A discharge from a dog's eyes

Like humans, dogs are prone to various types of eye infections. Therefore, every pet owner should know what can cause eye discharge in dogs and how to treat it.

Causes of discharge from the dog's eyes

Most often, veterinarians associate the causes of eye discharge in dogs with ophthalmological problems, in particular:

• increased production of tear fluid due to pathology of the lacrimal or sebaceous (tarsal) glands of the eyelid margins;
• excessive lacrimation (epiphora) due to protrusion (prolapse) of the lacrimal glands of the nictitating membrane – the so-called third eyelid;
• congenital or acquired decrease in physiological patency of lacrimal (tear) points of the conjunctiva of the eyelids or their complete blockage, as well as obstruction of the nasolacrimal (tear-nasal) ducts, leading to disruption of drainage of the preocular tear film with its accumulation and flow onto the muzzle. In such cases, the owners notice discharge from the dog's eyes in the morning and say that its eyes are watery;
• trauma to the cornea by abnormally growing eyelashes (with trichiasis or districhiasis);
• inversion of the eyelids (ectropion).
• Also, symptoms of discharge from the eyes of a dog are manifested by:
• in cases of injury to any anatomical structures of the eyes and the ingress of foreign bodies, causing mucous discharge from the dog's eyes. In this case, the dog shows anxiety, whines, blinks frequently and rubs its eyes;
• when dust, smoke or gaseous substances get into the eyes, irritating the mucous membranes and often leading to an allergic reaction. In such situations, discharge from the dog's nose and eyes appears.

It should be borne in mind that simultaneous purulent discharge from the eyes and nose (with crusts along the edge of the nostrils) - against the background of fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing and coughing, vomiting and diarrhea - are considered symptoms of the respiratory form of distemper, that is, infection of the dog with the morbillivirus of the Paramyxoviridae family (safe for humans, but fatal for four-legged animals).

And that's not all. Veterinarians provide an impressive list of ophthalmological diseases of infectious etiology diagnosed in dogs: invasive parasitic (transmitted by ticks), microbial, viral (including damage or reactivation of the canine herpes virus CHV-1), fungal (Blastomyces, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus neoformans). For example, when the eyes are damaged by blastomycetes, their vascular membrane suffers with the development of chorioretinitis, and systemic aspergillosis can lead to purulent inflammation of the eye membranes - enophthalmitis, in which the destruction of the bone structures of the orbit occurs.

In addition to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyelids - conjunctivitis with redness of the eyes and lacrimation, white or purulent discharge from the eyes of a dog appears with inflamed lacrimal glands and lacrimal sac - dacryocystitis.

Such discharge, accompanied by hyperemia of the mucous membrane, intolerance to light, spasm of the eyelids, swelling of the cornea and paraocular tissues, are considered the first signs:

• inflammation of the eyelids and their glands (blepharitis) - anterior, posterior, angular;
• inflammation of the cornea of the eye (keratitis), often together with an inflammatory process of the conjunctiva in the form of keratoconjunctivitis;
• increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma);
• anterior uveitis (iridocyclitis) – inflammation of the vascular membrane of the iris and ciliary body.

In this case, the discharge may be colorless serous, but yellow and green discharge from the eyes of a dog can often be observed, as well as ichorous (putrefactive) - yellow-brown and brown discharge from the eyes, which is a sign of the bacterial nature of the disease.

When the inflammatory process affects the vascular membranes, as well as in glaucoma and retinal detachment - including due to blunt trauma to the eye - red or bloody discharge from the dog's eyes is noted, which indicates hyphema - hemorrhage in their anterior part.

Risk factors

Cynologists and veterinarians note the role of anatomical features of the nasolacrimal drainage system, in which excessive lacrimation - clear watery discharge from the eyes of a dog - is caused by its breed.

However, risk factors for the impact on the cornea, its dystrophy, the development of ophthalmological diseases and predisposition to them are initially present in certain morphological types of the facial part of the skull of dogs.

This applies to brachycephalic dogs, which have short (slightly flattened) muzzles and, accordingly, shorter nasal cavities and nasolacrimal ducts, as well as shallower eye sockets and narrowed infraorbital areas. Such breeds include Pekingese, Pugs, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, Japanese Chin, Boxers, English and French Bulldogs, Shar Pei, American Staffordshire Terriers. Likewise, dogs with long hair on the muzzle and head - Poodles, Black and Scottish Terriers, Bolognese - suffer from eye infections and irritations somewhat more often than other breeds.

