Eye problems in dogs and cats may have many causes.
Eye infections are only one of the potential problems which dogs and cats can experience involving their eyes. Eye problems are one of the most common reasons pets visit their veterinarians.
Symptoms of eye infections and other eye problems in pets
Symptoms of eye problems will vary depending on the cause of the ocular disease. Commonly seen symptoms include:
- squinting
- rubbing or pawing at the eyes
- ocular discharge
- swollen eyelids
- reddened eyes
Causes of eye diseases in dogs and cats
There are many different types of eye diseases which can affect dogs and cats. Some of the more commonly encountered ocular problems are:
- viral infections causing conjunctivitis, such as the feline herpesvirus infection
- allergies
- foreign bodies
- eyelid defects, such as entropion (rolling of the eyelids) and distichia (extra abnormally placed eyelashes)
- cherry eye (a prolapse of the gland which is located on the inner surface of the third eyelid)
- glaucoma
- keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS, more commonly known as "dry eye disease")
Treatment of canine and feline ocular diseases
Specific treatments of eye diseases in pets must be determined based on the cause of the disease. This will likely require examination by a veterinarian. Pet owners may attempt to rinse the pet's eye with sterile irrigating solutions for eyes and can keep discharges from building up around the eyes by cleaning with warm water and cotton. However, ocular problems which persist should be examined by a veterinarian. Pets which seem particularly painful as a result of eye disease should visit their veterinarian as soon as possible. It should be noted that eye diseases can range from mild to severe and, in some circumstances, eyesight may be endangered by delaying a veterinary examination and proper treatment.
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The copyright of the article Pet health 101: Eye infections and other ocular problems in dogs and cats is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Pet health 101: Eye infections and other ocular problems in dogs and cats in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Photo Credit: Morguefile.com/Nesstor4u2
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nice dogs
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