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Understanding the symptoms of an animal's eye problem and what the symptoms indicate is key to avoiding vision damage and blindness.
A seemingly minor eye problem can quickly lead to permanent damage and blindness, so understanding what common symptoms – discharge, squinting, redness – indicate will help pet owners act appropriately when an issue arises. How Injury and Infection OccursThe eye is a delicate and fragile structure that’s prone to injury through everyday activities: a rock could bounce up and strike a pet’s eye while riding in the car; sand may blow into the eyes while outside; a branch may strike the eye during a hike; hay can poke the eye while in the barn; woodchips can injure a small animal while inside its cage; and another pet can injure the eye during play or a fight. Infection is another common eye ailment. It can occur when bacteria makes its way into the eye from surrounding skin and fur. Airborne bacteria can find its way into the eye from infected mucus that becomes airborne due to a cough or sneeze. And bacteria can also be introduced when an object comes in contact with the eye, so whenever injury occurs, infection is always a possibility. Disease can also affect vision. Some conditions, like cataracts and entropion (which occurs with the eyelashes grow inwards) are hereditary, while others occur spontaneously, like glaucoma. The key to spotting an abnormality is to understand how a pet’s eyes normally appear. “Pet owners need to be familiar with how their pet normally looks and acts, whether it’s the eyes or another body part – if you know what ‘normal’ is, it will be easy to detect an abnormality. I recommend examining your pet once a week, and after activities like walks, car rides, hikes and play,” explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM. The Symptoms of a ProblemEye ailments can be signaled by an array of symptoms, including the following:
In addition, eye ailments are often associated with certain behaviors, including pawing and rubbing at the eye, rubbing the face on objects such as a carpet or pillow. A pet who suddenly begins bumping into objects may also be suffering from a serious eye ailment. In the event of eye irritation, debris in the eye, or if a chemical comes in contact with the eyes, flushing is required. Sterile buffered saline is ideal for flushing, but in its absence, flushing can be performed in the sink or shower. Flushing for a period of 90 seconds with luke warm water is typically sufficient. In the case of an infection, flushing can temporarily lessen some of the irritation that can occur due to discharge. Flushing the eye is not a substitute for antibiotics or other medical treatments, but in some cases it can lessen irritation and prevent further damage from occurring, particularly in a case where debris has come in contact with the eye.
The copyright of the article Pet Eye Ailments in Pet Care is owned by Mia Carter. Permission to republish Pet Eye Ailments in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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