removing the object in the eye, you need to drip an antibacterial drug.

In dogs, as in other animals, diseases of the organs of vision are common. By the condition of the eyes, you can always determine whether your dog is healthy or not, the eyes are a “mirror” not only of the soul, but also of the health of the animal. In medicine, the eyes are used to diagnose diseases that a person has. In medicine, as one of the auxiliary diagnostic methods, there is iridology - the diagnosis of diseases in humans by the iris of the eyes. When conducting iridology, special equipment is used and computer programs. When making a diagnosis, doctors take into account changes in the structural state, the shape of the color areas of the eye, as well as the mobility of the iris.

Before talking about eye disease and its subsidiary organs, it is necessary to have general idea about its structure.

The dog's eyes are in eye sockets - bony depressions that are formed by the bones of the skull, where they are held by several muscles that ensure their mobility and orientation in different directions.

The dog's eye itself is protected by auxiliary organs - eyelids and glands. The dog has three eyelids. The upper and lower eyelids are folds of skin inner surface The eyelids are lined with mucous membrane. Outside, the eyelids are lined with eyelashes that protect the eyes from dust and other foreign particles. The third eyelid in a dog is a simple film in the inner corner of the eye that dog owners do not usually see. This film covers the eye when it is closed or irritated, as well as in nervous disorders.

The eye in the cornea is in contact with the external dry environment, so it needs protection from the lacrimal glands that produce tear fluid - the secret that moisturizes the surface of the cornea. Tears in a dog accumulate in the space between the eyelids and the eye and are then expelled through a narrow channel that starts at the inner corner of the eye and opens into nasal cavity. With profuse lacrimation or blockage of the lacrimal canal, tears flow from the eyes and, oxidized, form red stripes on the coat that look like blood.

The eye is made up of two parts.

• The anterior part includes the cornea, iris, and lens. They absorb beams of light from a dog, like a camera lens. The cornea and lens are transparent and act as optical lenses, and the iris acts as a diaphragm, regulating the amount of light entering the eye through the pupil (the hole in the iris).
• The back of the eye is made up of vitreous body, choroid(choroid) and the retina, which converts optical light signals into nerve impulses that are transmitted to the visual center of the brain.

Speaking of the eye as an analogy with a camera, we can say that rear end The eye is like a photographic film on which the dog's brain captures an image.

All eye diseases in dogs are divided into 3 types depending on the cause:

1. Infectious - occurring in dogs in the presence of viral, bacterial diseases, most often as a complication of the underlying disease.
2. Non-infectious - due to certain mechanical damage, inflammation as a result of wrong growth eyelashes, neoplasms, eversion of the eyelids.
3. Congenital - include eversion, inversion of the eyelids, deformities of the eyes and lens. Congenital is most often found in some breeds of dogs (shar pei).

Diseases of the eyelids

With this disease, single or multiple hairs arranged in a row appear on the free edge of the eyelid, which should be hairless.

These hairs appear in a dog only at the 4-6th month of life and can be both very delicate and quite hard. With this disease, most often several hairs grow from one point. This disease is most often recorded in English and american cocker spaniel, boxer, tibetan terrier, collie, pekingese.

Clinical picture. In a dog, during a clinical examination, a veterinarian notes profuse lacrimation, constant blinking, blepharospasm, irritating hairs have contact with the cornea of ​​​​the eye. If a dog has curly eyelashes, keratitis is diagnosed.

Diagnosis on the disease is put on the basis of the above symptoms.

differential diagnosis. D istikhnaz is differentiated from trichiasis, inversion and eversion of the eyelids, allergic conjunctivitis, dry keratoconjunctivitis.

Treatment. It is carried out in veterinary clinics by electrolysis under an operating microscope. Excision of the third century.

Trichiasis is when hair from the eyelids or muzzle of a dog enters the eye, making contact with the conjunctiva and cornea. Trichiasis can be primary or secondary. Primary occurs in dogs with a medial inversion of the eyelids and a large nasolabial fold. Trichiasis is found in the following dog breeds - Pekingese, Pugs, English Bulldogs, English Cocker Spaniels, Chow Chows, Sharpeis.

