Dog Eye Problems

Common Causes of Dog Eye Problems

Dog Eye Problems - Symptoms & Treatment

The symptoms of canine eye problems are often mild, at least to begin with.

Barring an obvious injury or trauma of course.

Here is a list of some of the most common symptoms that  you're likely to see if your dog is having issues with his eyes...

• Irritation - the whites may be reddened, eyes may water
• Excessive tearing 
• Discharge - may be thin/clear, or thick/stringy mucus
• Squinting - in one or both eyes
• Bulging eye - the eyeball seems to be pushing out of it's socket
• Swelling - of the eyeball itself, the lids, or the surrounding tissue
• Cloudiness - an opaque appearance, may be localized/general
• Growths - these may be on the lids, surrounding tissue or eyeball 
• Hair loss - around the outside of the eye area
• Scratching/Rubbing their eyes

Now we know what type of symptoms generally indicate dog eye problems, let's see which condition/disease each specific symptom may mean...

Dog Eye Irritation

Irritation, redness, and inflammation (swelling of the surrounding tissue) are the most common symptoms of dog eye problems - both minor and major.

Conjunctivitis

Canine Dry Eye (aka Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca)

Entropion in Dogs

Ectropion in Dogs

Ectropion is a another of the dog eye problems which which affect the eyelid/lashes.

With Ectropion the eyelid rolls outwards (directly opposite to Entropion where the eyelid rolls inwards).

This causes the very delicate inner lining of the eylid/s and other membranes to dry out as they're exposed to the open air.

Dirt, dust, grit and other pollutants and foreign bodies can also irritate these sensitive areas.

In some cases a dog with Ectropion might not be able to fully close his eyes even when asleep. 

All of this can cause dry eye and/or infection on top of the physical problem.

The symptoms of Ectropion can include:

Visibly deformed eyelid/s (roll outward)

• Excessive tearing, often resulting in staining of surrounding area
• Blinking
• Squinting
• Redness, irritation and/or inflammation
• Rubbing/pawing at eyes
• Eye discharge

Breeds with wrinkled faces or who have been bred to have 'droopy' eyes are more at risk of this conditions than others. 

These include Basset Hound, Bloodhounds, Bull Mastiffs, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Neopolitan Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Bulldogs.. and more.

Treatment Options for Ectropion in dogs:

How your vet will choose to treat Ectropion depends on how severe the problem is.

For mild cases applying lubricating medications to keep the eye area moist is often enough to remedy the problem.

Of course, any infection/inflammation or damage which has already been caused needs to be treated as well.   

Making sure to keep the whole eye area clean and wiping away tearing and discharge regularly can help stave off further infection.

Severe cases of canine Ectropion usually need surgery (a 'plastic surgery' type procedure) - either to the eyelid itself or to the facial skin.

Either way, the goal is to tighten up the eyelid and area below the eye, which should reposition the tear duct as well.

Pannus

Pannus (aka Chronic Superficial Keratitis) in dogs is an inflammatory condition which is linked to immune function.

Pannus affects the cornea, usually of both eyes, and at first can cause these symptoms:

• A slightly raised pink mass appears on the outer side of the cornea
• Thickened or irritated third eyelid
• Irritation, redness or tearing of the eye

As the condition progresses the mass thins out and spreads across the eye, giving the appearance of a gray/pink film covering the clear part your dog's eye.

The gray/pink color gradually darkens, possibly turning dark brown and opaque.

Redness, irritation, inflammation and tear production increase.

Veterinarians and scientists are not sure what causes Pannus but believe it's linked to abnormal immune function.

Allergen exposure, entropion, high exposure to ultra-violet light (sunlight) and being at high altitudes are believed to be contributing factors but don't necessarily cause Pannus.

Some breeds are more at risk of developing Pannus and these include German Shepherds, Border Collies and long-haired Dachshunds.

Treatment options for Pannus in dogs:

If your dog is diagnosed with Pano, your vet will most likely prescribe antibiotic drops or ointment for the eye and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and any infection present. 

Pannus is a life-long condition and not considered 'curable' (hence the word 'Chronic' in Chronic Keratitis) but it isusually very manageable with the right treatment and on-going vet care. 

Corneal Ulcers (aka Ulcerative Keratitis)

Corneal ulcers (the Cornea is the clear part of the eye) happen as a result of other dog eye problems such as:

• Injury (eg. scratches or punctures)
• Dry Eye syndrome
• Entropion
• Infection
• Physical abnormality of eye (eg inability to fully close eyelids)

Corneal ulcers in dogs can be minor (superficial) or major (deep), or somewhere in between, depending on how many layers of corneal tissue is involved.

