Why are my dogs eyes red? As a pet owner, I get really worried and anxious when I notice my dogs' eyes red. Dogs' eyes, for them, are like window to explore the world and bridge for them to communicate with us emotionally. Once something goes wrong with this window, I am always worried about whether it will affect their vision, and even more so, I am afraid that it will cause other health problems.
So why on earth do my dogs have red eyes? I was well aware that there could be a number of possibilities hidden behind this question. So, I decided to delve deeper and explore the various possible cause, symptom, type of dog eyes that turn red, and what to do to find the most appropriate treatment for them.
I hope that, by sharing what I've learned, I can help more pet owners who, like me, love their dog dearly. Let's all, together, take care of our dogs' health.
What are the symptoms that can occur when a dog's eyes turn red?
When you notice that your dog's eyes, which were clear and bright, have suddenly turned red, you must feel both anxious and distressed. Why are my dogs eyes red? As its closest guardian, knowing exactly what these symptoms look like can help you determine the situation and take action more quickly.
First and foremost, the most obvious is a change in eye color. Imagine that normally you see your dog's eyes in black and white, so clear that it's as if you can see right into his mind. But now, the line between that black and white has become blurred, and the entire eyeball seems to be shrouded in a faint reddish haze, making you want to touch it to see if it's uncomfortable somewhere.
Next, you may notice that tears begin to flow frequently from the corners of its eyes, sometimes even forming two distinct tear tracks hanging on its cheeks. Those tears, some of which are clear, while others may have yellow, green or purulent discharge, look dirty and distressing.
Look more closely and you'll notice that your dog's eyelids also seem to be swollen more than usual, as if they've been stung by a bee. Sometimes, the swelling gets so bad that the eyes will even be half-open and half-closed, looking like it's not awake, but in reality, it may be having trouble opening them fully because of the eye discomfort.
And yeah, have you noticed that it's especially afraid of light now? In the past, when the sun was shining brightly, it was always excited to run around and enjoy the sunshine. But now, as long as the light is a little bit stronger, it will immediately turn its head away and even hide in your arms for comfort. This is because the eye discomfort has made him extremely sensitive to light.
Lastly, and most heartbreaking for you, it may start scratching its eyes with its paws more frequently. You know what? That helplessness and pain are all written in its movements. Each scratch is like a silent statement of its discomfort and suffering. You, as its most trusted person, must give it enough love and care at this time.
What are the conditions that cause a dog's eyes to be red?
Why are my dogs eyes red? Dog eyes turning red is not a single condition. It is an outward manifestation of multiple eye problem . Depending on the location and nature of the lesion, we can categorize them into the following type.
Scleral congestion: tips for coping with reddened dog eyes
As a pooper scooper who loves your dog dearly, have you ever noticed the occasional red coloration in your dog's bright eyes? That's right, that's scleral hemorrhage, a sign that may indicate a minor health condition in your dog's eyes.
First, it's important to understand what the sclera is. It's the “white armor” of your dog's eyeballs that not only protects the delicate parts inside, but also gives the eye its clarity and brightness. But sometimes, for various reasons, this “white armor” can turn red, like a red alert.
Why does it become bloodshot? There are many reasons:
- Infections: Bacteria and viruses are bad guys that always look for a chance to sneak into your dog's eyes and make trouble. When they come, the eyes have to be inflamed, and the blood vessels on the sclera follow the “excitement” and become red.
- Allergies: Dogs also have allergies, such as allergies to pollen, dust mites, certain foods or drugs. This allergy, the eyes suffered, redness, swelling, itching all came.
- stimulation constantly: small stones, dust, these uninvited guests, or the dog's own accidentally rubbing the eyes, bumped into, may make the eyes stimulated, the blood vessels are agitated, it is congested.
- Eye Diseases: Conjunctivitis and keratitis, eye diseases, are also common causes of scleral congestion. They are often accompanied by symptoms such as tearing and increased discharge.
- Reflections of Systemic Diseases: High blood pressure, kidney disease, and other systemic diseases that sound like a headache, can sometimes alert us through the symptom of scleral congestion.
