Conjunctivitis in dogs - symptoms and treatment

The eyes of a person are a mirror of the soul, and the eyes of a dog for a person are an identifier of a pet’s health. Moreover, they are also sensitive to external irritating factors. They instantly respond to the ingestion of specks, dust and pathogenic bacteria. As a result of contact with the above irritants, inflammation can occur in the form of itching, photophobia, and even purulent discharge. The main factors provoking the development of eye diseases in dogs are the ingestion of small insects or foreign objects, allergic reactions, viruses, and physical pathologies.

Causes

In simple words, conjunctivitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the mucous membrane of the eye and eyelids.

The causes of the disease in dogs are as follows:

1. Dust, smoke, weathering.
2. Irritation with chemical substances: ointments, shampoos, soaps, home cleaning products, etc.
3. Diseases of the eyes and lacrimal glands.
4. Infections of bacterial, viral, fungal origin.
5. Individual allergic reactions, for example, of a seasonal nature.
6. Contact with foreign objects on the mucous membrane of the eye: dirt, dust, insects.
7. Injuries to the mucous membranes of the eye.

Many eye diseases are specific to certain dog breeds. They are genetically determined and are their physical feature. As a rule, small animals are predisposed to cataract diseases and retinal detachment. Large dog breeds are prone to diseases such as lower eyelid inversion. Such a pathology is the cause of constant conjunctivitis, which is provoked by the ingress of dirt and dust in the eyes. Due to the structure of the eyelids, some individuals are predisposed to the constant penetration of various small particles into the eyes. Certain breeds have such a structure of the eyelids when the eyelashes are bent in the middle, and this is the reason for the constant injury to the mucous membrane of the eyes. For example, chow - chow, hounds, Pekingese and others. In most situations, it is quite possible to solve the problem conservatively, but there are times when surgical intervention cannot be avoided.

Important! The result of incorrectly or untimely treated conjunctivitis in a dog can be the transition of the disease to a chronic form and visual impairment, including complete blindness.

Signs

The most common disease affecting the eye area in dogs is conjunctivitis. It can be suspected by observing the following symptoms in a pet:

• visible inflammatory processes on the mucous membranes of the eyes;
• discoloration of the eyelids (redness);
• profuse tearing;
• itching
• the presence of purulent discharge;
• photophobia;
• limited ability to blink and open eyes.

Similar symptoms can occur with other diseases. For this reason, it is possible to make sure that the animal suffers from conjunctivitis, in the presence of severe symptoms:

1. In order to understand what causes profuse lacrimation in a pet, it is necessary to carefully examine the eye for the presence of foreign objects - small particles.
2. Inflammatory processes on the mucous membranes of the eyes, as a rule, are accompanied by photophobia. With this pathology, the animal in every possible way avoids exposure to the sun, closes its eyes or tilts its head.
3. Conjunctivitis is accompanied by severe itching. It is said about him that the animal is trying to scratch its eyes with its paws, rubs them against different objects, blinks intensely, shakes its head and gets nervous.

Important! Attempts to overcome itching can lead to eye injuries, which is extremely undesirable.Therefore, it is required to deal with it with the help of special painkillers and antihistamines, selected by a qualified doctor - veterinarian after appropriate diagnosis.

Types of disease

Taking into account the causes of the development of the disease and the form of its course, several varieties of this disease are distinguished. There are three most common forms:

• Purulent.
• Follicular.
• Catarrhal.
• Phlegmonous.

Purulent conjunctivitis
This disease is provoked by pathogenic aerobic bacteria, often streptococci or staphylococci. They penetrate the mucous membranes through damaged areas. For this reason, this form occurs due to follicular or allergic conjunctivitis in the absence of adequate therapy. Pathogens contribute to the development of inflammatory processes and purulent discharge. Its main distinguishing symptoms are fever in the animal's eyelids and photophobia.

Follicular conjunctivitis
The development of follicular conjunctivitis is most often triggered by allergic reactions. Dogs, like people, suffer from inflammation, itching, redness and tearing of the eyes during allergic manifestations. Similar reactions are observed in the warm periods of the year, during the flowering of various plants - possible allergens.

