Canine Eye Infection

Part of being a responsible pet owner is maintaining your animal's health and well-being. You should always address any health issues that may occur. Just like humans, dogs can develop many different problems that need to be treated with veterinary care or medications. One common problem area for dogs is the eye. Dogs can suffer from several different types of eye infections, including conjunctivitis, cherry eye, glaucoma and cataracts.

Conjunctivitis

The most common eye problem that can occur in dogs is conjunctivitis. This condition, which is also common in humans, occurs when the membranes of the eyes become irritated. Common to pink eye in humans, conjunctivitis can lead to swelling of the blood vessels in the eyes, making them look reddish. The most common causes of conjunctivitis are viruses and bacteria. Occasionally, the conjunctivitis can be a symptom of a more serious parasite, like a tick. Many times, the irritation will resolve itself. However, a veterinarian might prescribe antibiotic eye drops to keep the infection from becoming worse.

Cherry Eye

Cherry eye is a condition that usually occurs in puppies. You can usually tell if a dog has cherry eye because there will be a reddish membrane visible in the inside corner of its eye. Dogs have three separate eyelids in each area of the eye, and this is part of the third eyelid. It is a gland that protrudes and becomes exposed, making it susceptible to irritation and infection. This condition is more common to certain breeds, like beagles, cocker spaniels and bulldogs. Veterinarians are not sure of the cause of this condition but think it can be caused by heredity, or inflammation that occurs due to viruses, fungus or bacteria. If the cherry eye becomes a problem, the affected membrane can be partially removed or tucked back in.

Glaucoma

As in humans, glaucoma is a serious condition that can lead to blindness. This disease is characterized by an increased pressure in the eyeball. Usually this happens because something is blocking the fluid in the eye from draining. Look for symptoms like redness, cloudiness and enlarged pupils. Veterinarians consider glaucoma to be an emergency situation that needs to be addressed immediately. The goal of treatment is to lessen the pressure in the eyes before permanent blindness occurs. Glaucoma is thought to be caused by an infection of yeast bacteria.

Cataracts

Some dogs get cataracts, especially older dogs. A white film develops over the lens of the eyes, causing blurred vision and sometimes blindness. Some breeds seem to be more genetically prone to cataracts, such as the schnauzer, Boston terrier, golden retriever, cocker spaniel and German shepherd. A few dogs are born with cataracts but many develop them later in life as a result of infections, injuries or poor nutrition. Cataracts cannot be reversed, so the only effective treatment is to remove the affected lens.

Other Infections

There are many other sources that can cause infections in a dog's eyes. Bacteria that are common to eye infections in dogs include Brucella canis, which is contagious to humans, and Borrelia burgdorferi, which is caused by ticks. Fungi that can infect a dog's eyes include blastomyces, coccidiodes, histoplasma, cryptococcus and aspergillus. Dogs can also contract parasitic infections which may inhabit the eyes. These include eye worms, Toxocara canis and bot flies.

References

• Eye Problems and Infections in Dogs

Resources

• Pet Health