What should we do if our dog's sclera is congested?
- Prompt medical treatment: Once you find your dog's sclera is congested, don't hesitate to take it to the veterinarian. Professional examination can only find the root cause of the problem.
- Eye cleaning: During treatment, it is vital to keep your dog's eyes clean. Use warm water or saline to gently wipe around the eyes, but remember not to directly rinse the eyeballs.
- Use medication as prescribed: Your veterinarian will prescribe topical medications, such as eye drops, that are appropriate for your dog's specific condition. Remember to give your dog the right amount on time to help it recover quickly.
- Avoid irritation: During this time, don't let your dog come into contact with anything that may irritate the eyes, such as irritating eye washes or cosmetics.
- Keep up with nutrition: A balanced diet is also important for your dog's recovery. Provide it with enough nutrients to help strengthen its immunity and promote the repair of eye tissues.
When supplementing remember to keep him well hydrated at the same time.PUPPHUB's The Zero Splash Ultra has a maximum capacity of up to 3 liters/101oz.This eliminates the need for constant hydration. Perfect for small, medium and large dogs and multi-pet households. Keeps your pet hydrated throughout the day. Secondly it also has a purification filter that captures impurities in the water, keeping it cleaner for longer.
Conjunctival congestion: a deeper look at the red color of a dog's eyes
As super fans of dogs, we all want to see their big bright eyes all the time. But sometimes, when we look closely, we may find that the conjunctiva of our dog's eyes, which was originally as clear as crystal, suddenly turns bright red or crimson, which is called conjunctival congestion! This is conjunctival congestion! When you see this scene, your heart will surely thump, worrying whether your dog is not feeling well.
Conjunctival congestion, why does it happen?
- l infection to make trouble: bacteria, viruses, these little bad guys, always like to take advantage of the situation. They can slip in through places like contaminants that your dog comes in contact with, slits in injured eyes, etc., and then throw a party in the conjunctiva, triggering inflammation. This causes the blood vessels in the conjunctiva to dilate with excitement, blood rushes in, and the eye becomes red! Conjunctivitis is the most common of these infections, and in addition to the redness, it can also make your dog's eyes watery and full of poop.
- Allergy Tidbits: Dogs have allergies, just like we are allergic to pollen and dust mites. When they are allergic to certain things, their eyes react and conjunctival congestion is one of the signs. At this time, dogs may also feel that their eyes are itchy and always want to scratch.
- irritation comes: sometimes, small stones, dust and these uninvited guests will slip into the dog's eyes, or the dog accidentally bumped into something, will make the conjunctiva stimulated, the blood vessels will be congested when agitated. And ah, the dog himself rubbing the eyes may also rub out the problem.
- Eye Diseases at Work: In addition to conjunctivitis, keratitis, glaucoma, uveitis, and these eye diseases can also make the conjunctiva congested. These diseases are often accompanied by other uncomfortable symptoms and need to be seen by a doctor urgently.
- Ocular Signals of Systemic Diseases: High blood pressure, kidney disease, all of which sound worrying, can sometimes tell us through the signal of conjunctival congestion. So, when you see your dog's eyes red, you really can't take it lightly!
The dog conjunctiva congestion, what should we do?
- rush to see a doctor: once you find your dog's conjunctiva congestion, don't hesitate to take it to the veterinarian! The doctor will ask the dog in detail, give it a full body examination, and find out the cause of the congestion.
- Keeping the eyes clean: During the treatment, we have to keep the eyes of the dog clean. Use warm water or saline to gently wipe around the eyes, but remember not to flush the eyeballs directly!
- Use medication as prescribed: Your veterinarian will prescribe medication for your dog's condition, which may be eye drops or oral medication. We have to give it to the dog on time and in the right amount so that he can get well soon.
- Avoid irritation: this is the time to stop using those irritating eye washes for your dog, so as not to aggravate its discomfort.
- Nutrition to keep up: it is also important to provide your dog with a balanced diet! This will help it strengthen its immunity and get its eyes back to health quickly.