Clinical picture. In a dog, during a clinical examination, a veterinarian notes lacrimation, hairs in contact with the cornea cause blinking in dogs, constant leakage from the eyes, symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis, inflammation of the skin in the nasolabial fold.

Diagnosis put on the basis of the detection of wool in contact with the cornea, provided there is no other pathology of the eye.

differential diagnosis. Trichiasis is differentiated from dry keratoconjunctivitis, inversion and eversion of the eyelids, districhiasis, ectopic eyelashes.

Treatment. Treatment of the disease is surgical. Temporarily, improvement can be achieved by trimming the hair that gets into the eye.

inversion eyelid pathology eye in which part of the organ is wrapped inward to the eyeball. The inversion of the eyelid can be both upper and lower in a dog, both unilateral and bilateral.

Unilateral inversion of the eyelid margin is most often the result of heredity and manifests itself in the dog in the first year of life. Congenital torsion occurs in puppies after opening the eyes in some breeds with excessively wrinkled skin on the head (Chow Chow, Shar Pei).

In this disease, the eyelashes, hair, and skin of the eyelid rub against the surface of the cornea, causing it to become inflamed and irritated.

Clinical picture. During a clinical examination, the veterinarian notes the outflow of a liquid secret from the eye, the dog has photophobia (for an electric light bulb, the sun), the dog rubs his eyes with his paw, blinking, there may be an eye tick.

Treatment. Treatment of inversion of the eyelids is surgical.

With eversion of the eyelids, an eversion of the edge of the eyelid is observed, while the mucous membrane (conjunctiva) of the eyelid is exposed.

This pathology occurs in dogs with too large palpebral fissure and excess easily shifted skin in the head area.

Cause. Mechanical eversion of the eyelids in a dog occurs as a result of pathological changes in the eyelid itself, as well as with scarring of tissues after injuries or an operation.

Paralytic eversion occurs in a dog as a result of paralysis facial nerve.

Clinical picture. During a clinical examination, the veterinarian notes incomplete closure of the eyelids, discharge from the eyes, inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Treatment. Treatment for this pathology should be aimed at eliminating the cause that caused and maintains eversion of the eyelids (removal of neoplasm, conjunctivitis, facial paralysis, surgical).

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelids.

Cause. Unilateral blepharitis in a dog occurs with trauma and local infection. Bilateral blepharitis occurs as a result of allergies, including demodicosis (), fungal infections and systemic diseases.

Clinical picture. During a clinical examination, the veterinarian notes redness, swelling, itching, scaling, loss of eyelashes and hair, erosion and ulcers of the eyelids in a sick dog in the eyelid area.

Treatment. In the event that allergy is the cause of blepharitis, dog owners should exclude its contact with the allergen and use antihistamines (diazolin, suprastin, diphenhydramine, tavegil) in the treatment. At staph infection- antibiotics. With demodicosis, anti-tick drugs.

Diseases of the eyeball

Exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyeball)

Exophthalmos in dogs can be species-specific and is characteristic of dogs of brachycephalic breeds, with normal eyeball size, a flat orbit, and an overly large palpebral fissure.

Acquired exophthalmos- wherein normal size the eyeball protrudes forward due to space-requiring processes in the orbit or its immediate surroundings, or due to an increase in the size of the eyeball as a result of glaucoma in the dog.

clinical picture. During a clinical examination, the veterinary specialist notes that the dog has strabismus, an abnormally wide palpebral fissure with protrusion of the eyeball, and in some dogs prolapse of the third eyelid is possible.

Treatment only surgical .

Endophthalmos (retraction of the eyeball)

Cause this pathology of the eye - a very small eyeball (microphthalmos) - congenital pathology, atrophy of the eyeball, relatively large orbit, neurogenic retraction of the eyeball.

clinical picture. During a clinical examination by a veterinarian, such a dog has a narrow reduced palpebral fissure, uncontrolled contraction of the eyelids, prolapse of the third eyelid.

Treatment. Treatment is reduced to the treatment of complications in this disease.

Converging strabismus is a visually noticeable deviation from the normal position and joint movement of both eyes of the dog.

