What is conjunctivitis in dogs?

by admin · November 4, 2021

Guest post by: tails.com

Conjunctivitis in dogs is an inflammation of the mucous membrane called the ‘conjunctiva’. It is the tissue that coats the eye and the lining of the eyelids. This acts as a protective barrier for infection and objects entering the eyeball. Conjunctivitis or common name ‘pink eye’ is the end result of the barrier becoming inflamed.

What are the symptoms of conjunctivitis in dogs?

Recognizing the common conjunctivitis symptoms early makes treatment easier and more effective. These symptoms are very similar to the symptoms we associate with conjunctivitis in humans, including;

Eye infection – cloudy, greenish or yellow discharge from the eye
Rubbing or pawing at their eyes
Squinting or blinking more excessively
Swelling around the eye
Inflammation of the eye
The whites of the eyes are red or pink

How do dogs get conjunctivitis?

There are a number of things that cause conjunctivitis in your pet and your vet will help to pinpoint it. The three main types of conjunctivitis include;

Allergic Conjunctivitis: An allergic reaction is seasonal. It is not contagious to other dogs.

Viral Conjunctivitis. Infections caused by a virus like canine herpes or canine distemper spread quickly. This normally causes green or yellow discharge from the eye.

Bacterial Conjunctivitis: Infections caused by bacteria can spread to other dogs easily. If your dog suffers from chronic bacterial eye infections , it’s likely there is an underlying condition.

Other potential causes include items dislodged in the eye, an injury, bites in the eye area, eye diseases and parasites.

Is conjunctivitis contagious in dogs?

In most cases it is not contagious in dogs. Wash your hands after treating your dog’s eye and keep the bedding and living area as clean as possible.

How do you treat conjunctivitis in dogs?

It’s important to seek advice from your vet as they will provide medication to help treat its symptoms. Treatments for conjunctivitis include eye drops, antibiotics, steroids, anti-inflammatories or antihistamines.

Prevention

There are certain things you can do to reduce the chance of your pup getting conjunctivitis. Keeping the fur around their eyes trimmed if you have a long-haired dog, is one of the most effective ways. Regular grooming will help by stopping things in their coat from ending up in their eyes.

Allowing dogs to hang their heads out of a moving car’s window can cause problems. The wind and flying objects including pollen, dust and bugs can irritate your pet’s eyes.

Ensuring your dog is up to date with all its routine vaccinations will help to protect them from viral infections.

How to administer eye drops

Putting anything in your pet’s eyes can be an unpleasant experience. There are steps that can be taken to make it more comfortable.

If you have a small dog, position them on the countertop with their rear pressed against you. This will help make the process easier for you and your dog. A large dog may be controlled by backing it into a wall and gently placing their head between your thighs.

Place your hand on the bottom of their chin and angle their head up. Use your right hand to apply the drops to your dog’s eye. You can use your thumb to pull the eyebrow to make the application easier.

If your dog is still struggling, use tools that distract him such as a licking matt.

This post was provided by tails.com, a pet food company located in the United Kingdom. We received no compensation for this post.