Subconjunctival bleeding
Subconjunctival hemorrhage is a red light for your dog's eye health. The originally transparent, silky conjunctiva suddenly reveals a shocking red patch, like a mist in the morning that has been tinted with blood by the setting sun. These plaques were of different sizes and shapes, some were as sinuous as fine silk, some were as diffuse as clouds, they lay quietly on the surface of the eyeball, silently telling the story of the depths of the dog's eye. These red patches are actually the result of blood infiltrating and pooling between the conjunctiva and the eyeball after a subconjunctival blood vessel ruptures. They not only make your dog's eyes look red, they are a warning about the state of your dog's eye health. Whenever we see this scene, as pet owner, we feel immense heartache and concern, and desperately hope to find a solution to restore the luster of our dog's eyes as soon as possible.
Corneal neovascularization
I have mixed feeling when it comes to corneal neovascularization. It's as if an unwelcome guest has slipped into the dog's otherwise flawless cornea and begun an unwelcome “settlement”.
The blood vessel which are tiny and fragile, are like fine thread that start quietly at the edge of the cornea and spread all the way to the center. Why are my dogs eyes red? These new blood vessels cause the cornea to turn red and less transparent as they grow. I looked at my dog's eyes and was so upset.
What's worse, these new blood vessels not only make the cornea unsightly, but more importantly, they affect the dog's vision and make him see thing blurry. Sometimes the dog would blink or rub his eyes so often because of the discomfort that it hurt my heart to see.
Moreover, these blood vessels are like an intricate net, tightly wrapping the cornea, so that the dog's vision is greatly restricted. I'm really afraid that if this continues, it will lead to other more serious eye diseases and make the dog suffer more pain.
Bleeding or blood buildup in the eye chamber
When it come to bleeding or pooling of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye, I really have a heart attack. It's like a sudden storm that has swept your dog's eye health into crisis. Why are my dogs eyes red? This can happen when blood accumulates in this space, causing the eye to appear red and cloudy.
The anterior chamber of the eye, that tiny, little space between the cornea and the iris, is supposed to be clear and transparent, filled with aqueous humor that allow the eye to maintain its normal shape and intraocular pressure. But now? It's taken over by blood and has become cloudy.
What a variety of reason for this bleeding or blood accumulation. It could be that the dog accidentally bumped into something sharp, causing trauma to the eye; or it could be that there is something wrong inside his body that triggered this eye crisis.
When blood rushes into the immediate room, it's like a disaster. It not only disrupts the normal circulation of the aqueous humor in the room and raises the intraocular pressure frighteningly high. It also cause pressure and damage to those delicate structures inside the eye. Dogs may experience severe eye pain as a result, and their vision can plummet. Worse still, serious symptoms such as protruding eyeball and swollen eyelids may also occur.
Reasons why a dog's eyes are red
There are various reason why a dog's eyes turn red. There are both external factor and internal diseases. Here are some of the common causes.
Allergies
When it come to allergies, dog can be very easy target! The dog's red eyes are a “beacon” for allergies. Dog can be allergic to pollen, dust mite, mold and other small thing in the environment. When they are exposed, their body alarm and their eyes become red. There are also food that they can be allergic to, so it's hard to prevent them from being allergic.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a common problem in dogs' eyes. The conjunctiva is the clear membrane on the surface of the eyes. Once it get infect by bacteria, viruses, allergen, or chemical, it become inflamed and the dog's eyes become red.
Dog dry eye
Dog dry eye, also known as dry eye disease or dry keratoconjunctivitis. This disease also make your dog's eyes red. Imagine how dry and uncomfortable the eyes must be if the lubricating film (tear film) on the surface of the eye produce less or evaporates too quickly! As a result, the eyes become easily worn out, inflamed, and congested, and naturally they become red. Therefore, if you find that your dog's eyes are red, accompanied by dryness, frequent blinking, eye booger and other symptom, it is necessary to take it to the doctor.
Eyelid entropion
Why are my dogs eyes red? Eyelid entropion may cause your dog's eyes to turn red. Eyelid entropion is an abnormal condition in which the edge of the eyelid turn inward. It can cause eyelashes to irritate the surface of the eye, triggering inflammation and congestion in the eye, which can cause the eye to turn red.
