Almost every veterinary specialist knows that an animal’s eyes are a “mirror” by which a specialist can visually determine if the animal is sick or not. Today in medicine, many human diseases are diagnosed by the eyes. Eye diseases in our dogs are quite common today. If you do not take the necessary treatment measures in a timely manner, sometimes your pet’s disease can result in loss of vision. A dog's eye is an organ specially adapted for the animal to perceive light waves. With the help of vision, your dog navigates the world around him, perceives the intensity of light, color, shape of objects, distance to them, as well as the movement of objects in space. With the help of vision, a dog in the wild gets its food, has the ability to move in the direction it needs, and defend itself in the event of an attack. Eye disease can lead to partial or complete loss of vision.
In everyday life, dog owners often notice watery eyes and sometimes pus in their dog's eyes. Unfortunately, dog owners are not always alarmed when they see that their dog’s eyes are festering. It must be borne in mind that the discharge of yellowish or greenish exudate is one of the signs of many diseases in dogs. Having seen that a dog's eyes are festering, owners should immediately contact their veterinary clinic, since a dog's festering eyes can be one of the signs of an incipient serious illness.
In this article we will try to figure out why a dog’s eyes fester.
Pus in a dog's eyes can appear as a result of many reasons, let's look at the main ones.
Allergy
Allergies in dogs have become the most fashionable disease in recent years. Allergens in dogs can include household chemicals and damage to the skin by ectoparasites (fleas in dogs). Often, purulent eyes are a sign of food allergy (food allergy in animals), which is accompanied by itchy skin (itching in dogs) and scratching in dogs. Dog owners note hair loss, which is externally manifested by the appearance of bald spots on the skin, redness of certain areas of the skin (dermatitis in dogs). The dog's owners report lacrimation and purulent discharge from the eyes. Ear diseases, nasal discharge (runny nose in a dog), and an unpleasant odor coming from the dog (bad breath in a dog) appear. The dog constantly licks the anal area and its front paws, and certain areas of the skin become wet (in the armpits and other folds of the skin).
Among dog breeds, French bulldogs and American cocker spaniels are more susceptible to food allergies. At the same time, specialists from veterinary clinics note the greatest predisposition to food allergies in dogs that are light in color (fawn Labradors, dachshunds, molosses of light fawn shades).
Often an allergic reaction in a dog is accompanied by a number of other symptoms - swelling of the nose, lips, paw pads, the dog sneezes often and for a long time. Allergies in dogs can manifest with severe symptoms such as pulmonary edema (pulmonary edema in dogs), bronchospasm.
If a dog exhibits allergic symptoms, owners should immediately contact their veterinarian.
What breeds of dogs are predisposed to eye infections?
There are dog breeds that, due to the structure of their muzzle, are prone to various eye diseases, in particular eye suppuration. First of all, these are dogs with a flat muzzle: pugs, Pekingese, boxers, bulldogs. This predisposition is due to small eye sockets and protruding eyeballs. Owners of pets with a lot of folds on the face face similar problems.
Viral diseases of dogs
Pus in a dog's eyes (purulent conjunctivitis) almost always accompanies viral diseases of dogs. Delay in contacting a veterinary clinic is fraught with serious consequences for the dog, as a result of which your dog may die.
The most common viral diseases among dogs in Russia are canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis in dogs, adenovirosis (canine adenovirus), influenza in dogs, bordetellosis in dogs and others.
Each of the viral diseases of dogs has its own characteristic signs, but there are also common signs characteristic of a viral infection of dogs - a sharp increase in body temperature occurs, the dog loses its appetite, coughing (cough in dogs), sneezing, heavy breathing, wheezing appears on the respiratory system. If the gastrointestinal tract is affected - vomiting (vomiting in dogs), loose stools (diarrhea in dogs).
In addition to the above viral diseases, there are a number of viruses that appear in dogs in a latent form and are diagnosed during laboratory tests. Clinically manifested in dogs - purulent discharge, cough, nasal discharge, after exercise.
Based on the above, dog owners should always promptly contact specialists for veterinary help.
Diagnostics
Lacrimation must be differentiated from tears or purulent exudate.
A study is being conducted with a silver-based drug. If everything is in order, then it appears in the nostrils 10 seconds after entering the eyes. This experiment will provide information about the location of the blockage. In this case, the drug is instilled into the upper lacrimal punctum. When the substance does not come out of the lower one, a blockage of the upper or lower tubule, a blockage in the sac, should be diagnosed, sometimes this is due to the anatomical absence of the lacrimal punctum.
If there is an anomaly in the structure of the nose or its sinuses, a rhinoscopy is performed with a biopsy of all strange parts; the exudate can be collected for microbial analysis. If the exudate is pus, then a microbial analysis must be done before prescribing therapy.
