If you’ve ever had conjunctivitis, you’ll know how uncomfortable it is. It’s every bit as painful for your dog.
Conjunctivitis, as the name suggests, affects the conjunctiva, which is the inside of your dog’s eyelids. It also affects the sclera, the white of the eye. These become very red, with prominent blood vessels, and there is often a yellowish discharge. Your dog will usually close the affected eye, but he’s not winking at you; his eyes hurt!
There are several causes of conjunctivitis in dogs. Sand and dust in the environment can irritate his eyes, and lead to a secondary bacterial infection. If your dog hangs his head out of the car window when you drive, the wind will also blow dust in his eyes. They will also become quite dry and irritated.
Conjunctivitis is often a symptom of allergies in dogs, particularly inhaled allergies to dusts and pollens. Your dog may also sneeze, have itchy ears and chew his feet.
Some dogs suffer from a condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, where their immune system destroys their tear glands. The result is chronically dry eyes, inflammation and infection.
What to Do With Sore Eyes
It’s important that if you suspect your dog has conjunctivitis, see your veterinarian sooner rather than later. If it isn’t treated, it can lead to ulceration of the cornea at the front of the eye. This is extremely painful and can take some time to resolve. It may also involve suturing your dog’s upper and lower eyelids closed to allow the ulcer to heal.
Your vet will check for any ulceration to the eye, and try to figure out the cause of the inflammation. A simple bacterial infection associated with dust and wind will respond well to an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory ointment. Allergies usually require more extensive treatment, as does keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
Don’t waste time if your dog has sore eyes. It’s better for both your dog and your budget if you tackle conjunctivitis in its early stages.
Caring for Your Dog’s Eyes At Home
You can help to prevent your dog developing painful conjunctivitis by keeping him away from dust and sand, and keeping him inside the car when you’re traveling. This isn’t always possible; fortunately we have Eye Pack to help protect his eyes from infection. This is a two-step process to keep your dog’s eyes clean and inhibit the growth of bacteria.
1. Wipe your dog’s eyes with Eye Pads. This is particularly important if he has been rolling in the dust, or enjoying the feeling of the wind in his hair as you drive. These soft pre-moistened pads contain herbal ingredients that clean away dirt, and colloidal silver which acts as a natural antibiotic.
2. Add the powdered Eyemunity to your dog’s food every day. It tastes great, and includes Epicor in its ingredient list. This has been clinically proven to improve your dog’s immune system, and help him fight off infection from the inside.
Dogs are so expressive, and it’s easy to see how much they love us when they look at us with their soft brown eyes. Use Eye Pack on a regular basis and keep those eyes bright and healthy, and you’ll have no doubt about how he feels about you.