Conjunctival follicles are inflamed. This inflammation is accompanied by swelling and redness. Sometimes the development of follicular conjunctivitis contributes to the presence of problems with eyeballs and the third century. The third eyelid also contains follicles, which are prone to swelling and inflammation.

Do not ignore tearing, the presence of redness and itching in the animal. With such symptoms, it is advisable to seek qualified help. Treatment in the early stages when the disease is just beginning to develop and has minimal manifestations is the key to a complete recovery with minimal time and money. In the later stages, the disease progresses, the discharge acquires a purulent consistency, forms crusts that cause the dog very strong discomfort.

Catarrhal conjunctivitis
This form of the disease is accompanied by excessive tearing, swelling, redness of the mucous membranes of the eyes. Its course can be acute or chronic. As a rule, the last option is preceded by an acute course, when the disease has pronounced productive symptoms in the active manifestation. Untimely medical care or its absence becomes the cause of the development of a chronic form. And chronic forms of the disease have a long course and are difficult to treat.

Phlegmonous conjunctivitis
This form of the disease is rather a complicated form of all the previous ones. Its main sign is inflammation of the glassy surface of the mucous membrane of the eyes, the convexity of the conjunctiva, the presence of profuse serous and purulent discharge, the occurrence of ulcers.

Important! The consistency of purulent discharge can determine the severity of the disease. If it is thick, it means that the content of leukocytes in it is maximum. And, accordingly, the body independently fights the infection. The liquid consistency of pus indicates a severe course of the disease.

Treatment and diagnosis

Before proceeding with the treatment of such a disease, it is necessary to diagnose the health status of the pet in the veterinary clinic, as well as determine the provoking factors. The doctor collects an anamnesis, an internal examination of the animal. Additionally, refinement tests may be prescribed.

The main task of the attending physician is to determine the causative agent of the disease. For this, samples are taken from pathological discharge of the eyes to determine their nature. They are sown in a nutrient medium.After the culture of microorganisms grows, they are examined with the help of optical devices, for example, a microscope. In the end, the same culture is used to select medications, determining its sensitivity to one or another kind of drug.

For treatment, anti-inflammatory, antihistamines, antibacterial drugs, as well as antiseptics are prescribed. Pain relievers can be prescribed to relieve itching and pain.

The follicular form sometimes requires surgical treatment, which consists in cauterizing the follicles. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable. Often, owners can not cope with the disease on their own, and use the wrong medication, thereby giving pathogens the opportunity to continue development. Moreover, the course of the disease is complicated and the owner seeks qualified help even when the condition is sufficiently neglected.

In the treatment of conjunctivitis, etazole, sulfacyl - sodium and tetracycline ointments proved to be positive. In the presence of large edema, mixtures of dexazone, hydrocortisone and novocaine are administered under the conjunctiva.

Of the newest drugs, it is worth noting the special ophthalmic drug films developed by E. Kopenkin. They contain such active substances: sulfapyridazine - sodium, neomycin, kanamycin - they are introduced into the area of ​​the conjunctival sac using anatomical tweezers 1-2 times a day. They adhere to the conjunctiva using tear separation and, gradually dissolving, release medicinal substances. This method of treatment has an extremely high positive effect.

Often, to achieve good effectiveness, treatment methods are selected by trial and error on an individual basis. For the treatment period, as never before, it is important to observe animal hygiene and constant eye treatment with weak antiseptic solutions using 3% boric acid and novocaine 0.25%.

Important! So that the pet does not injure his eyes in an attempt to scratch them, it is advisable to use the so-called "Elizabethan collar."

Preventative measures

Several times a week, it is required to carefully examine the pet's eyes for the presence of foreign objects, wool, specks and midges in them. Once a few days, wipe them with a cotton pad soaked in barely warm boiled water, you can add an infusion of chamomile or calendula.

If on a walk the dog lay in the sand, bathed in a pond, was in a strong wind, then it will not be superfluous to use special lotions for washing the eyes: “Tear”, “Dewdrop”, “Bars”.

Video: Dog Eye Prevention and Treatment