An x-ray will provide some information. In particular, damage to the bones of the nose, sinuses, and upper jaw can be established.
Dogs affected by chlamydia and mycoplasmosis are one of the causes of pus in the eyes
Once in a dog’s body, mycoplasmosis for the time being proceeds sluggishly, practically asymptomatically without showing anything. And usually the disease occurs with symptoms of damage to the organ that is affected by it. In dogs, mycoplasmosis is manifested by: respiratory diseases - rhinitis (runny nose in dogs), cough in dogs, pneumonia in dogs, eye damage - conjunctivitis with purulent or serous discharge. Diseases of the genitourinary system - nephritis, cystitis, vaginitis, urethritis, prostatitis. More details about mycoplasmosis in our article - mycoplasmosis in dogs.
Another dangerous disease for dogs and people is chlamydia. In cities, the source of chlamydia is birds (mainly pigeons), which are the main reservoir of chlamydia. City dogs have a greater chance of catching this type of chlamydia on city streets and parks while walking. Damage occurs to the respiratory system, eyes, liver, and nervous system, and chlamydial myocarditis develops. In 30% of dogs, symptoms of hepatosplenomegaly are recorded, and gastrointestinal tract damage occurs (vomiting, diarrhea). Considering that chlamydia is a zooanthroponosis, dogs with chlamydia are a potential source of infection for their owners, especially in large cities where dogs are kept in apartments. For people, the consequences of contracting chlamydia can be very serious: abortion, infertility, chronic diseases of the genital area, arthritis, conjunctivitis, etc. Taking this into account, outreach work should be carried out with pet owners, recommendations should be given on preventive vaccinations of dogs against chlamydia, and even if If a disease occurs, adherence to the strictest personal hygiene measures, thorough comprehensive treatment of the sick dog, conducting serological tests of the owners and all people in contact with the sick dog. Detailed information about chlamydia can be found in the article – chlamydia in dogs.
How to add medicine
After the diagnosis has been made and recommendations for treatment have been given, the most difficult thing remains - to carefully follow all the veterinarian’s instructions. After all, the success of treatment as a whole depends on how accurately and conscientiously they are followed. It is not so easy to “persuade” a dog to take this or that medicine, but there are several ways to do it correctly.
- If you need to apply ointment, proceed as follows: pull back the lower eyelid and squeeze out a clot of medicine there. Next, squeeze out a strip of ointment over the entire eye.
- Capsules or tablets are often prescribed as antimicrobial, vitamin, or immune-enhancing agents. The easiest way to get your dog to eat pills or vitamins is to crush them and mix them with food.
- Sometimes the trick doesn’t work, and the dog spits out both the medicine and the food. Then they act more strictly. The animal is invited into a corner, a very small pet is placed on the table. They open the animal’s mouth: place the palm on the bridge of the nose, and with the index and thumb press on the upper lips, as if wanting to squeeze the fingers inside. The animal will reflexively open its mouth and the medicine will be pushed deeper. Next, close the dog’s mouth with your palm and wait until it swallows.
Pus in the eyes due to traumatic injury to the eye area
Dogs, being active animals, during walks, especially in wooded areas, while hunting, often receive injuries to their eyelids and corneas from tree branches, in conflicts with other dogs, cats, etc. When a minor injury sustained by a dog is fresh, you can always purchase medicinal substances that have a wound-healing effect at the pharmacy. As such medications we can recommend: Bars drops, Iris, Dezatsid, Lacrimin aseptic, Mizofen ointment, Levomycetin drops, etc.
If a dog receives serious injuries in the eye area or head bruises, owners urgently need to conduct a thorough clinical examination of the animal. At the veterinary clinic, the injured dog will be provided with appropriate medical care.
What to do in case of emergency
If you notice that the dog is acting restless and scratching its head, and the cornea is inflamed and there is a large amount of pus, then urgent measures need to be taken. Carefully examine the eyes and, if necessary, carefully remove the foreign body. Moisten a cotton pad with saline solution and gently wipe each eye. Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the cause of the disease and prescribe treatment. Throughout the entire period of therapy, monitor your pet’s behavior and undergo regular scheduled examinations. Report any complications or the appearance of atypical features.
Tearfulness and pus due to corneal irritation
Tearfulness and pus in the corners of a dog’s eyes can occur as a result of exposure to caustic volatile substances on the cornea and mucous membranes of the eyes. Dogs are very sensitive to household chemicals containing chlorine-containing substances, to alcohol, turpentine and other volatile substances when, as a result of evaporation, contact of these substances with the cornea and conjunctival mucosa occurs. In the case when this contact in a dog is rare, the dog reacts with lacrimation as a protective reaction of the body; with constant contact, the dog develops purulent conjunctivitis and pus appears in the corners of the eyes.
