Canine Conjunctivitis
How To Diagnose Canine Conjunctivitis
Pink eye or canine conjunctivitis can be a very uncomfortable medical condition in dogs. When our pets become ill they are unable to tell us what is wrong. There are many different things to look at when trying to decipher what may be bothering your dog. But if you go over the symptoms of canine conjunctivitis it becomes easier to diagnose.
Sometimes foreign objects like an eyelash or small insect can make a dog’s eye swollen and red. But the symptoms of canine conjunctivitis are more pronounced and these symptoms last for more than a few days. Depending on the severity of the condition, the dog’s eyes may become extremely swollen and red and my also produce a puss like discharge. It is normal for a dog to have a bit of crusting or slight discharge around the eye area. This can be due to a foreign object and not pink eye. If a dog has this type of infection its eyes may become so swollen, that they may not be able to fully open them and the amount of discharge will be more heavy than usual. The dog may also make attempts to wipe the eye area and the dog’s eyes may become light sensitive. So it is safe to say that if your dog has these types of problems for more than a few days, he has canine conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis affects both humans and animals. The conjunctiva is a membrane that surrounds the eye. It helps to hold the eyes in place and it also shields the eye. It is responsible for keeping moisture in the eye and an overproduction of tears can indicate a problem. This is the eyes natural way to wash out or remove the bacteria or a foreign object. This condition is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
If canine conjunctivitis is not taken care of quickly it can cause permanent damage to the dog and this damage may be life threatening. The mucus membranes in the eye will eventually become clogged with bacteria and the dog’s eyes will no longer have the ability to produce tears. At this point, every time the dog tries to blink it can become painful and cause damage to the eye.
An untreated case of pink eye can weaken the immune system and it can also cause a perforated cornea. This means that the infection can spread from the membrane to the eye area and causes eventual holes and scarring of the eye. The dog’s vision could be affected and it can even cause blindness. When the pink eye gets this bad, it is extremely painful for the dog.
To affectively treat this condition it is recommended that you rinse the dog’s eyes out with slightly warm water. You can also wipe the any discharge from the dog’s eye with a soft tissue. Do not continuously wipe the eye area because this can make the symptoms worsen. If there is a foreign object that is clearly seen in the eye, do not try to remove it yourself. You must take the dog to a veterinarian, so that he can remove it safely.
There are many remedies for dogs with canine conjunctivitis. Most of which only treat the symptoms and not the illness. They are very good for viral infected eyes but if the pink eye is from bacteria, you will also need antibiotics to fully cure the dog. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell if the eye problem your dog is experiencing is bacterial or viral. So if your dog is showing canine conjunctivitis symptoms, it is a good idea to take him to the vet immediately.