At the same time, with paralytic strabismus, the dog's squinting eye does not repeat the movement of the fixed eye.

Cause. Traumatic injuries eyes, hypertrophic processes in the orbit (tumors), lesions of the central nervous system.

One of the reasons may be congenital underdevelopment of the periorbital muscles, congenital hydrocephalus.

Treatment. The treatment of convergent strabismus is to treat the underlying disease that led to the strabismus.

Conjunctivitis in dogs is the most common disease in dogs. Conjunctivitis is accompanied by dysfunction of the conjunctival mucosa and is often associated with infectious diseases. Additional causes of conjunctivitis in dogs can be allergies, clogged tear ducts, viruses, trauma. foreign body, irritation of the conjunctiva as a result of pathology of the eyelids.

allergic conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis in dogs occurs as a result of exposure to the mucous membrane of the eye of one or another allergen (contact allergy). An allergen can be pollen from flowering plants, dust, etc.

Allergic conjunctivitis in dogs last years Allergy to certain foodstuffs (food allergy) is often recorded.

clinical picture. During a clinical examination, a veterinarian in such a dog notes redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes, mucous discharge from the palpebral fissure. As a result of itching, the dog rubs the affected eye with its paw.

Treatment. In the event that contact dermatitis occurs, it is necessary to rinse the affected eye with saline or chamomile decoction.

At food allergies it is necessary to exclude an allergic product from the dog's diet and transfer the dog to a hypoallergic diet (buckwheat, rice, beef).

A sick dog is prescribed antihistamines (cetirizine, diazolin, suprastin, diphenhydramine, tavegil), eye drops "Diamond Eyes" are instilled into the conjunctival sac.

Purulent conjunctivitis

Purulent conjunctivitis in a dog develops as a result of the entry into the conjunctiva of various pathogenic microorganisms. Purulent conjunctivitis is one of the symptoms of canine distemper....

clinical picture. During a clinical examination, a veterinarian in a sick dog notes redness of the conjunctiva, its swelling, purulent discharge comes from the eye.

Treatment. With this form of conjunctivitis, a sick dog is used eye drops and ointments, which include antibiotics. Tetracycline eye ointment, Ciprovet drops are widely used. Before using eye drops and eye ointment it is necessary to clear sore eyes of exudate.

This form of conjunctivitis is most characteristic of chronic conjunctivitis and often develops in a dog when toxic substances enter the eye.

Clinical picture. When conducting a clinical examination, a veterinarian on the mucous membrane of the conjunctiva reveals many vesicles with transparent contents. From the palpebral fissure go mucous expiration. The conjunctiva itself has a crimson color, the inflamed eye of the dog is squinted.

Treatment. In the treatment of this form of conjunctivitis, eye ointments containing an antibiotic are used. At severe course diseases, specialists are forced to resort to excision of the conjunctiva, and further symptomatic treatment.

Dry keratoconjunctivitis- this disease is characterized by a very small amount of the tear film in the eye as a result of a lack or absence of tear fluid production. This disease is observed in West Haland White Terriers, and is inherited by their offspring. Dry keratoconjunctivitis in dogs occurs with sex hormone disorders, canine distemper, trauma to the frontal part of the skull, neuropathy of the facial nerve, congenital hypoplasia of the lacrimal glands, from the use of certain drugs .

clinical picture. Veterinarians during a clinical examination of a sick dog note frequent blinking, dry crusts around the edges of the eye, itching, the presence of mucopurulent discharge from the eyes to conjunctival sac find viscous mucus, Follicular conjunctivitis. In the future, as the disease develops, symptoms of ulceration and uneven surface of the cornea appear, and conjunctival edema develops. In the presence of dry crusts in the area of ​​the nostrils on the side of the lesion, one can also speak of the presence of a lesion of the facial nerve in a sick dog.

Treatment. Treatment for this form of keratoconjunctivitis should be aimed at eliminating the underlying cause of the disease. The area of ​​the conjunctiva and cornea is flushed abundantly every two hours with saline before each application. medicinal product. The inner corners of the eyes of a sick dog are washed with a solution of chamomile or chlorhexidine, since the lacrimal sac in a sick dog is a reservoir for various microorganisms.

