They say eyes are the windows to the soul but look into the eyes of your fur friend and you will see pure, unbridled love and devotion reflecting back at you. As a dog owner, it’s up to you to ensure those expressive eyes stay healthy. You may not often think about the care your dog’s eyes need, however, it should be a standard health check in your regular grooming routine.
Looking after your Dog's eyes: Here's what you need to know
Posted by PetDirect on 27th Oct 2020
Keeping an eye out
Maintaining your dog’s eye health is generally an easy thing to do under normal circumstances - the first thing you need to do is to visually inspect your dog’s eyes. Look for redness, dirt, swelling or unusual discharge. The eyes should be clear and bright, and the lining should appear pink and healthy. Should you notice anything different about your dog’s eyes, please leave it to a professional to establish what the problem is and how to deal with it.
Don’t ever try and treat your fur kids eyes with any home remedies or human eye wash – their eyes are too precious to be put at risk. Always use dog-specific eye cleaning products. Occasional or recurrent eye issues need to be seen by a professional as these can quickly develop into more serious health concerns.
Some breeds or dogs are more prone to experiencing eye issues than others. Short-nosed dogs, like Pugs and Shih Tzu, tend to have slightly bulging eyes that are more prone to accidents. Dogs who exercise in fields or forests may be more apt to get foreign bodies stuck in their eyes; outings to dams and beaches provide their own set of potential hazards such as sea sand and water-born risks. And while your dog may enjoy sticking their head out the window while you’re driving, this increases the risk of eye injury. It’s best to keep them safely enclosed inside the car.
Common Eye Problems and what to do
Tear Stains
Breeds like Maltese, Pugs and Bichon are particularly prone to this problem, as well as breeds with a lot of hair surrounding the eyes. Tear staining is usually caused by epiphora, which is the fancy word for excessive tear production.
Tearstains are more obvious on light-coloured dogs and while they are typically no more than a minor annoyance for your dog, it can also be a symptom of a serious health problem.
To give you ‘insight’ into normal vs concerning tearstains, you need to know a bit of the technical stuff. Tearstains are typically the result of porphyrins. Porphyrins are naturally occurring molecules containing iron — waste products from the breakdown of red blood cells - and are mostly removed from the body in the usual way (in poop). However, in dogs and cats, porphyrin can also be excreted through tears, saliva, and urine. When tears and saliva containing porphyrins sit on light-coloured fur for any period of time, staining will occur.
Now, if the stains are more of a brown colour than rust coloured, it's likely your pet has developed a yeast infection on his face because the fur under her eyes is constantly wet with tears. Brown stains from a yeast infection are different from red staining caused by porphyrins. If your pet's face smells, think yeast. Pets can also have both a porphyrin stained face and a secondary yeast infection from the constantly moist skin.
If caught early enough, you can do a lot to control your pet's tear staining by keeping their face meticulously clean and free of porphyrin-containing moisture. This means gently wiping their face at least twice a day with a gentle dog eye wipes. Keeping their face hair trimmed is also necessary. Excess hair around your dog’s eyes can increase chances of developing eye irritation or infection. Your groomer can trim away the hair surrounding your dog’s eyes using a blunt-nosed scissor. Please do not attempt to cut hair around your animal’s eyes as you may cause injury. Seek the help of a professional groomer.
Products such as Vet Remedies Bright Eye Lotion are very effective at removing tear stains.
Irritation
If your dog is holding its eye partially or completely shut, or is pawing at their eye, they could be experiencing pain and irritation. This is often a cause if your dog spends time in dirt, dust or water and can be resolved by applying a pet formulated eye wash. If the problem persists, make an appointment with your vet.
Eye ‘Boogers’
“Eye gunk” can form in the corner of your dog’s eye, making them prone to bacterial infections. To prevent eye boogers from causing an infection, regularly rinse your dog’s eyes when mucous forms or irritation seems to be occurring. You can also use Eye Wipes which can removed this gunk effectively and safely.
Difficulty Seeing
If you notice your dog is running into objects or is hesitant or fearful in the dark, they may be having an issue with his sight. Most dogs go blind gradually and learn to cope with their inability to see, but a more sudden loss of sight can create anxiety in your dog. If you suspect a problem with their vision, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Avoiding Eye Problems
When it comes to eye troubles, some issues can’t be avoided, such as breed-related eye structure or eye disease passed along through genetics. For eye problems that can be avoided, being aware of what to look out for and applying common sense will go a long way to keeping your fur baby’s eyes healthy.
Medicated baths may sometimes be necessary for specific health reasons - again, it’s usually better to leave medicated bathing to a professional vet or groomer who knows which products to use and how to use them correctly.
If you have any questions about keeping your dog's eyes healthy, don't hesitate to reach out to one of Pet Direct's Customer Service Experts on 0800 200 240.