Shallow ulcers of the eye in dogs generally heal pretty well if treated quickly. But if they're left untreated they will get worse and cause more damage.

Deep ulcers are more difficult to treat, and take longer to heal. If severe enough they can even result in loss of vision.

Even very superficial ulcers can be extremely painful. 

The symptoms of corneal ulcers in dogs can include:

• Excessive tearing
• Chronic squinting or blinking
• Over-sensitivity to light
• Redness, inflammation
• Discharge/pus
• Cloudiness or a film over the eye
• Swelling

Your vet will use a harmless dye which to diagnose an ulcer. This dye (or stain) will reveal the details and degree of damage and can also rule out other conditions which may mimic corneal ulcers.

Any breed of dog can suffer from corneal ulcers, especially those caused by trauma or injury. 

However certain breeds are more likely to develop this problem for a variety of reasons.

These are generally the short-muzzled (brachycephalic) breeds, especially those who also have eyes which are slightly bulging by designe.

This includes English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Maltese, Pekingese, Pugs and Shih Tzus.

Indolent Corneal Ulcers (aka Refractory Corneal Ulcers) is the term usually used to describe fairly superficial ulcers which fail to heal properly, or heal but recur.

These are most often seen in dogs who are at the canine equivalent of middle age, or older, and who are spayed/neutered.

Genetics (when the condition is hereditary) is believed to play a part, and dog breeds which seem predisposed to developing Indolent/Refractory corneal ulcers include the Samoyed, Dachshund, Boxer, Chihuahua, Shar Pei, Miniature Poodle, Shetland Sheepdog, West Highland Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

Treatment options for Corneal Ulcers in dogs:

How your veterinarian chooses to treat your dog's eye ulcer will depend on what caused it, and how severe it is.

Worst case scenario for really severe corneal ulcers in dogs which don't respond to medication, or surgical repair, is the removal of the eyeball itself.

This sounds extreme, and is a last resort, but dogs generally bounce back from this pretty quickly and seem much less phased by the whole thing than their owners do.

Dog Eye Allergies

Dog Eye Injury or Trauma 

Dog Eye Swelling

There are several different parts of your dog's eye which can become swollen.

Some dog eye problems cause the inner eyelid to swell or become inflamed. Some may cause swelling in the tissue around the eye.

Others cause the actual eyeball to swell, causing it to bulge forward in the socket.

Here are the most common causes of swelling in, or around, a dog's eye.

Cherry Eye

This is an eye problem in dogs which is reasonably common and happens when the tear gland attached to the inner eyelid prolapses (basically means 'fallen down' or 'slipped').

Glaucoma

Dog Eye Discharge

Discharge from your dog's eye/s can be thin, watery, clear, stringy, thick, yellow or green.

The type of discharge is often a clue as to what is causing the issue, but several dog eye problems can cause similar discharge.

Thick mucus which is tinged with green or yellow usually indicates infection of some sort, but of course you can't be sure what is causing the infection without a vet evaluation.

Here are a few of the most common reasons for dog eye discharge, all of which are covered on this page:

• Conjunctivitis or Infection
• Dry Eye
• Cherry Eye
• Glaucoma
• Entropion
• Allergies
• Physical problem with tear duct/s
• Corneal Ulcer
• Lens displacement
• Injury or damage to the eye
• Underlying Disease - localized or systemic

Click on above links for full information on symptoms & treatment options

Cloudy or Opaque Eyes in Dogs

If your dog's naturally clear, bright eyes become cloudy, smoky, dull or opaque then you need to have him seen by a veterinarian.

Most often the cloudiness is visible in the colored part of the eye (retina) or pupil.

Depending on the cause of the problem your dogs vision is likely to be affected to differing degrees. 

Sometimes the white part of the eye may look dull or opaque, this is generally due to an underlying disease elsewhere in the body and usually doesn't affect his sight.

The four conditions which are most likely to cause cloudy or opaque eyes in dogs are Glaucoma, Cataracts, Uveitis, Pannus, and injury or damage to the eye.

Ulcers and Dry Eye can sometimes lead to cloudiness in the eye as well.

As your dog ages it's normal for his eyes to look vaguely cloudy or smoky, with a blue or blue/gray tint. This is called Nuclear Sclerosis and is a natural part of getting older.