Treatment is with antibiotic eye ointment.

Diseases of the cornea.

Keratitis- Disease of the cornea. The most common types of keratitis in dogs are:

• Purulent superficial keratitis.
• Vascular keratitis.
• Purulent deep keratitis.

The reasons The occurrence of keratitis in dogs is very diverse:

• mechanical injury.
• Burn damage to the ocular surface.
• hypovitaminosis state.
• Infectious diseases (,).
• Invasive eye diseases ().
• Diseases endocrine system ().
• Weakened immunity.
• genetic predisposition.
• Allergic reactions.

Clinical picture. During a clinical examination of a sick dog, a veterinarian notes in a sick animal:

• Profuse lachrymation from the affected eye.
• Opacification of the cornea.
• Photophobia.
• Puffiness.
• The sclera and conjunctiva are hyperemic.
• There is purulent discharge from the eye.
• Gray, yellow and white spots appear in the area of ​​the cornea of ​​​​the eye.
• Redness of the eye protein and mucous membranes.
• The eye shell is rough.
• The dog blinks frequently.
• Dark smudges appear in the inner corner of the diseased eye.
• The dog becomes nervous, restless or lethargic and depressed, seeks to hide from the light, constantly rubs his eyes with his paws.

If keratitis in a dog is not treated in a timely manner. Then the disease begins to progress, inflamed blood vessels grow into the cornea of ​​the eye, as a result of which it becomes bumpy and thickened.

Consequences of keratitis. Keratitis for a dog is fraught with the development of complications such as the development of glaucoma, cataracts, and corneal perforation. Partial or complete loss of vision.

Treatment keratitis in a dog depends on the cause of the keratitis, as well as on the factors that provoked its development.

Based on this, the veterinary specialist of the clinic prescribes the appropriate treatment for the dog. At the same time, with all forms of keratitis of a sick dog, daily washing of the lacrimal sacs with solutions of furacilin, rivanol, boric acid that have an antiseptic effect.

Treatment of each type of keratitis is strictly individual. At superficial keratitis the dog is prescribed chloramphenicol drops or sodium sulfacid, injections of novocaine and hydrocortisone.

With purulent forms of keratitis, a sick dog is treated with antibiotics. Oletetrin or erythromycin ointment is placed in the sore eye.

With allergic keratitis, treatment begins with the elimination of the effect on the body of the allergen, a special hypoallergic diet is prescribed. Apply antihistamines.

In other forms of keratitis, a sick dog is given a course of antibiotic therapy, using broad-spectrum antibiotics, corticosteroids, antiviral drugs vitamins, eye drops and antiseptic solutions to wash the sore eye.

With advanced keratitis, one has to resort to tissue therapy. For resorption of scars on the eye cornea, lidase and yellow mercury ointment are used. Sometimes in a clinical setting you have to resort to surgical treatment by superficial keratectomy.

Dog owners need to know. That the treatment of keratitis in a dog is long and takes 1-2 months.

Dislocation of the lens (luxation) - there is a displacement of the corresponding part of the eye from the hyaloid fossa. Lens luxation in a dog can be partial or complete.

Cause. Dislocation of the lens in a dog can be due to a genetic predisposition, due to glaucoma, cataracts and as a result of severe injuries and infectious diseases. Dislocation of the lens occurs in dogs as a result of rupture of the ligaments of the lens and the ciliary muscle. This disease terriers are more susceptible.

Symptoms. During a clinical examination of a dog with a similar pathology, the veterinarian notes the deformation of the pupil, its displacement away from the center or it swells, the shape of the eyeball itself may change. There is a violation of the movement of fluid in the ocular body.

Treatment. The treatment of dislocation of the lens is carried out in veterinary clinic through surgical correction. After the removal of the lens, the implant is placed intraocular lens. In especially valuable dogs, implantation of the entire eyeball is possible.

With a dislocation of the eyeball, dog owners note the exit of the eyeball from the orbits behind the eyelid in whole or in part.

This pathology is most often found in Pekingese, Japanese hips and similar breeds of dogs.

