Runny Eyes In Dogs

Yours dog's eyes should normally be clear, bright, and free of discharge. Red eyes in a dog can signal problems requiring treatment from eye drops to emergency surgery. Conjunctivitis is the most common eye problem in dogs and is defined as an inflammation of the white membranes lining the inside of the eyelids. It leads to red, swollen, itchy, watery eyes. Being able to recognize the signs of an eye problem or injury are the best ways to prevent permanent eye damage and insure visual integrity.

Signs Your Dog Has An Eye Problem

• Red eyes
• Mucous or watery eye discharge
• Thick yellowish-green eye discharge
• Swollen eyes
• Pawing and/or rubbing eyes

Causes Of Conjunctivitis In Dogs

Allergies are a major cause of conjunctivitis in dogs. Dogs overly sensitive to pollen, dust and mold often rub and paw at their eyes continuously.

Bacteria commonly causes conjunctivitis along with a thick yellowish-green eye discharge.

Unvaccinated puppies with distemper virus usually get conjunctivitis.

Inherited Eye Diseases involving the eyelids and eyelashes irritate the eye and may result in conjunctivitis.

Entropion is a condition in which the eyelids roll inward which causes the eyelashes to contact the surface of the eye. This condition usually involves both eyes and is quite painful. In addition to conjunctivitis, partial or complete loss of vision can result if left untreated. Squinting and tearing are the most common signs. Surgical correction involves removal of a narrow strip of skin and muscle from the eyelid. Stitches are then used to evert the eyelid so that it lies in a normal position. The Sharpei, English bulldog and Chow are the breeds most prone.

Eyelash Disease is a group of conditions in which eyelashes or hairs injure the eye.

Trichiasis is a condition in which normal hairs lie on and irritate the eye. This is common in Pekingese. The long hairs on their face and in the folds of their nose irritate the eyes and cause conjunctivitis. Prevention requires regular trimming of these hairs.
Ectopic Cilia are abnormal hairs found on the inside of the eyelid. These are quite painful. Surgical freezing is necessary to remove these offensive hairs.
Distichiasis occurs when an eyelash occurs at an abnormal position along the eye or eyelid which irritates the eye.

Warning: In addition to eyelid and eyelash disease, cataracts and diseases of the retina are also inherited. They can easily go undetected until quite advanced. Most are quite painful and blindness is not an uncommon consequence.

Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF). A Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) examination is an eye exam that can only be performed by a certified veterinary eye specialist. It is used to detect inherited eye diseases and can be given at a young age. Responsible breeders should not breed any dog or cat who fails a CERF Exam. Potential owners should ask whether or not the parents received and passed the CERF Exam. Neutering or spaying animals with these hereditary conditions insures that the problem will not be passed on to future generations.

Complementary Treatments

Herbal Remedies

For red, itchy eyes, use raspberry leaf tea as eyewash, or put a drop of cod liver oil in the affected eye three to four times a day. Two to three drops of raw cucumber juice applied 3 to 4 times a day also helps soothe irritated, red eyes.

Herbal Conjunctivitis Eyewash

Mix one cup of Rosemary with ' cup of Thyme. Add four cups of water and boil for 15 minutes. Strain and cool. Use a cotton ball soaked in the solution to bathe the eyes and clean secretions every four to six hours or as needed.

Eye Ulcers

An ulcer in your dog's eye is usually called a corneal ulcer. A corneal ulcer is an abrasion to the top layer of tissue lining the cornea which is the clear part of the eye. Corneal Ulcers are the third most common eye problem in dogs. Many ulcers are caused by trauma from foreign objects like foxtails and seed hulls from grass and weeds that can lodge under the eyelid. Scratches resulting from rough play between new puppies and kittens are also a common cause. Occasionally, bathing and grooming can result in an ulcer. Applying an eye lubricant prior to bathing and grooming helps protect the eyes from shampoo and hair. Genetic conditions involving extra eyelashes (Ectopic cilia), inadequate tear production (Dry Eye), and rolled in eyelids (Entropion) also irritate the cornea and can result in ulcers. Certain breeds suffer more than others. Breeds with pushed-in noses, and those with big, round eyes that can't blink very well like Pekinese, Pugs and Shitzu's are predisposed. Blinking spread the tears over the cornea, which keeps it moist and helps prevent ulcer formation. These breeds tend to get dried-out eyes which are prone to ulcers. Squinting and tearing are common signs and occur because ulcers are quite painful. The eye contains more nerves than any other body part relative to its size which is why the pain is so severe.

What Your Vet Can Do

Diagnosis is confirmed by staining the eye with a dye that causes the ulcerated (abraded) corneal tissue to turn a greenish color. With proper treatment, most ulcers heal in three to five days. Medication generally consists of a topical lubricant and a topical antibiotic. Both are usually applied at four to six hour intervals. The eye is restained a few days later to be sure the ulcer has healed. Ulcers that do not heal promptly (within seven days) should immediately be referred to an eye specialist to prevent corneal perforation.

Complementary Treatments

Homeopathic Remedies

To relieve pain and inflammation of the eye, Aconitum napellus 30c (monkshood) may be helpful. Give the dog two whole or three crushed pellets. Allow no food for one hour before or one hour after the treatment. Wait 30 days, reassess the dog's condition, then repeat the treatment if necessary.

Cataracts

Cataracts are the second leading eye disease in dogs. A normal lens, which sits behind the pupil, is transparent and focuses incoming light on to the retina. The retina sends the image to the brain where vision is perceived. When the cells and protein of the lens begin to deteriorate, a cataract forms. The lens gets cloudy and light cannot be transmitted to the retina, so vision is impaired.

Signs Of Cataracts

Change in color of one or both eyes: milky white or bluish-gray.

