Take Care of Your Dog's Eyes With These Helpful Tips
Take Care of Your Dog's Eyes With These Helpful Tips
If your dog has been rubbing her face against the carpeting or pawing at her eyes, you could potentially be looking for an eye-related health issue. Your dog is unable to keep its eyes clean safely and effectively without your help. As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to maintain your furry friend’s eyes and watch out for any warning signs.
It’s a good idea to include an at-home eye checkup in your monthly health maintenance check to spot any potential problems early on. Here’s what you’ll have to do:
Be On the Lookout for Signs
When inspecting your dog’s eyes, position them under good lighting. The eyes of a healthy dog are moist and clear. Your dog's eyes should not be bothering them, and the sclera (the white region around their iris) should be white. It would be best if you immediately addressed any eye condition, such as swelling, squinting, discharge, excessive weeping, or pain.
The pupils of your dog should be the same size and react to light. Their eyelids should also be able to stay open; closed eyelids indicate a problem. In healthy dogs, the third eyelid usually is not visible. Keep a watchful eye on your dog's eyes and contact your veterinarian if you feel something is amiss.
Do not be alarmed if your elderly dog's eyes appear foggy or opaque, as this could be a natural part of the aging process. Your veterinarian will be able to tell if this is due to cataracts or an age-related disorder called nuclear sclerosis. Although nuclear sclerosis does not require treatment, cataracts can result in blindness. Your veterinarian may refer your dog to a veterinary ophthalmologist (eye doctor) for treatment if your dog develops cataracts.
Moreover, it is a good idea to keep an eye on your dog's vision for any changes. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice your pet is having trouble seeing objects or is running into walls or furniture.
Consider these Eye Care Tips
Hair rubbing on the cornea (the transparent membrane across the surface of the eye) can cause scratches, so keep all hair off of your dog's eyes. Only use blunt-nosed scissors to trim the hair, cutting parallel to the edge of the eyelid. Keep mucus out of your eyes at all times. To keep the skin surrounding the eyes clean, use sterile eyewash or eye wipes that you can get from a local pet shop, such as Earthwise Pet. Do not touch the cornea with the tip of the eyewash bottle or the wipe to avoid damaging the eye.
Before showering or cleaning their face, use an ophthalmic ointment to protect their eyes. Even 'tearless' shampoos can irritate the eyes if too much gets into them or if you do not rinse them quickly enough.
Tear staining is a common condition in certain dog breeds (e.g., poodles and cocker spaniels), resulting in a reddish-brown darkening of the hair around the eyes. Tears usually flow across the eye's surface and drain quickly down the tear duct. Normal tears stream out and land on the surrounding hair, causing this darkening at the corners of the eyes. For breeds prone to tear or saliva stains, consider using a tear stain remover product to clean hair in affected areas at least once a week.
Clean Your Dog's Eyes with the Right Products!
Your friendly companion's eyes are far too vital to take any chances. Proper care and maintenance will make sure your dog’s eyes remain clean and free of infection. Responsible pet owners should make sure they recognize the signs of unhappy eyes early on so that treatment can be sought.
Schedule a bath and tidy appointment at Earthwise Pet Fremont, and our pet grooming specialists will take care of your dog. If you have any concerns about your dog's eye health, contact your veterinarian right away.