It usually doesn't limit Fido's vision to a great degree and your vet is unlikely to recommend treatment.

Let's take a look at the three most likely culprits here...

Canine Glaucoma

Cloudiness in the eye/eyes is just one symptom of Glaucoma.

I've covered this condition more fully above, under the section entitled 'Dog Eye Swelling'. Click here to jump straight there.

Cataracts in Dogs

Cataracts happen when the lens of your dog's eye becomes cloudy or opaque.

They can develop as your dog ages, occur in puppies as young as 6 months old (when it's a hereditary problem), or appear at anytime in between.

The degree of cloudiness is what limits Fido's vision. Imagine looking through a pane of clear glass, then through panes which have been frosted to various degrees... you get the picture.

Cataracts can appear in one eye, or both.

The lens may cloud over in a uniform way, or it could start out with small, opaque areas or strips. 

Once cataracts start to form they will continue to spread and get worse, until eventually sight is lost. 

How quickly this happens depends on why they're forming in the first place.

It is impossible for you to know what the cloudiness of your dog's eye means, so a vet visit is essential.

Some of the causes of Canine cataracts include:

• Trauma or injury to the eye
• Old age
• Underlying health conditions such as Diabetes
• Inflammation (Uveitis)
• Genetics (some dog breeds are predisposed to developing cataracts)

Breeds which have an above-average risk of developing cataracts include Bichon Frise, Boston Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Havanese, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Miniature Schnauzers, Siberian Huskies and Smooth Fox Terriers.

Treatment options for Cataracts in dogs:

You won't be able to tell the difference between cataracts and general cloudiness of the eye (as a result of other conditions) with the naked eye.

Even your vet will need to use specific instruments to determine whether your dog does have cataracts, and how much damage has been done to the retina.

An opthalmoscope will let your vet get a good look at the eye, and if the problem is a cataract, an electroretinogram will show him how damaged, or deteriorated, the retina is.

The only effective treatment for canine cataracts is surgery to remove the damaged lens... and this is only worthwhile if the retina is still healthy.

It's a fairly straightforward procedure, and usually the extracted lens is replaced by an artificial one, although this isn't strictly necessary.

If Fido's retina has been too badly damaged then removing the cataracts won't restore his sight. In this situation your vet would determine whether it would reduce pain or be helpful to undertake the surgery.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is also known as Progressive Retinal Degeneration (often shortened to PRA or PRD).

This eye condition affects the retina -  a layer of light-sensitive tissue which lines the inside of your dog's eyeballs. 

The fact that it is labeled 'Progressive' means that the condition is a chronic one which worsens over time.

The word 'Atrophy' describes the nature of the condition, which is a gradual decline in the function and effectiveness of the retina.

It's also one of the genetic, or inherited, dog eye problems. 

Breeds most at risk of PRD include Akitas, Border Collies, Briards, Bull Mastiffs, Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, Labrador Retrievers, Miniature and Toy Poodles, Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Tibetan Terriers and many more.

The symptoms of Progressive Retinal Atrophy can be vague at first because the degeneration of the retina causes a slow loss of vision.

The things which might give you a hint of the problem include:

Gradual loss of night vision. This is often the first symptom. Your dog may seem to see fine during daylight hours, but starts bumping into things or be hesitant  when waking around at night. He may also have trouble seeing in extremely bright light. This eventually happens in normal daylight as well, as the blindness progresses.

Dilated pupils. They may become dilated, or react to light in an abnormal way.

Cloudiness or opaque eyes. If the lens of the eye is affected it may become cloudy or look milky. Cataracts can form as the disease progresses.

Tests for PRA can be done by your vet and they're painless for your dog.

Treatment options for Progressive Retinal Atrophy in dogs:

Unfortunately PRA has no cure and will lead to blindness over time.

The plus side of this is that most dogs manage just fine even once their sight has dimmed completely.

Obviously keeping them in a familiar environment helps as they learn to adjust and adapt.

This is not a painful condition.

Some dogs don't completely lose their sight and retain some peripheral vision.

Dog Eye Growths, Cysts and Tumors

There are several different dog eye problems which involve growths of one sort or another.

These growths can be on the eyelid or on different parts of the structure of your dog's eye.

Some are innocuous and non-threatening, others can be malignant and potentially dangerous... and it's not necessarily easy to tell the difference. 

If you notice any kind of a growth, cyst or lump on your dog's eye or eyelid it's always best to have it checked out with your vet to get an accurate diagnosis.

