Eye Problems in Dogs

| Modified on Oct 28, 2024
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Eye problems in dogs are not uncommon. Dogs rely on their sense of smell to interpret the world around them, and that means having their faces all but pressed to the ground much of the time. Infections and injuries to the eyes happen frequently, and most of the time there is no cause for alarm. However, some eye problems in dogs are more serious and may require treatment. Here are some common problems that dog owners should watch out for.

Canine Eye Infections

As we said before, eye infections are fairly common in dogs. Most of the time, they aren't very serious, but they can be annoying and painful. To treat an eye infection in a dog, try splashing the infected eye with a saline solution or using a warm (not hot) chamomile tea bag as a compress. Most infections should clear up on their own, but these and other over-the-counter remedies will provide your dog with some relief.

Cataracts in Dogs

Cataracts are common in dogs, especially those who live with diabetes. Cataracts cause the lenses of the eyes to become cloudy, and in time they could lead to partial or complete blindness. Severe cataracts are often treated with surgery, and less severe cases should be monitored closely. It's important to seek medical treatment for cataracts sooner rather than later since the problem can worsen quickly and cause permanent damage.

Dry Eye in Dogs

Dry eye is a condition in which the eyes do not produce enough tears to keep themselves properly lubricated. In time, this can cause irritation and even blindness. Although this condition can be treated with over-the-counter products such as LiquiTears eye drops, a more powerful prescription medication is usually far more effective.


Additional Pages of Interest:
Eye Infection Remedies for Dogs (Conjunctivitis)
Cherry Eye
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Apple Cider Vinegar

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Rif (Uk) on 02/14/2017
★★★★★

My German Shepherd dog got bad eye infection last summer, (white discharge from eyes)... probably due to swimming in the pond. After a bit of research I made a solution of ACV - half cup of water n half cup of ACV.

With the help of cotton ball I applied this solution on his scruff (not his eyes). After first application I can see great result, so I did it twice a day. Within two days his eyes are miraculously clear of infection. No vet bills no eye drops nothing. Thx you so much ACV.


Sight Loss in Dogs

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Posted by Karen (Brooklyn, New York) on 05/29/2014

My little dog was once able to see but now is blind..how I would love for her sight to return.


Sight Loss in Dogs
Posted by Toby (U.K.) on 11/20/2013

Hi,

I am wondering if anybody might know how to help my Jack Russell dog. He is about 9 years old. He seems to have difficultly with his sight lately and bumps into doors when closing, or if I put food on the floor he has to sniff for it as he cannot see it. His vision seems to be mostly impaired from the sides. His brown eyes, seem to have developed into a blue almost misty blue covering the surface on each eye. I would take him to the vets, but I have just been with him regarding what I would describe as a urinary tract infection. I firsts noticed it when washing him and it feels like there is an obstruction(almost like a rodJ) from where he pees from - penis I guess - dunno the vet term. I have been washing him for 9 years before and he never had it and now it is there all the time. Anyway 200 euros later and antibiotics, scans etc, still no improvement. My mother took him to the vet so I dunno what the condition is called. Does anybody know a remedy for either. Thanks.

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee, Usa)
11/21/2013

Hi Toby,

Sorry about your dog's troubles!

Castor Oil may be helpful to both. The eye cloudiness you describe sounds like Cataracts, which is not uncommon in older animals. Some have found castor oil, a drop in each eye daily, to cure this. I do not know an easy way to get something into a dog's eyes, though.

You can also apply some castor oil into the obstruction you describe in his urinary system. I would try this twice a day. If he will drink some apple cider vinegar in his water, this may also help. A tablespoon in water once or twice a day would be appropriate for an adult. So, perhaps 1/4 teaspoon if your dog is 12 pounds. You could just add that to his water bowl.

Plantain Tea is also excellent for urinary tract infections. You could make plantain tea and give him that instead of water. It isn't a strong tasting tea. I think I could get my dog to drink the vinegar water or plantain tea. He drinks anything...even mud puddles. But maybe Great Pyrenees are not very discerning. :)

I hope he improves a lot soon. Let us know how it goes!

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn)
11/22/2013

Hey Toby!

Some thoughts for you.

The 'rod' in your dog's penis is his penis bone. Not all mamals have a bone in their penis, but dogs do and so this 'rod' is normal for the species.