Cause. Dislocation of the eyeball in a dog is most often caused by mechanical damage bones of the head and temples, large muscle tension in dogs with a shallow orbital bone depth.

clinical picture. During a clinical examination, the veterinary specialist of the clinic notes a strong protrusion of the eyeball beyond its natural boundaries, the conjunctiva is edematous, often dries up, and outwardly takes the form of a hanging roller.

Treatment . The treatment of this pathology is surgical.

Diseases of the fundus

Clinical picture. At the onset of the disease, experts note an increasing decrease in visual acuity at dusk and night blindness. In the future, such a dog also deteriorates daytime vision and develops blindness. On clinical examination, veterinarians note blanching of the pupil.

Retinal detachment can be caused by trauma, high arterial pressure, progressive retinal atrophy, neoplasms in the eye area.

Clinical picture. Dog owners note rapid or sudden blindness, veterinarians during a clinical examination register a violation of the pupillary reflex, hemorrhage in the eyeball.

Diseases of the lens

- a disease of the lens accompanied by partial or complete opacity of the lens and its capsule.

A cataract in a dog may be primary. In which the veterinarian, during a clinical examination, notes an isolated damage to the eye area or systemic diseases in an animal.

Dogs have a Boston Terrier, West Highland - white terriers, miniature schnauzers cataracts can have a hereditary form.

Primary juvenile cataract is considered the most common form of cataract in all breeds of dogs and mixed breeds. It is usually registered in dogs up to 6 years of age.

Secondary or sequential cataract in dogs is a non-inherited cataract.

Congenital cataracts usually occur in dogs in association with other congenital changes eye.

Acquired - occurs in dogs with retinal diseases, eye anomalies in collies, injuries, diabetes mellitus.

Glaucoma refers to eye diseases that are accompanied by increased intraocular pressure.

Clinical picture. Glaucoma in dogs is characterized by the so-called glaucoma triad:

• Increased intraocular pressure.
• Wide pupil.
• Redness of the eye.

During a clinical examination, the veterinarian notes that the dog has blindness, photophobia, lethargy, and decreased appetite. In the future, as the disease develops, the eyeball enlarges, the reaction of the pupil to light becomes slower.

Treatment. Treatment of glaucoma in dogs should be carried out by an ophthalmologist.

Eye diseases in dogs are very diverse. This is conjunctivitis (the most common ailment in pets), and keratitis, and glaucoma, and cataracts, and blepharitis, and much, much more. We will talk about everything in more detail in this article.

Of course, eye diseases in a dog are divided into primary (“main” disease) and secondary (symptoms of other diseases, most often infectious etiology). There are many reasons for eye problems. And there are a lot of eye diseases in dogs. The most common of them:

Conjunctivitis

This is an inflammation of the membrane that "envelops" the eye. There are infectious and non-infectious conjunctivitis. In the first case, inflammation occurs due to a virus, bacteria or fungus. And conjunctivitis in a dog is just a symptom, one of the symptoms that can “tell” the owner that something is wrong with the pet.

Non-infectious conjunctivitis develops due to allergies, foreign matter getting into the eye solid body(wool, stick, dust, grain of sand) or chemicals (the animal may then have an eye burn), trauma to the conjunctiva, hypothermia, or exposure to a draft / strong wind.

Keratitis

This is an inflammation of the cornea. Because of this, the eye loses its luster. If you look at the pet, you can see that the eye is cloudy. Not the lens, but the whole eye (cornea). The dog is afraid of the light.

Keratitis usually develops due to conjunctivitis or blepharitis. Most often, these diseases are interconnected - a kind of trio.

Due to the inflammatory process, the cornea loses its protective properties, its permeability increases. Because of this, bacteria (of which there are enough in the air, and if the pet already has conjunctivitis or blepharitis, then the inflamed tissues are quite tightly in contact) penetrate the eye itself, which can cause serious complications.

Blepharitis

If the disease is not diagnosed in time and therapy is not started, the inflammatory process will move to the cornea, conjunctiva. And there the whole eye can be "covered".

There may be crusts, sores, abscesses on the eyelids. Hair falls out. The animal is worried, tends to scratch the eyelid. If noted severe swelling, then the eyelid can turn outward or, conversely, turn inward. The cilia will begin to rub against the cornea and conjunctiva when blinking, which again will lead to keratitis and conjunctivitis.