Sometimes the cause of purulent conjunctivitis in a dog can be long hair on the animal’s face (lapdogs, poodles, fox terriers, etc.) constantly in contact with the mucous membrane and cornea of the eyes (eye diseases in dogs). Purulent conjunctivitis in a dog can cause particles of dust, sand and smoke to enter the conjunctiva.
Associated symptoms
In addition to discharge of various types, the disease is accompanied by other symptoms. In addition to obvious visual changes, with prolapse of the lacrimal gland, cartilage fracture or eye neoplasm, general accompanying symptoms develop.
Swelling of the eyelids
occurs due to itching, irritation of the skin by accumulated secretions.
Redness of the conjunctiva or eyelid skin
. Any inflammation is a flow of blood to the site of penetration of bacteria, as a result, the mucous membranes and skin change color and turn red.
Blepharospasm
is a condition in which the dog blinks intensely or barely opens its eyes. This is a protective reaction of the eye to pain, burning and itching.
Epiphora
– increased production of tears, the fur around the eyes is wet and changes color.
Photophobia
– the dog hides in dark places, covers its eyes with its paw, and refuses to go outside.
Hair loss on the eyelids.
When there is a heavy accumulation of secretions, the fur constantly becomes wet and the skin becomes inflamed, resulting in bald patches.
Narrowing of the palpebral fissure
. Occurs due to swelling and redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes.
The general condition of the dog changes, it sleeps a lot, appetite and activity
b
can also be significantly reduced
.
the temperature
may rise .
If left untreated for a long period, the dog may go blind
. Without timely assistance, shepherd pannus, corneal ulcers, dystrichia and ectopic eyelashes, entropion of the eyelids, prolapse of the lacrimal gland and neoplasms inevitably lead to blindness.
Parasitic diseases - the cause of pus in the eyes
Dogs can be parasitized by a wide variety of parasites, both internal and external - worms (worms in dogs), fleas (fleas in dogs), ticks (ticks in dogs), as a result of whose vital activity one of the symptoms can be pus in the eyes. Ectoparasites often provoke an allergic reaction in dogs when they come into contact with the eyes; in case of dog ear mites (ear diseases in dogs), when scratching the ears, a dog can inadvertently damage the eye with its claws. As a result, pus appears in the eyes.
Consequences of conjunctivitis
Interestingly, some forms of conjunctivitis at a young age are completely harmless and go away on their own in 1-3 months. But it is not recommended to wait this period, because prolonged non-treatment can lead to serious inflammation of parts of the eye apparatus and even blindness.
Without surgical treatment, any type of conjunctivitis can become chronic. In addition, undetected conjunctivitis as a symptom will lead to the death of the pet if the cause lies in an infectious infection.
It is important to limit children’s contact with a sick dog and take a course of immunomodulators or vitamins to strengthen the body’s defense system. After all, conjunctivitis caused by infection can be transmitted to humans. It is important to wash your hands thoroughly after every interaction with your pet.
Formation of pus in the eyes as a result of chronic diseases
Among the reasons that often contribute to the formation of pus in a dog’s eyes are blockage of the lacrimal canal, congenital or traumatic ectropion of the eyelid, and diseases of the internal organs.
To establish the cause of the formation of pus in the eyes of a dog, sometimes it is necessary to conduct a thorough comprehensive examination of the animal in a veterinary clinic by conducting a general blood test, ultrasound of internal organs, fluoroscopy, etc. Conducting these studies is especially important for older dogs, when the immune system weakens. In aging dogs, veterinary specialists often find certain chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system and kidneys.
Briefly about the main thing
- Eye discharge in dogs is a natural physiological process. Normally, they should be moderate and transparent.
- Pay attention to suppuration in the cornea area. This may be a symptom of injury, chronic diseases (keratitis, blepharitis, conjunctivitis).
- Pharmaceutical preparations, veterinary solutions and home recipes are used to care for the eyes. Treatment should be selected only by a doctor.
- For prevention and regular care, you can rinse or instill chamomile infusion, sterile water or diluted saline solution.
How often and with what do you wash your dog’s eyes? Share your experience in the comments to the article.
Hypovitaminosis A in a dog
Hypovitaminosis A - this disease occurs in dogs with a lack of vitamin A (retinol, axerophthol) in the body and is manifested by symptoms of growth retardation, development, decreased natural resistance and local immune defense, peeling of the epidermis and dermatitis, metaplasia and keratinization of the epithelium of the mucous membranes and glands, violation vision and reproductive function (pathology of reproduction in dogs).
The first sign of hypovitaminosis A is that owners note their dog’s weakened vision when evening approaches, conjunctivitis, and clouding of the cornea (eye diseases in dogs).
A lack of vitamin A (it is found, for example, in offal, vegetables (carrots, pumpkin), greens, eggs) often leads to eye problems - blurred vision, the development of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye - conjunctivitis. Dogs that do not have the opportunity to eat a varied diet often suffer from hypovitaminosis A (including if they eat low-quality economy-class food, which is poor in vitamins and nutrients).