You mention a UTI and seeing the vet for this issue; was the issue detecting the penis bone [alarming if you are not familiar with the anatomy] or was your dog experiencing trouble with urination or frequent urination with greenish goo coming out of his prepuce/opening of his penis sheath? Green goo does occur in entire/intact males and is a byproduct of testosterone production.

If the green goo appears to be excessive and is an irritation to your dog, you can mix up a solution of betadine and pure water to flush the penis. Mix as many drops of betadine solution into 1 cup of warm water until it resembles a weak tea and then use that to flush the penis and cleanse it.

One issue for consideration IF your dog is not neutered is benign prostatic hyperplasia - or chronic enlarged prostate. A swollen prostate gland will affect your dog's urination habits and may lead to infection of the protate gland which untreated can be life threatening. A ribbon like stool is a sure sign that your dog has an enlarged prostate. While there may be herbs to address the swollen prostate, I have not found great success in using them and the sure fire 'cure' is to have your dog neutered.

The cloudy eyes require a professional opinion. Small terriers are suceptible to many forms of eye disease. While cataracts may rob your dog of his sight, Primary Lens Luxation may cause him to lose his eyeballs; so his sight loss really does deserve to be addressed by your vet. You may wish to ring up your vet and explain that the vision issue was not addressed in the prior visit and see if they will do a recheck from the first appointment at a reduced or waived fee.

Please read up on eye disease:

http://www.therealjackrussell.com/breed/eye.php

http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/cataract.htm

Until you get a diagnosis in hand, you can best support your dog by being his eyes. Don't change the furniture around. Help him out with doors and make use of his keen ears to guide him. If you do find his sight loss is permanent, there are support groups available to discuss living with a blind dog.

Please report back!

Replied by Toby
(Europe)
11/27/2013

Hi Theresa and Mama to Many, Thank you both for your reply. I will take on board your suggestions, although I think that I will need to take him back to the vet for his sight, as I'm not sure it is something that I could tackle myself at home. Thanks again for taking the time to reply. Regards

LAUREN
(NY)
04/24/2024

Hi Toby,

My friend had same eye issue with her little guy. I researched for her and found putting colloidal silver in the dogs eyes helped her little guy. He won't fully recover from the cataracts but it has been helping him see better. Best of luck to you and the pup.

Replied by Ambika
(Shillong, India)
02/05/2016
★★★★★

I was advised to use Cineraria Homeopathic Eye Drop. It seems to have no side effects and works best in cartaract cases. I am however not able to find it here.

Replied by Debbie
(East Sussex)
05/29/2016

Thanks for the suggestion of Cineraria. I found it on Ebay, And have ordered some.

Cindy
(Illinois, USA)
04/24/2024
523 posts

You can also use the colors yellow and blue to help them identify things. Everything else is just gray for them. Not screaming bright primary colors but medium, warmer shades - as in the opposite direction from green. Like a warm yellow shaded toward orange and a warm blue shaded toward purple. Say something like a t-shirt for you and a bed cover for them. Maybe yellow post-its stuck to door jams and corners...

Replied by Katzie
(Cancun, Mexico)
10/12/2024

I know this post is really old, but I had to jump in when I saw that your dog had a blue-misty eye; mine did too. This was the day after we started beating an inner ear infection back (using dmso, but that saga will be in another post). It was only in his right eye and appeared overnight.

Mildly alarmed at seeing his big brown eye turn misty-blue so quickly, I made a dmso/distilled water solution immediately and applied it 2x/day with an eye dropper. Even with him closing his eyes when the dropper is near, the space between the lids is enough. Within 2 days his eye is its beautiful original brown again! I will continue to treat him for another few days though. Another miracle by my trusty DMSO.

Ang
(California)
10/27/2024

Thank you for that info. I (probably like many others) still search for answers for my pets on earth clinic. Some older threads still hold some valuable information/suggestions, and I sure welcome any new ones! Thank you again for your helpful post.

Replied by Katzie
(Cancun, Mexico)
10/13/2024

I forgot to give the dosage I used: 10% DMSO/90% Distilled water. Many reviews are positive at 40% DMSO solution eyedrops, even 20% DMSO gets great reviews, but rescue #4 is very small so I felt more comfortable with a 10% solution.