Glaucoma

Almost everyone has heard about this disease. But a rare owner of a mustache suspects that four-legged friend may suffer from high intraocular pressure. Pressure can rise both constantly and periodically, which makes it difficult to diagnose and choose therapy.

Due to the fact that intraocular pressure rises, the organ of vision increases in size and compresses the nerves. For this reason, the dog has a loss of vision (complete or partial).

The dog hurts. But he can't complain about it. It remains only to guess that the pet is bad. But if you look closely, it is noticeable that both eyes (or one) are enlarged in size, dense, tears flow. The pupil changes shape.

Adenoma of the third eyelid

In another way, this eye disease in dogs is called prolapse of the third eyelid, or cherry eye. In fact, an adenoma of the third eyelid in a dog is an enlarged lacrimal gland. The occurrence of pathology is due to structural features subcutaneous tissue and connective tissue. To the most disease-prone breeds include:

• Great Danes;
• chow-chow;
• mastino flew;
• english bulldogs.

Removal of a third eyelid adenoma in dogs is often the only possibility reestablish normal functioning glands. The operation is carried out under general anesthesia Therefore, this eye disease can be done to any dog, regardless of the age of the pet.

Blepharospasm in dogs

Unfortunately, the disease blepharospasm is an unpleasant and frequent illnesses dog's eye. The success and speed of treatment of the disease largely depends on the owner of the animal, the sooner the owner detects the symptoms of blepharospasm and goes to the clinic with the animal, the better. The main signs indicating the presence of this eye disease in a dog are as follows:

• pain when touched;
• frequent blinking;
• inflammation of the eyelids;
• photophobia.

Among other things, the inflammatory process may be accompanied by the release of purulent exudate from the eye and hair loss in the affected area.

Cataract

Many believe that this is a disease of older animals. However, young barbels also suffer from clouding of the lens. It happens complete and partial. Sometimes amenable drug treatment(drops improve transparency), the dog sees better.

If the cataract is swelling (toxic etiology), then not only the lens becomes cloudy, but the tissues increase in volume, which leads to an increase in intraocular pressure. If you do not start therapy and do not help the animal, then there may be a rupture of the eyeball.

Inversion of the century

The eyelid can turn inward and turn outward. In addition, a volvulus of the third eyelid is often recorded (this is a pinkish tissue in the inner corner of the eye).

Eversion is less dangerous than inversion. Indeed, during the latter, the eyelashes rub against the cornea and conjunctiva, leading to inflammatory processes in the eye. No medicine will help. Only surgery!

There is a predisposition of breeds: dachshunds, basset hounds, some spaniels, St. Bernards, Great Danes, Newfs and others. These beauties are more likely than other dogs to suffer from eversion or inversion of the eyelid.

Panophthalmitis

Inflammation of the entire eyeball. It is enlarged in size, protrudes beyond the orbit. Extremely painful. It can be confused with glaucoma, so you need to seek help from a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Symptoms

Although there are many diseases, there are general symptoms that won't go unnoticed.

• Lachrymation. Not always from both eyes, it can also leak from one.
• Discharge from eyes. There may no longer be transparent selection, the appearance of pus is not ruled out (it may leak, or there may be dried crusts that prevent you from opening your eyes).
• Redness. The conjunctiva may turn red, blood vessels may burst.
• Edema. The eyelids may swell.
• Muddy cornea. The feeling that she is rough.
• Photophobia.

Treatment

There is no single treatment regimen. For each eye disease, the dog has its own therapeutic regimen. With one, rinsing and drops will help, with the other, they are required intramuscular injections antibiotics and vitamins. The third one requires surgery.

Do not try to self-diagnose the disease. After all, for proper treatment it is necessary to find the reasons that led to the development of eye disease in a dog. Only by finding the cause and eliminating it completely, one can hope for a favorable outcome of the disease.

Remember that every day (and sometimes even an hour) counts. If you delay the visit, the animal may lose its sight forever.

Do you have any questions? You can ask them to our website staff veterinarian in the comment box below, which in as soon as possible will answer them.