Eyelid entropion can be categorized into several type, including congenital entropion, spasmodic entropion, and scarring entropion.
- Congenital entropion: occur mainly in infant dog. It is caused by medial canthus, overdevelopment of the orbicularis oculi muscle at the lid margin, or lid hypoplasia. This condition may gradually improve as the dog grow and develop a snout.
- Spasmodic entropion: Reflex spasmodic contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle due to inflammation, injury, or surgical irritation of the eye, causing the lid margin to turn inward. This type is usually temporary, but may develop into persistent blepharoplasty in some case.
- Scarring entropion: the lid margin roll inward due to contraction of scarring of the conjunctiva or lid plate of the eyelid. Common cause include trachoma and conjunctival burn.
When lid entropion occur, the eyelashes may repeatedly irritate the surface of the eye, leading to conjunctival congestion and edema, which in turn can lead to eye inflammation such as keratitis and conjunctivitis. These inflammation can cause the eye to turn red with symptom such as tearing, photophobia, and increased discharge. In severe case, they can also lead to serious consequences such as corneal ulcers and perforation.
Cherry eye
Cherry eye, also known as third eyelid gland exfoliation. It can cause a dog's eyes to turn red. Cherry eye is cause by the prolapse of the third eyelid gland (eccrine gland) from the back of the inner corner of the eye. The prolapse then become enlarged in response to inflammation, resulting in a red, fleshy bulge in front of the eye near the inner corner of the eye. This resembles the shape of a small cherry, hence the name.
There are 4 main symptoms of cherry eye.
- Appearance change: The most visual manifestation is that a small red fleshy bulb will appear in the inner corner of the dog's eye. This is the prolapsed third eyelid gland, which is shaped like a cherry.
- Eye discomfort: As the prolapsed gland will irritate the eyeball, the dog may experience eye pain, itching, burning and other discomfort.
Why are my dogs eyes red?
- Redness of the eyes: As the inflammation worsen, the dog's eyes will gradually become red and swollen, with obvious conjunctival congestion.
- Increased discharge: Due to eye irritation, your dog's eyes may produce more tear or purulent discharge.
A prolapsed third eyelid gland triggers an inflammatory response that lead to dilated blood vessel and congestion in the eye. The prolapsed gland constantly irritates the surface of the eye, leaving it chronically inflamed, which in turn aggravates the redness and swelling of the eye.
Eye Injuries
Why is your dog's eye red? This may have something to do with eye injuries. Think about it, if your dog's eye is hit accidentally or scratch by something, the eye tissue will be injured, and then it will become inflame, and the eye will become red.
Once you find that your dog's eyes are injure, don't delay, you have to take it to the pet hospital quickly. The doctor will use professional equipment to check the dog's eyes carefully to see how serious the damage is, and then give the most suitable treatment plan. In this way, the dog's eye can be recover as soon as possible and become bright again!
Other causes of red eyes in dogs
Why are my dog eyes red? Here are other cause.
- Corneal ulcers:corneal ulcers are depressed ulcers that form when the surface of the cornea is damage. It is often accompanied by pain, tearing, and photophobia.
- Glaucoma: Glaucoma is an eye disease caused by elevated intraocular pressure. It may lead to conjunctival congestion, vision loss and even blindness.
- Uveitis: Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea (including the iris, ciliary body and choroid). It manifest as conjunctival congestion, eye pain and vision loss.
- Blepharitis: Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid margins, often cause by bacterial infection. It manifest as redness and swelling of the eyelids, pain, and increased secretion.
- Tumor: Eye tumors may also cause symptom such as conjunctival congestion and protruding eyeballs. Once the abnormality is found, you should seek medical examination in time.
- Hypertension: High blood pressure may also affect your dog's eye health, leading to symptom such as conjunctival congestion. It is important to monitor your dog's blood pressure regularly.
What are the treatments for dog red eye?
Why are my dogs eyes red? How should I go about treating it? Treatment vary for different cause of dog red eyes.