Hypertrophy of the glands of the eyelid margins, as well as inflammation and prolapse of the lacrimal gland of the nictitating membrane (with cherry eye syndrome) can occur in young dogs of any breed, but these pathologies are especially common in American Cocker Spaniels, English Bulldogs, Pekingese and Lhasa Apso.

Complications and consequences

Any serious eye disease in dogs or anatomical abnormalities can have certain consequences and complications. For example, with obstruction of the lacrimal points of the conjunctiva of the eyelids or blockage of the lacrimal ducts, constant discharge from the eyes leads to chronic dermatitis.

Animals with chronic dacryocystitis develop fistulas, and the course of keratitis is complicated by ulceration of the cornea and its clouding, which can result in loss of vision. The same consequences occur with glaucoma.

Diagnostics of discharge from the dog's eyes

It is good if the diagnosis of discharge from the dog's eyes is carried out by a veterinary ophthalmologist in a hospital. But even when this is done by a therapist who specializes in the treatment of small pets, to make a diagnosis it is necessary:

• perform a visual examination of the eyelids and the front of the eyes with a focal light source (ophthalmoscopy);
• detect damage to the cornea by applying fluorescein dye to it;
• determine the volume of tear fluid secreted using a special Schirmer Tear Test;
• measure intraocular pressure (i.e. perform ophthalmotonometry);
• take samples of discharge from the eyes (and nose) for laboratory testing (bacterial culture) and to determine the nature of the infection;
• take a blood test for antibodies (immunoglobulins);
• conduct an ultrasound examination of the internal structures of the eyes;
• perform a contrast radiography of the nasolacrimal ducts of the facial part of the skull (dacryocystorhinography).

Differential diagnosis

Of course, if your pet has simple conjunctivitis or blepharitis, then an experienced specialist and the differential diagnostics he conducts will quickly establish this without ultrasound or X-ray.

Treatment of discharge from the dog's eyes

Veterinarians do not prescribe treatment for eye discharge in dogs, but therapy for the underlying disease that causes this symptom. In many cases, eye drops or ointments are needed.

Essential veterinary eye drops:

• Ciprovet (other trade name: Tsiflodex) – with a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic, ciprofloxacin. The standard method of application is to instill the drug behind the conjunctiva – one or two drops three times a day, the course of treatment lasts for 7-14 days;
• ZooHealth – ciprofloxacin in combination with the synthetic glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone;
• Gentaline (Dekta-2, Iris) – contains the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin;
• Levomican – based on the antibiotic chloramphenicol;
• Bars – chloramphenicol + antiseptic furatsilin;
• Barrier – corticosteroid dexamethasone + ammonium antiseptic decamethoxin;

Also, for conjunctivitis, blepharitis and keratitis, 1% oxytetracycline eye ointment is prescribed.

If glaucoma is diagnosed in a dog, Pilocarpine drops (instilled up to three times a day), Brinzolamide (Brinsopt), Timolol, etc. are used. Drugs for the treatment of uveitis include corticoid eye drops containing dexamethasone or prednisolone. Oral steroids may also be prescribed.

In cases of nasolacrimal duct obstruction and persistent lacrimation, treatment consists of surgical opening of the duct, with maintenance of patency by catheterization for several weeks of healing.

Surgical intervention cannot be avoided in the case of protrusion of the lacrimal gland of the nictitating membrane and cherry eye syndrome, as well as in advanced glaucoma, keratoconjunctivitis and ulcers of the cornea of the eye.

Prevention

What is the prevention of eye discharge in dogs? Obviously, it is the prevention of eye injuries and infectious eye diseases.

Experts advise:

• regularly inspect the dog's eyes and remove any exudate with warm saline solution to prevent crusting;
• trim the hair around the eyes so that it does not irritate the cornea;
• close the window if you have a dog in the car with you;
• do not allow the animal to swim in dirty water bodies or wet its muzzle in puddles;
• choose fortified food to support your pet's natural immunity;
• Vaccination against distemper (carnivore plague) should be carried out annually.

Forecast

There are many factors that determine the prognosis of ophthalmologic problems in dogs that involve eye discharge.

Timely detection of pathology or disease, proper treatment and care lead to complete recovery. But there are diseases that, unfortunately, lead to blindness in dogs.