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| INDEX OF ARTICLES | WAITING ROOM | EXAM ROOM | SURGERY ROOM | X-RAY ROOM | GENERAL TOPICS | IMPORTANT TOPICS | LAB and PHARMACY | PET PHOTOS | PET SUPPLIES | PET PHARMACY |
EYE PROBLEMS IN DOGS… DON’T BE
FOOLED
by T. J. Dunn, Jr. DVM
This article appeared in Dog World Magazine
Almost daily every animal hospital receives a
call about canine eye problems; and the diversity of concern expressed by the
dog’s caretaker runs a wide spectrum. There are times when veterinarians will
check a frantic and anxious client’s dog only to discover an insignificant
soreness in the dog’s supporting tissues around the eye (called conjunctiva).
The very next “eye case” may be an advanced corneal ulcer that has allowed
internal contents of the eye to actually protrude through the corneal surface!
And that client might calmly state, “It’s been like that for two weeks but we
though it would clear up”.
Fortunately in most veterinary practices the entire staff has been directed to
prioritize all calls that express concern about a potential ocular difficulty.
The reason for expediting the evaluation of any case relating to eye
difficulties is that there is no way for verbal description to convey the true
nature or severity of the problem. Seemingly innocent conditions can fool you…
and result in an ocular emergency rather rapidly. These cases simply must be
seen right away.
Let’s take the “squinting dog” as an example. Surely any dog might develop a
mild irritation in an eye and squint for a few moments, and extra tear
production would be expected, too. But without direct examination of the eye and
attendant structures, no one (not even a Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology)
would know if the squinting is due to a tiny scratch on the cornea, a cinder
hiding beneath the third eyelid or a penetrating wound from a carelessly aimed
BB gun! And one of the very first signs of systemic diseases such as
Blastomycosis or cancer could be an innocent looking squint.
I asked a Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology, Deborah S. Friedman, D.V.M.,
of Animal Eye Care, in Fremont, California what the most common eye condition
might be that could potentially fool the dog’s caretaker into delaying an eye
exam. Her reply was… “Glaucoma comes immediately to mind. In many cases owners
delay treatment of glaucoma until it is far too late. If the intraocular
pressure in the eye is elevated for more than 24-48 hours, permanent damage is
the usual outcome and this usually means blindness and sometimes loss of the
eye. Signs of glaucoma can be very subtle at first and could include a dilated
pupil that responds poorly or not at all to light, a cloudy cornea, a red
appearance to the eye, and poor vision. Glaucoma can be dangerous because many
of the signs of glaucoma are similar to simple conjunctivitis.”
A good general rule for all dog owners to follow is to have any eye or adjacent
tissue dysfunction evaluated by a veterinarian without delay. As Friedman states
“In my opinion, any injury to the eye (from cat fight, thorn, foxtail, BB gun,
caustic substance etc.) should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian
immediately (within 12 hours if possible). With eye injuries, the sooner the
specific problems are identified and treated the better the chance of saving eye
function”.
During routine physical exams internal disorders are often first recognized by
subtle changes in the normal appearance of eye structures. A yellowish
appearance of the normally white sclera, undetected by the pet ‘s caretaker,
signals to the veterinarian that there is likely to be a liver or red blood cell
dysfunction. And a faint haziness in the normally transparent cornea can prompt
the need to evaluate liver or pancreas function. Tumors of any of the eye
structures can occur and need to be addressed at the earliest possible time in
their development.
Puppies and Eye Disorders
If you are about to acquire a new pup be sure to become informed about common
eye disorders for the breed of interest. For example, Friedman states “Cocker
Spaniels frequently develop dry eye (see photo: Dry Eye) and glaucoma. Bichon
Frise, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, and Boston Terriers among other breeds often
develop cataracts (see photo: Cataracts). If a potential owner is aware that the
breed they are interested in has inherited eye problems the buyer can educate
themselves about what to look for.” The more you know about your preferred breed
the better your chances of obtaining a healthy dog. One commonly seen condition
in pups, called entropion, is readily seen upon close inspection. This rolling
inward of an eyelid will surely require surgery to eliminate the corrosive
action of the lid hairs on the cornea; and potentially the condition could be
passed on to any future offspring.