Topical medications
Eye drops are one of the most common topical eye medication. It act directly on the surface of the eye and the conjunctival tissue by dropping into the conjunctival sac. Depending on the disease, eye drop can be categorized into various type.
- Antibiotic eye drops: are used to treat eye inflammation caused by bacterial infection, such as conjunctivitis and keratitis. They can kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria and reduce symptom such as eye congestion and edema.
- Antiviral eye drops: for viral eye infection, such as keratitis caused by adenovirus and herpes virus. These drug can inhibit the replication of the virus and reduce eye inflammation and discomfort.
- Anti-allergy eye drops: for eye symptom cause by allergies, such as redness, watering and itching of the eyes. Anti-allergy eye drop can reduce allergic reactions and relieve eye discomfort.
- Artificial tears: for dry eyes and other eye dryness problem, artificial tear can replenish eye moisture and relieve dry eyes, foreign body sensation and other symptom.
Oral Drugs
Oral medications can be a great help when it come to treating your dog's eye problems! Oral medication can be a lifesaver, especially if you need to treat the whole body or if you have a deeper eye problem.
You know what? After your dog takes these medication, they travel around the body and end up in the eye, where they begin their healing process. It's like a little courier, delivering the medication to where it's needed.
Let's take antibiotics for example, like amoxicillin and cephalosporin, they are like little eye guards, specializing in eye diseases that are caused by bacteria, such as bacterial conjunctivitis, keratitis and what not. With them, bacteria have no place to hide!
There are also antiviral drugs, such as acyclovir and ganciclovir, which are like virus killers for the eye, specializing in dealing with viral eye infections, such as canine distemper virus-induced keratitis. They inhibit the replication of the virus and make the eye inflammation and damage much less severe.
If your dog's eye inflammation is severe, anti-inflammatory medication will come in handy! Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as carprofen act as a cooling fan for the eye, bringing coolness and comfort and reducing congestion and edema.
Immunomodulators are also a good thing! For dogs with autoimmune eye diseases or in need of an immune booster, they are like little eye helper that regulate the immune system and reduce the immune response and damage to the eye.
Lastly, ah, nutritional supplement are also essential! Just like we human need to eat to supplement our diets, dogs also need to supplement with some essential nutrients in the treatment of eye diseases. Vitamin A, for example, is very important for maintaining eye health! A deficiency can lead to night blindness and other eye problems! So it is important to give your dog the right amount of vitamin A or other essential nutrients during the treatment process!
Surgery
Hey, when it comes to dog eye problems ah, sometimes you really have to rely on surgery to help. For example, eyelid entropion, cherry eye, eye tumors and these cases, surgery is the most direct and effective solution. However, every dog is different, so the surgery and recovery time will be different. After the surgery, we have to give the dog enough rest and care, so that it can comfortably through the recovery period, the wound can heal quickly oh.
But then again, prevention is always more important than cure! In order to avoid red eyes in dogs, we can do these preventive measures:
First, it's important to clean your dog's eyes regularly. Use a mild eye cleaning solution or wipes, gently help it wipe off secretions and dirt, to keep the eyes clean and hygienic.
Then, try to avoid exposing your dog to things that may cause allergies. For example, pollen, dust mites, ah, and the food it may be allergic to. Knowing its allergy history, you can better protect it.
And yeah, it's also essential to take your dog to the vet for regular eye exams. This will allow potential eye problems to be detected and dealt with in a timely manner, so that small problems don't turn into big ones.
It is also important to keep your dog's living environment clean and hygienic. This will minimize the growth of bacteria and viruses and reduce the risk of your dog getting sick.
Finally, don't forget to provide your dog with a balanced and nutritious diet. This will boost its immunity and make it healthier and stronger!
Conclusion
Dog eyes turning red is a problem that should not be ignored, it may indicate a condition of the dog's eye health. Why are my dogs eyes red? As pet owners, we should pay close attention to the dog's eye changes, once found abnormalities should be timely medical examination and take appropriate treatment measures. At the same time, through reasonable preventive measures can reduce the incidence of eye problems in dogs, so that dogs have healthy and bright eyes.