The eyes are a delicate and sensitive organ of our dog and it is therefore important that we know how to take care of them. In this article on our site we are going to explain what the eyes of dogs are like, what are the main signs of an eye condition, such as discharge or redness, how to examine the eyes, how to remove a foreign body and, of course, how to clean our dog's eyes to avoid problems and maintain proper regular hygiene. Read on and learn how to take care of your dog's eyes!
What is a dog's eye like?
The eyeball, enveloped by the sclera, is inserted into the orbital cavity and protected by the eyelids and eyelashes, responsible for prevent the entry of foreign bodies. The front clear area is the cornea In the center of the eye, the round hole is called the pupiland is surrounded by the iris, a pigmented membrane that has the ability to contract according to the incidence of light. The conjunctiva is the membrane that covers the part of the sclera that we see. It contains blood vessels and nerve endings, which is why it can become inflamed and red, causing conjunctivitis in dogs. Likewise, it presents a third eyelid in the inner corner of the eye, also called nictitating membrane, which is not usually visible. In addition, each eye has two lacrimal glands. Tears keep the cornea from drying out and help fight infection.
Dogs are myopic and can only distinguish certain colors They have a wide field of vision, follow moving objects well and have good vision in depth and in moderate absence of light. Their shortcomings in this sense are made up for with hearing and smell, even so it is essential to know how to clean a dog's eyes or how to administer drugs if it presents any pathology.
What can I clean my dog's eyes with?
In this section we are going to see how to clean a dog's eyes. The first thing to consider is the periocular area. If our dog has abundant hair that grows towards the eyes we should either comb it so that the eyes are clear, or trim it. Otherwise it is possible that the contact of the hair with the eyes will produce irritations. This discomfort can also appear when eyelashes get into the eyes Some dogs have a congenital condition that consists of the growth of an extra row of eyelashes on the edge of the eyelid and that grow inwards, rubbing against the inside of the eye and irritating it to the point that can lead to an ulcer on the cornea Distichiasis, as this problem is called should be treated by a veterinarian. It is normal for our dog to produce legañas and only in cases like the ones we will see in the next section will they be a reason for consultation. To clean them we can follow the following recomendaciones:
- From the first meeting with our dog we must get him used to letting us handle him The eyes, being very sensitive, should always be touched quietly and in moments of calm. We can get the dog used to it by passing our hand through them. Logically the dog will close them. With our index fingers and thumb we will try to open them a little, always delicately, so that we can observe the eye by separating the eyelids. If our dog accepts this maneuver, it will be easier for him to apply medications when he needs them, as we will see next.
- If we notice that our dog has sludge we can clean it from the inside to the outside of the eye, always making one or more passes in that direction.
- For cleaning we can use a gauze or cotton soaked in physiological saline. This serum can be purchased in single-dose format, making it easy to use and dispose of.
- It is important to use a gauze pad or cotton for each eye to avoid transferring germs from one to the other.
- If we find some hardened crust that is difficult to clean, we can heat the serum a bit or soak the eye well (even pouring the whey directly into it) so that it softens and, thus, we can remove it after a few seconds.
- Of course, any alteration like the ones we will see in the next section will be cause for veterinary consultation.
Signs of eye disease in dogs
Once we know how to clean a dog's eyes, we can pay attention to observing alterations that will indicate eye problems. We must pay attention that the eyes maintain the same size, shape and color and, very importantly, if there is any type of secretion abnormal and how is this. We can also see if the nictitating membrane is present, if there is any coloration in the cornea, if the dog is in pain when touched, etc. In the same way that we have explained in the first section, we can slightly open the affected eye to look for an injury or foreign body. Among the typical signs of eye disease the following stand out:
- Tearing.
- Frequent flashing.
- Squint.
- Itching (we will see that the dog rubs its eyes with its paws or seeks to rub against objects).
- Pain.
- Photophobia (sensitivity to light).
- Nictitating membrane visible.
- Secretion.
- Redness.
- White or opaque coloration of the eye.
- Soft or hard consistency of the eye.
- Swollen eyelids.
- Crusts.
- Hair loss in the periocular area.
- Protruding or sunken eye.
As we say, any of these symptoms require veterinary assistance.
How to put drops in a dog's eyes? And ointment?
Before applying eye drops to a dog, or any other medication, we have to make sure the eye is clean. We have already seen how to clean a dog's eyes in previous sections. If we have to administer an ointment in the dog's eyes, we will follow these steps:
- We must pull gently the lower eyelid, from the skin of the cheek, and deposit a small amount of the ointment in the hollow that it is created between the eyelid and the eye.
- Then we will close the eye, gently massaging it so that the ointment spreads.
- With a gauze pad or cotton soaked in saline we can clean the excess, if any.
To administer eye drops to a dog, we will do the following:
- The drops can be poured directly onto the eyeball, for which we must keep the eyelids open, separating them carefully with our index fingers and thumb.
- For these applications the dog's head must be tilted upwards. In very active dogs, a couple of people may be needed to ensure that the medication enters the eye.
- These applications usually have to be repeated several times a day for at least a week. As always, it will be our veterinarian who prescribes the appropriate treatment, as well as its dosage.
Removal of foreign bodies in the dog's eyes
Foreign bodies such as seeds, plant particles, spikes or splinters can end up in the eyes of dogs. Traveling in a car with your head out the window or walking through dense vegetation are risk factors.
We can suspect a foreign body if our dog scratches one or both eyes with its paws or against objects, and if it appears tearing, blinking, dischargeor protrusion of the third eyelid. We have already seen how to clean our dog's eyes, so that during this process we can also observe a foreign body. If so, we will keep the eyelids open, as we have already explained, and we will apply serum directly or by soaking a cotton ball and pressing it on the eye, without touching it, so that it falls on it the liquid. Sometimes this irrigation manages to eliminate the foreign body. If this is not the case, but we see it very superficially, we can try to catch it or push it towards the edge of the eye near the nose with a cotton swab If we do not succeed or the foreign body is stuck in the eye we should go directly to the vet.