Surgical treatment: when to contact a veterinarian
Surgical intervention is required in cases of prolonged follicular conjunctivitis. When the eyelid swells and becomes covered with small blisters, you need to act urgently to relieve your pet of pain and discomfort. In difficult cases, doctors have to remove follicles in the third eyelid manually.
The worst outcome is removal of the eye, in case of ulceration of the mucous membrane and apple. They resort to surgery only when conservative treatment does not help.
What can a dog owner do if there is pus in the eyes at home?
- The first thing an owner can do for his dog is to wash the festering eye with a decoction of medicinal herbs, such as St. John's wort, chamomile, and calendula. For rinsing in their absence, you can use a solution of furatsillin, potassium permanganate.
- Eye rinsing is carried out using a cotton pad or swab moistened with a decoction or furacillin. Rinsing is carried out with a disk from the inner corner of the eye.
- When washing, strictly adhere to the following rule: each eye is treated with a separate swab.
- After treating the sore eye with a decoction, excess moisture should be blotted off with a dry cloth.
- After this, apply 1% tetracycline ointment to the inner surface of the eyelids. The technique for applying the ointment is as follows: the owner pulls back the lower eyelid of the dog’s diseased eye and puts the ointment there. After this, closing your eyelids, gently massage.
How to provide first aid to a pet with pus discharge from the eyes
When the first purulent discharge is detected, it is recommended to make an appointment with a veterinarian to identify the cause and protect the dog from the development of inflammatory processes in the body. Before visiting a veterinarian, you can help your pet yourself.
If a dog's eyes are purulent, how to properly treat it at home or what measures should be taken to prevent excessive purulent discharge?
- Rinsing the sore eye with furatsilin (1 glass of warm water = 1 tablet) or herbs. You can wash your eyes with chamomile or calendula. Take a cotton swab and soak it in the prepared solution. Wash your eyes with a moistened cotton swab 3 times a day. A separate swab is taken for each eye to avoid infection of the healthy eye. It is permissible to administer a few antibacterial eye drops (for example, chloramphenicol).
- Applying tetracycline ointment under the dog's lower eyelid. Take a small amount of ointment and apply it with gentle point movements under the animal’s slightly drawn-out lower eyelid. The main rule: tetracycline ointment should be 1%, no more. Otherwise, a burn is inevitable. After applying the ointment, the closed eyes are massaged with smooth movements. It is important to prevent the animal’s paws from rubbing the eyes.
- Providing a healthy home regime for dogs - it is recommended to provide the dog with a proper diet and plenty of fluids. It is important to protect your four-legged friend from possible allergens (new food, pollen, dust, household chemicals). In addition, it is necessary to carefully observe the behavior of the animal and record all external and internal changes in the pet to determine the exact picture of the disease.
After providing first aid to the animal, it must be taken to a veterinary clinic, where a professional veterinarian will tell you what to do and how to treat it.
Preventing the formation of pus in the eyes of a dog
Prevention of the formation of pus in gases in a dog should be based on preventing the causes that lead to the appearance of pus in the eyes.
- In order to prevent viral diseases, the dog must be regularly vaccinated against those diseases that are widespread in the region of residence. Due to the spread of rabies in populated areas of the Russian Federation, vaccination against rabies is strictly required.
- Regularly treat your dog for worms.
- Ensure adequate feeding of the dog and normal living conditions (basics of feeding dogs, golden rules of rational feeding of dogs, feeding puppies, feeding pregnant females, feeding lactating dogs, feeding aging dogs).
- If there is a lack of vitamin A in the diet, use preparations containing vitamin A (vitamins for dogs).
- Strive to ensure that during a walk the dog cannot get injured in the head area from its relatives, cats. Walk your dog, especially in populated areas, on a leash.
- If you receive an injury in the eye area, take timely measures to treat the injury.
- If a dog has long hair on its face, it must be trimmed periodically to prevent hair from getting into the eye and injuring it.
- Dogs with bulging eyes (lapdogs, poodles, pugs, Pekingese, Japanese Chins) should have their eyes treated daily using products such as “artificial tears.”
- Examine the dog's eyes daily and, if necessary, remove any exudate that accumulates in the eyes.
- At the first sign of eye disease in your dog, seek veterinary help from your veterinarian immediately.
Relapse Prevention
To avoid having to repeat the treatment, you need to follow simple but important rules:
- Regularly bathe your dog with repellent shampoos;
- Long-haired animals should have their bangs cut;
- Carefully examine your eyes once a week;
- Keep the dog's place clean.
When there are several animals in the house, and the eyes of only one are festering, treatment should be carried out on all pets. If suppuration recurs frequently, the animal must be shown to a specialist.
