Dog Eye Infections - Four Common Canine Eye Infections

     Like us, there are many things that can go wrong with your dog's eyes. Some of the most common dog eye infections include conjunctivitis, uveitis, and scleritis. Treatment can be as simple as application of eye drops, or as serious as emergency surgery. This article will take a look a some of the most common canine eye infections.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is a condition that occurs when the mucous membranes of the eye become inflamed. You may know of this condition as "pink eye", as it occurs commonly in humans too. Conjunctivitis in dogs is usually the result of a viral or bacterial infection. However, allergies and ticks can also be causes. Your dog will have a yellow or clear discharge coming from his eyes. You will need to keep the area around the eyes clean and give him the prescribed medication.

Uveitis

One of the next common dog eye infections is uveitis, a condition which can have lasting negative effects on vision. It is characterized by the inflammation of the uveal tract, which surrounds most of the eye. Dogs with uveitis show symptoms such as light sensitivity, excessive tear production, and eyelid spasms. Uveitis can be secondary to other diseases affecting your dog. Eye ointment or oral medications will help reduce inflammation and pain. In some cases, antibiotics or anti-fungal medications may be prescribed. In severe cases, the eye will have to be removed surgically.

Scleritis

Scleritis is also one of the common canine eye infections. This disease causes inflammation of the sclera, the white outer coating that enclosed the eyeball. It usually affects only one eye at a time. Most cases of scleritis occur because of a disease caused by parasites such as Lyme disease or toxoplasmosis. Dogs with scleritis are usually given steroids to treat the condition.

Cherry Eye

One of the final common dog eye infections is cherry eye. This condition results when the gland of the third eyelid protrudes and proceeds to become inflamed. It is usually a problem with younger dogs. In order to treat cherry eye, the gland will have to be replaced surgically.