Causes

The majority of cataracts are inherited. Juvenile cataracts are inherited and occur at a young age. Cocker spaniels, Poodles of all sizes, and Siberian Huskies are breeds commonly affected. There are dissolving types in which eye drops containing cortisone clear the lens and restore vision. Non-dissolving types of cataracts result in irreversible lens damage and blindness.

Geriatric' cataracts are part of aging. Diseases, primarily Diabetes, can result in cataract formation. Irritation of the eye due to trauma or infection rarely causes cataracts

What Your Vet Can Do

There are no medications effective to treat or prevent cataracts. Therapy requires surgical removal of the lens. The sooner the surgery is done, the better the chance for success. The procedure used is called phacoemulsification and involves a machine that emits high-frequency sound waves that destroy the lens. A suction device then removes the lens particles from the eye. An artificial lens, called an intraocular lens implant (IOL) replaces the old lens. The success rate is 90 to 95 percent and vision is quickly restored. The surgery takes approximately one hour per eye. Post operatively, discomfort is minimal and hospitalization is not required. Prior to surgery the vet will run an electroretinogram (ERF) to evaluate the function of the retina. Hereditary eye problems including Progressive Retinal Atrophy are also ruled out to ensure surgical success.

Warning: Responsible breeders should have all their dogs pass a CERF examination prior to breeding to ensure that their bloodlines are free of hereditary eye disorders. This exam can only be performed by Board Certified eye specialists and it detects several inherited eye problems including cataracts in very young puppies before any signs are apparent.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Progessive Retenal Atrophy is an inherited disease which causes degeneration of the retina and irreversible blindness. Most breeds, i.e. Beagles, Border Collies, and Borzoi are affected at 6 to 8 years of age. Cocker Spaniels, Irish Setters, and Akitas can be affected at 1 to 3 years of age. There is no treatment for any form of Retinal Degeneration but this disease can be detected with a CERF examination.

Complementary Treatments

Homeopathic Remedies

Conium maculatum 6c (poison hemlock) one pellet taken once daily for 30 days can be especially helpful when a cataract is due to injury. Either Silicea 30c or Phosphorus 30c work well in advanced cases. Give one tablet twice daily for three days, and then decrease the dose to one tablet given twice a week or every 3rd day.

Cherry Eye

Cherry Eye is defined as a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. The medical term is glandular hypertrophy. The term Dry Eye describes changes that occur in the eye resulting from a lack of tears. Vets call this 'KCS', which stands for keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Both conditions are fairly common in dogs.

In addition to the upper and lower eyelids, dogs and cats have a third eyelid that originates from the inside corner of the eye, the area closest to the nose. This third eyelid acts like a windshield wiper and helps protect the eye. In addition, it contains a gland that produces 30 to 60 percent of the tear film. The tears keep the clear front part of the eye called the cornea lubricated. Cherry Eye is the term used when this gland prolapses or pops out from the third eyelid.

The exact cause of Cherry Eye is somewhat controversial. Some experts believe it is a genetic condition because cocker spaniels, beagles, bulldogs, and Pekingese seem to be predisposed. But other breeds including bloodhounds, great Danes and basset hounds are also commonly affected. Whether or not trauma is also a cause is still a matter of debate between veterinary eye specialists.

In dogs with Cherry Eye the prolapsed gland is red and fleshy. It looks like a small cherry that suddenly pops up and protrudes from the corner of the eye. If one eye is affected, the other eye may or may not also be affected at a later date. Dogs with Cherry Eye are usually less than a year old. In addition to the redness and swelling, a clear or mucus discharge may also occur.

The best treatment for Cherry Eye is to surgically replace the gland back inside the third eyelid. That way the gland continues to produce 'tears" and the risk of Dry Eye and corneal ulceration are prevented. The prognosis for cases treated by replacing this gland is excellent.

Past treatments included surgical removal of the gland, this often lead to a lack of tear film production which resulted in Dry Eye. Ignoring the Cherry Eye is another option. Sometimes it goes away on its own in two to three weeks, other times it leads to further eye disease. The owner and vet need to discuss treatment options, which will vary depending on the breed, financial considerations, and the owner's personal wishes.

Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

Tears supply the cornea with oxygen and nutrients; therefore they are essential to keep the cornea healthy. If the cornea is deprived of oxygen and food because of a lack of tear film, destructive changes occur quickly, leading to a condition called Dry Eye. The cornea can become pigmented, scarred, and ulcerated. Partial vision loss can also result. The eyes of dogs with Dry Eye burn and sting all the time just like ours do on a windy day. Diagnosis is made by a tear test that measures how many tears the eye produces in one minute. In this case, low levels of tear production are detected.

Dry Eye can result from surgical removal of the gland of the 3rd eyelid in Cherry Eye cases. Other causes include low circulating levels of thyroid hormone as can occur in Thyroid Disease, tear gland infections caused by the Canine Distemper Virus, and Immune System Diseases like Cancer.

Topical antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat secondary bacterial infections of the eye and reduce corneal inflammation, respectively. Lubricating eye ointments help keep the cornea moist. The drug Cyclosporine effectively relieves signs for many dogs and often also causes an increase in actual tear production. Pilocarpine and the anti-cancer drug Interferon also effectively stimulate tear production in certain cases.

A surgical procedure called a Parotid Duct Transposition (PDT) is a worthwhile consideration for cases that do not respond to medication.

With consistent therapy, most cases of Dry Eye carry a good prognosis, but without treatment, recurrent corneal ulcers, bacterial infections, and even blindness can result.

Complementary Treatment

Homeopathic Remedy

Zincum metallicum 30c, given twice daily, may be helpful in cases of Dry Eye, especially when the treatment is used in conjunction with topical eye lubricants like artificial tears.