Stye

A Stye is a pus-filled abscess and usually shows up as a small (or not so small) lump on the inner eyelid, either upper or lower.

If your dog has a stye, the swollen area will likely be red and his eye will probably be irritated or watering.

Generally a stye will heal on its own within about a week.

Keeping the area around the stye clean is important, so wash that area with clean warm water daily.

Treatment Options for a Stye on your dogs eye:

Heat can help a stye 'come to a head' and then drain. If your dog will allow you to hold a warm moist cloth over the eye several times a day that can speed up healing.

Correct diagnosis of dog eye problems is really important, so I would strongly recommend having a vet take a look at your dog's eye when the lump/irritation first appears.... just to confirm that it IS a stye.

After that home treatment is generally enough. Unless your vet prescribes medication or any other procedures.

However, if the stye doesn't seem to get better over a period of a few days, or if it gets worse/bigger/your dog seems in pain or the eye looks more irritated it's important to take him back to your vet.

Sometimes infection increases and an antibiotic ointment or eye-wash, corticosteroids or an oral antibiotic is needed.

With severe styes which don't respond to medication, surgical draining and removal can take place to put an end to the problem/infection.

Chalazion or Meibomian Cyst

A Chalazion (sometimes called a Meibomian Cyst) looks similar to a Stye and is caused by inflammation/blockage of the oil glands on the rim of the eyelids.

A Chalazion appears as a swollen, reddened area on the upper or lower eyelid, close to the eyelashes.

Your dog's eye may also be irritated, or watery. He may blink or squint.

Because this could be a Stye, or a Chalazion, or another dog eye problem it's important to take your dog to the vet for an exam if he has this type of swelling.

Treatment Options for a Chalazion on your dog's eye:

Many times the Chalazion will heal and disappear on it's own. 

As with a Stye, keeping the area clean and applying warm compresses several times a day can speed healing.

However if the swelling continues to grow or doesn't start to heal within a few days, there is pus/blood, the eye becomes more red/irritated/watery or your dog seems to be in pain, then it's very important to have your veterinarian re-examine it as further treatment is needed.

A Chalazion/Meibomian cyst can be surgically removed by your veterinarian.

Occasionally a Meibomian cyst can be cancerous, this is more common in older dogs and in certain breeds.

Breeds at an above-average risk of this include Nordic breeds such as the Samoyed, Siberian Husky an Alaskan Malamute as well as Labrador Retrievers,  the standard Poodle, Shih Tzu's and the West Highland White Terrier.

Sebaceous Cyst

There are several types of Sebaceous Cysts and they can occur on any part of your dog's body, including the eyelids.

They are basically a sac like growth which contains sebum (a natural oily lubricant). 

These grow as they fill up with fluid, sometimes they rupture and heal by themselves, other times the can become infected.

As with all growths around your dog's eyes (or anywhere else on his body for that matter) it's important to have your vet check it out to determine what type of cyst/growth it is.

Treatment options for Sebaceous Cysts:

Sebaceous cysts that are not causing your dog pain or discomfort and that have not become infected can often just be left alone. 

But if it's too large, causing pain/discomfort, or becomes infected then your vet will need to either drain or remove it.

Do NOT try to 'pop' or drain this type of cyst yourself as you are likely to cause infection or make the situation worse.

Tumors

Dog eye problems can include a number of tumors, some benign others cancerous.

It is impossible for us as dog owners to tell the difference and if your dog has a growth on his eyelid, eye or surrounding tissue it's vital to have your vet examine it so that you can get an accurate diagnosis.

The most common types of eyelid tumor in dogs include:

• Meibomian Adenocarcinoma 
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Basal Cell Carcinoma 
• Melanoma 
• Histiocytoma 
• Mastocytoma
• Papilloma

It's more likely that a growth or lump on your dog's eyelid is benign than it is cancerous, but it is never a good idea to 'wait-and-see'... unless your veterinarian tells you otherwise.

Regardless of the type of tumor, early diagnosis and surgical removal of the growth gives your dog the best chance of making a full recovery.

How To Apply Dog Eye Drops or Liquid

Drops, creams or other topical medications are one of the recommended treatments (or the only recommended treatment) for many of the dog eye problems on this page.

Putting medication into/onto your dog's eyes can be pretty simple - IF you know how to do it.

Even if Fido is the most laid-back pooch every, having goopy stuff forced into his eye probably isn't high on his list of acceptable human practices!

This short video will help you get that important medication where it needs to be with the minimum of fuss....

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