Eye problems in dogs are just as common and can be just as devastating as they are in any other animal, people included. If a beloved pet looses their eye sight, life changing events can occur for the pet and for the pet’s family. The pet will face the rest of it’s life being without it’s sight, making it even more dependent on it’s other senses, such as hearing and smelling, but it will also be more dependent on the human beings in it’s life. This dependency is one of the considerations that has to be carefully thought out by the family when faced with the decision to put the dog down or to continue caring for it. This may not be an easy decision but is definitely a decision that takes a lot of thinking and weighing the options to make the correct choice for the dog and for the family.
There are several eye problems in dogs, most of which are preventable or at least treatable. The most common eye problems in dogs are cataracts, corneal ulcers, infections or inflammation, in-growing eyelids, injury and irritation. Other eye problems in dogs are pink eye or conjuctivitis, canine cherry eye, distichiasis, progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, goniadysgenesis, herpes, dry eye, pannus, detached retina, retinal degeneration and sudden retinal degeneration.
Symptoms of eye problems in dogs that owners need to be aware of are bulging eyes, cloudy eyes, a dog that will avoid lights, a discharge coming from the eye or in the eye or the dog may close it’s eyes more than usual. Other symptoms of eye problems in dogs are redness in the dog’s eyes and the dog may rub it’s eye and/or face on the floor or ground.
Some of these eye problems can be prevented. This prevention includes changing the dog’s diet and adding supplements. The changes to the diet are the addition of green leafy vegetables as well as parsley, carrots and dry berries that are purple or blue and sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Supplements to be considered adding to the diet to prevent eye problems in dogs are zinc, pycnogenois, bioflavonoids and vitamins A, C and D.
Eye problems in dogs can be detrimental at first anyway. The thing to remember is that eye problems may be life changing for both the dog and for the people who are responsible for caring for it, but the condition itself is not life threatening, unless the people decide to go that route. Dogs who have lost their sight have gone on to live happy, long lives with their caretakers, all with just a few adjustments, such as keeping items, such as food and water bowls and their beds in familiar locations. With lots of love and patience, the trauma of this condition can positively be overcome.
