Dogs’ eyes can be very sensitive. There are many reasons why a dog’s eyes may turn red: some cause inflammation and redness of the skin or conjunctiva around the eye, while others affect the eyeball itself. As always, the best way to find the answer to the question «why does my dog have red eyes?» is to talk to a canine eye doctor, a veterinary ophthalmologist, as untreated eye irritation can cause long-term damage.
Allergies
As the spring and summer months arrive, allergy sufferers will begin to experience the familiar sneezing, itchy eyes and runny nose. And although allergies can occur at any time of year, depending on the season your four-legged family member may also be more prone to allergies.
It is already known in modern veterinary medicine that hay fever affects dogs and their body mounts an immune response to something it mistakenly identifies as harmful, such as pollen in the air. To relieve bothersome dog allergy symptoms, such as red eyes, talk to your veterinarian about the best allergy management plan for your pet.
Environmental stimuli
Whether indoors or out, there are many potential irritants that can cause red eyes in a dog. Perfumes, cleaning products, sprays, smoke, and even dust can all be culprits if they get into your pet’s eyes. So, if you have noticed that your dog is suffering from red eyes, it is worth thinking about what possible stimuli your four-legged friend has «encountered» in his daily adventures.
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Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eyes. Conjunctivitis in dogs can be caused by various types of viral infections, bacteria, fungi, allergens and chemical reagents. Although conjunctivitis itself is not dangerous to your dog’s health, this inflammation can turn into much more serious problems related to the eyes and vision.
This condition occurs when the membrane lining the inside of the eyelids, called the conjunctiva, becomes inflamed and can have many underlying causes, from an infectious disease to an allergy or injury.
Depending on the cause of your dog’s conjunctivitis, many treatments are available to relieve symptoms.
The first sign of conjunctivitis is a dog’s red eyes. Depending on the causative agent, conjunctivitis in dogs can affect one or both eyes.
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Eye injuries
Eye trauma is another possible explanation for why one of your dog’s eyes suddenly becomes red and swollen. If you have a particularly rambunctious puppy, you know how easy it is to get injured while playing and chasing him. If you have noticed your pet squinting during play or near the eyes, there are clearly visible lesions in the eye: seek help from a veterinarian immediately, especially if you see blood.
If the blow to the eye was particularly severe, the cornea (surface of the eye) may be damaged, causing painful ulcers in the eye itself.
This, in turn, can turn into a scar that obscures vision and can lead to a number of other vision problems, so timely professional help from a canine ophthalmologist-ophthalmologist is important.
Uveitas
Uveitis is an inflammation of the vascular lining structures of the eye. This includes the iris and some other middle layers of the eye. Uveitis is a very painful eye disease, so you may notice that not only are your dog’s eyes red, but your pet avoids bright light or keeps the affected eye closed.
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Corneal ulcers
The membrane that forms the front of the eye is called the cornea, and it sometimes gets scratched, especially if you have a dog that likes to run through tall grass, sniff bushes, or bump into objects while playing. It is very important to identify and treat coeal damage in time, because a scratched cornea is like an «invitation» for bacteria to penetrate it and damage it further.
Corneal lesions cause red eyes in dogs and many inconveniences to our beloved four-legged family members.
Glaucoma
Could a dog’s red eyes be hiding a much more complicated condition like glaucoma? Although it is most commonly diagnosed in older dogs, any dog can be affected. “Cloudy” eyes, redness, and eye discharge are some of the most common symptoms that owners should watch out for.
Glaucoma is characterized by a buildup of fluid in the front of the eye, which increases pressure on the optic nerve and causes vision problems. That’s why it’s so important to talk to a canine eye doctor, ophthalmologist, about your dog’s impaired vision or red eyes as soon as you notice these symptoms.
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Dry eyes
Sometimes a dog’s eyes don’t produce enough moisture to adequately lubricate the surface. When the tear glands dry out, the cornea also dries out. A dog’s red eyes will look like they are on fire when eye hydration is reduced. The clinical manifestation of dry eyes can be redness of the eyes in dogs.
Cherry eye – «cherry eye»
Cherry eye is a condition that affects the third eyelid gland in dogs. This disease is called so because when the glands of the third eyelid fall out (jump from their normal position), it can appear red and swollen.
Varieties with droopy and droopy lower eyelids are more prone to this type of disorder. Unfortunately, the displaced third eyelid and its glands must be treated surgically by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
Foreign body in the eye
A dog’s red eyes may signal the presence of a foreign object in the eye that has fallen from the environment. This can be quite common for adventurous dogs. If your dog likes to walk through bushes and tall grass, he may have something in his eyes that can cause redness and swelling.
Foreign bodies that enter your dog’s eyes can be as small as a grass seed or as large as part of a branch. While it’s impossible to reduce the risk to zero, try to avoid tall grass and be sure to give your pet a quick head-to-toe checkup after a walk to catch any problems early.
Where to go if your dog has eye problems?
Specialists working at the Begemoto veterinary clinic and innovative, modern equipment allow you to determine the causes of red eyes as quickly as possible, and after establishing an accurate diagnosis, the veterinary ophthalmologist can prescribe the most appropriate method of treatment.
The Begemots Veterinary Medical Center is a place where not only the health of each four-legged patient is taken care of, but also his emotional state and that of his owner who accompanies him is sincerely cared for. The veterinary clinic located in Paupy, in the central part of the city of Vilnius, offers a wide range of services, and for specialists working in the clinic veterinary medicine is a vocation. If you suspect your pet is ill, contact us today.
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