Patricia J. Smith, MS, D.V.M., Ph. D., Diplomate, American College of Veterinary
Ophthalmologists and a colleague of Dr. Friedman at Animal Eye Care lists some
common ocular problems in puppies. Become familiar with these disorders and be
prepared to closely scrutinize any new pup for signs of these common
difficulties:
Common Ocular Disorders In Puppies
1.Entropion… inward folding of an eyelid where lid hairs contact the cornea (Shar
Pei, Cocker Spaniel, Rottweiler, Labrador Retriever, etc.)
2. Cherry Eye… prolapsed gland of the third eyelid. (Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels,
Poodles, etc.) (See photo: Cherry Eye)
3. Ectopic Cilia… an abnormal eyelash that grows through the conjunctiva and is
usually very painful and almost always causes an ulcer. (See Photo: Corneal
Ulcer)
4. Distichiasis… abnormal position of eyelashes on a lid margin that result in
irritation of the eye.
5. Dermoid…congenital defect where haired skin is located in an abnormal place
on an eye and will often irritate the cornea and can cause ulcers.
6. Cataracts… opacity of the lens. Inherited cataracts can often appear in young
dogs, in most cases a veterinarian or veterinary ophthalmologist will have to
make this diagnosis; owners are often unaware of small focal cataracts. There
are also late onset cataracts that may not show up until middle or older age.
7. Follicular Conjunctivitis… itchy, reddened conjunctival tissues, tearing,
squinting, often related to allergies.
8. Puppy Pyoderma or Puppy Strangles… eyelid abscesses associated with
generalized skin pustules.
9. Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitis sicca or KCS)… lack of or inadequate production
of tears. Sometimes this can be congenital in which case it is often very
serious. Pug, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu are some of the breeds that may be born with
dry eyes.
When you visit a breeder and evaluate pups for purchase it is best to do a
careful and critical evaluation of any pup’s eyes before you make that purchase
decision. Bring a penlight along and shine it directly into and at an angle to
each eye. There should be no specks in the cornea, the pupil should be dark, the
iris should constrict when the light enters the eye, and there should be no tiny
stray eyelashes directed from the lids toward the cornea (Distichiasis).
As Friedman says “Conditions that the owner may think are trivial, may in fact
be the early stages of something more serious. Often dogs are stoic and do not
exhibit blatant signs of pain.” So don’t be fooled by subtle eye problems… they
may not be so innocent after all. Do a thorough inspection of any new pup’s eyes
and associated structures before you decide to make it a part of your “family”
or breeding stock. And in any dog, if ordinary first aid provides no improvement
in eye discomfort within 12 hours, be sure to obtain a veterinarian’s
evaluation.
Common Home Remedies Suggested by Dr. Smith…
Ordinary Eye Wash (Sterile Buffered Saline) is proper to use in a dog’s eye to
clean the eye but it will not be helpful for an inflamed, sore eye. For a red,
sore eye seek veterinary attention immediately. Visine should not be used. It is
not therapeutic; it merely makes the eyes less red for a short time. It can be
potentially harmful in some conditions. Artificial tear drops or ointments are
usually not harmful and may be soothing for some dry eye conditions, but advice
of a veterinarian is urged in any case.
CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) is a foundation that certifies dogs to be free of inherited eye problems. A reputable breeder would have both the sire and dam “CERFed” before every breeding. CERF certification numbers are only good for one year since there are many late-onset diseases such as retinal atrophy and cataracts. If someone is buying a purebred dog of a breed with inherited eye problems, they should ask to see the CERF number and examination forms. Genetic testing is available for several of the inherited and blinding retinal atrophies. Some breeders may have this genetic information about their line if they have had the dogs DNA tested.
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Veterinary attention should be sought red eye View information about Specialists in Veterinary Ophthalmology |
Severe eye trouble! Click on the image to see this panophthalmitis photo up close. This patient did well after surgery and medication. |
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