Looking after your dog’s eye health is imperative to avoid unwanted infections or trips to the vets. Here at Groomers, we hope to inform and advise you on the best way that you can keep your dog’s eyes clean and infection-free. If you have any doubts about your dog’s eye health, you must contact your local vet to ensure any issues are dealt with as soon as possible.
What is an eye ulcer on a dog?
It is important that you are aware of what eye ulcers on dogs look like. They will need treating as soon as they’re discovered, minimising the chance of damage to the surface of your dog’s eye. Ulcers vary in how they appear on your dog’s eye; sometimes they can be as small as a scratch, but other times can grow larger on the eye and cause blinking and irritation problems. If you feel that your dog’s eye ulcer isn’t getting any better, or even worse, you must contact your veterinary surgery immediately.
What causes an eye ulcer in a dog?
Ulcers can be caused by eye infections, in-turned eyelids, dry eyes, any potential injuries which may have been sustained or any foreign objects in the eye.
How to tell if your dog’s eye ulcer is healing
You can tell if your dog’s eye ulcer is healing when the redness and swelling rapidly reduces. Your local vet may also use fluorescein after a course of prescribed eye drops which will show staining in the eye if the infection remains.
What kind of eye drops can I use on my dog?
Here at Groomers, we have an extensive eye care range to help keep on top of your dog’s eyes. It is important to consult with your vet before you make a decision on which eye drops to use on your dog, particularly if you have sourced them from your own research.
How to put eye drops in for your dog?
Making your dog feel at ease when you put their eye drops in will make any future drops easier. Secure your dog either gently between your knees or with a lead, so that you are in a good position to administer the drops. Tip your dog’s chin up toward the ceiling; you will then need to pull your dog’s eye down so that you can put the drops into the bottom lid. Drop however many that are advised by your vet and let your dog free. Make sure you reward your dog with a treat for good behaviour.
How to treat dog eye infection at home
You can create a saline solution to wash out any residue that may be causing your dog’s eye irritation. Dissolve half of a teaspoon of salt into warm water. Take a soft cloth and dip it into your solution, proceed to gently wipe away any dirt in the corner of your dog’s eye. If the eye infection is too bad to be treated with home remedies, your vet will prescribe eye drops.
How to clean dog eye boogers
As discussed above, using a saline solution is perfect for eradicating dog eye boogers. Gently wipe the eye residue away from the eye and discard to avoid a risk of infection. This should be repeated after muddy walks or when you’re bathing your dog to avoid any foreign objects getting into the eye.
What is cherry eye in dogs?
Cherry eye is often found in young dogs and is the prolapse of the nictitans gland, found in their third eyelid.
What are the symptoms of cherry eye in dogs?
Much like its name, cherry eye manifests itself in a pink swelling in the corner of your dog’s eye which may protrude outwards. You may find that due to this protrusion, your dog’s eye becomes dry and reddened.
What causes cherry eye in a dog?
Cherry eye in a dog is caused when the third eyelid is displaced and is therefore no longer in its original position. This gland is integral in normal tear production and the filtration of the eye. If cherry eye occurs, the dog’s eye can become irritated and blocked, which causes further problems down the line.
How to treat cherry eye
As cherry eye often occurs in dogs under the age of a year, it can sometimes heal itself as the dog grows. However, you can try to gently massage the area of concern to encourage it to go back into its original position. If these don’t work, you will need to talk to your vet about the prospect of a minor operation.
What do dog fleas look like to the human eye?
You can see fleas with the human eye, and they are brown-black in colour. With six legs, fleas are renowned for jumping so you will want to get rid of them as soon as you can. Their bodies are flat, and you can see them crawling over your dog’s coat. If fleas get into your dog’s eye, it can cause further irritation and damage to the eye’s surface.
How to avoid your dog getting fleas
Use flea treatment regularly and try to keep this up as this will help lower the risk of your dog catching any unwanted visitors. You will also want to regularly wash your dog using specialist flea treatment shampoo which is available in our parasite collection here at Groomers.
We hope that you have found this blog insightful and informative on how to take care of your dog’s eyes. Be sure to explore our full eye care range here at Groomers to keep on top of your dog’s health.
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