A discharge from a dog's eyes

Just like humans, dogs are prone to different types of eye infections. Therefore, every pet owner should know what can cause eye discharge in a dog and how it is treated.

Causes of the discharge from the dog's eyes

The most common causes of eye discharge in dogs are attributed by veterinarians to ophthalmologic problems, specifically:

• increased formation of lacrimal fluid due to pathology of the lacrimal or sebaceous (tarsal) glands of the eyelid margins;
• excessive lacrimation (epiphora) with protrusion (prolapse) of the lacrimal glands of the blinking membrane - the so-called third eyelid;
• congenital or acquired decrease in the physiologic patency of the lacrimal (lacrimal) points of the eyelid conjunctiva or their complete blockage, as well as obstruction of the nasolacrimal (lacrimal-nasal) ducts, leading to impaired drainage of the preocular lacrimal film with its accumulation and oozing onto the face. In such cases, owners will notice a discharge from the dog's eyes in the morning and say that the dog has watery eyes;
• traumatization of the cornea by abnormally growing eyelashes (in trichiasis or distichiasis);
• eyelid droop (ectropion).
• There are also symptoms of discharge from your dog's eyes:
• in cases of trauma to any anatomical structures of the eyes and ingestion of foreign bodies that cause mucous discharge from the dog's eyes. The dog is restless, whines, blinks and rubs his eyes frequently;
• Dust, smoke or gaseous substances that irritate the mucous membranes and often lead to an allergic reaction. In such situations, discharge from the nose and eyes of the dog 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 a background of fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing and coughing, vomiting and diarrhea - are attributed to the symptoms of the respiratory form of distemper, i.e. Infection of the dog with morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae (safe for humans, but lethal for quadrupeds).

And that's not all. Veterinarians give an impressive list of ophthalmologic diseases diagnosed in dogs of infectious etiology: invasive parasitic (carried by ticks), microbial, viral (including lesions or reactivation of canine herpesvirus CHV-1), fungal (Blastomyces, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus neoformans). For example, when the eyes are affected by Blastomyces blastomycetes, their vasculature suffers with the development of chorioretinitis, and systemic aspergillosis can lead to purulent inflammation of the eye membranes - enophthalmitis, in which there is destruction of the bony structures of the orbit.

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

Such discharge accompanied by mucosal hyperemia, light intolerance, eyelid spasm, swelling of the cornea and paraeocular tissues are considered as the first signs:

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

In this case, the discharge can be colorless serous, but often you can observe yellow and green discharge from the eyes of the dog, as well as ichorosis (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 - also due to blunt trauma to the eye - red or bloody discharge from the eyes of the dog is noted, which indicates hyphema - hemorrhage in their front part.

Risk factors

Canines and veterinarians note the role of anatomical features of the nasolacrimal drainage system, in which excessive lacrimation - clear watery discharge from a dog's eyes - is due to its breed.

But risk factors for corneal exposure, corneal dystrophy, development of ophthalmologic diseases, and predisposition to them are inherently present in certain morphologic types of the facial skull of dogs.

This applies to brachiocephalic dogs, which have short (slightly flattened) muzzles and, consequently, shorter nasal cavities and lacrimal-nasal ducts, as well as shallower eye orbits and narrower suborbital areas. Such breeds include Pekingese, Pugs, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, Japanese Hines, Boxers, English and French Bulldogs, Sharpeys, and American Staffordshire Terriers. In the same way, dogs with long hair on the face and head - poodles, black and Scottish terriers, and bolognas - suffer from eye infections and irritations somewhat more often than other breeds.

Hypertrophy of the eyelid margin glands and inflammation and prolapse of the lacrimal gland of the blinking 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 dog eye disease or anatomical abnormality can have certain consequences and complications. For example, if the lacrimal points of the eyelid conjunctiva are obstructed or the lacrimal nasal ducts are blocked, constant discharge from the eyes will lead 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 may result in loss of vision. The same consequences occur in glaucoma.

Diagnostics of the discharge from the dog's eyes

It is good if the hospital diagnoses the discharge from the dog's eyes by a veterinary ophthalmologist. But even when it is done by a general practitioner who specializes in treating small pets, it is necessary to make a diagnosis:

• perform a visual examination of the eyelids and the front of the eyes with a focal light source (ophthalmoscopy);
• detect corneal damage by applying fluorescein dye to the cornea;
• determine the volume of lacrimal fluid secretion using a special Schirmer Tear Test (Schirmer Tear Test);
• Measure intraocular pressure (i.e., ophthalmotonometry);
• Take samples of eye (and nose) discharge for laboratory testing (bacterial culture) to determine the nature of the infection;
• take a blood test for antibodies (immunoglobulins);
• to perform an ultrasound examination of the internal structures of the eye;
• make 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, an experienced specialist and their differential diagnosis will quickly establish this without ultrasound or x-rays.

Treatment of the discharge from the dog's eyes

Veterinarians do not prescribe treatment of discharge from the eyes of the dog, but therapy of the underlying disease in which this symptom is present. In many cases, eye drops or ointments are needed.

Essential Veterinary Eye Drops:

• Ciprovet (other trade name Ciflodex) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial action ciprofloxacin. The standard method of use consists of injecting the drug behind the conjunctiva - one two drops three times a day, the course of treatment lasts for 7-14 days;
• ZooHealth is ciprofloxacin combined with the synthetic glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone;
• Gentalayne (Dekta-2, Iris) - contains the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin;
• Levomycan is based on the antibiotic levomycetin;
• Bars - levomycetin + antiseptic furacilin;
• The barrier is the corticosteroid dexamethasone +ammonium antiseptic decamethoxin;

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

If the dog is diagnosed with glaucoma, Pilocarpine drops (injected up to three times during the day), Brinzolamide (Brinzopt), Timolol, etc. Are used. Medications for 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 its surgical opening - with patency maintained by catheterization during the weeks of healing.

Surgical intervention cannot be avoided for lacrimal gland bulging of the blinking membrane and cherry eye syndrome, as well as for advanced glaucoma, keratoconjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.

Prevention

What is the prevention of eye discharge in dogs? Obviously, preventing eye injuries and eye infections.

Experts advise:

• Inspect the dog's eyes regularly and remove exudate with warm saline solution to prevent crusting;
• shorten the hair around the eyes so it doesn't irritate the cornea;
• Close the window if you have a dog in the car with you;
• do not let the animal bathe in dirty water bodies or wet its face in puddles;
• choose a vitaminized food to support your pet's natural immunity;
• Vaccination against distemper (plague of carnivores) should be carried out annually.

Forecast

Many factors contribute to the prognosis of an ophthalmologic problem in dogs accompanied by ocular discharge.

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