The eyes are a very sensitive part of our dogs and we must ensure that they are always clean and in good condition, since, when exposed, they can be affected by weather factors or foreign bodies such as spikes or seeds may be introduced. It is also important to know the diseases they may suffer from.
In this article on our site we will focus on explaining why a dog has white eyes, what pathologies are behind of this disorder and how we can solve them.
Anatomy of Dog Eyes
Before explaining why a dog has white eyes, we should know that these organs are, in appearance rather than in capacity, similar to human eyes, with the very important difference that dogs have a third eyelid, known as nictitating membrane, which is located in the inner corner of the eye. It is not usually visible, so, as we will see, we must pay attention to its appearance, since it will be indicating a problem.
As for vision, dogs are myopic and are not capable of capturing as many colors as we can. On the other hand, they have a wide field of vision and see better in places with less light. See the article "Colors Dogs See According to Scientific Studies" to learn more about canine vision.
Symptoms that indicate eye problems in dogs
When something is wrong with our dog's eyes we can observe the following symptoms:
- Pain.
- Tearing or discharge.
- Photophobia, that is, sensitivity to light.
- Protrusion of the nictitating membrane that can be seen as a film over the eye.
- Eye clouding, opacity, or haze.
- Eye hard or soft to the touch or, also, sunken or bulging eye.
- Swollen eyelids.
If our dog shows any of these signs, we should get him veterinary assistance, since some eye diseases progress quickly and could cause permanent damage. In the following sections we will see what causes can explain why a dog has white eyes, that is, they have a white cloth or spot in one or both eyes.
My dog has a white cloth in his eye: paresis of the third eyelid
If the third eyelid extends over the surface of the eye, it can give us the impression that the eye has turned around. The eyes will be practically blank. The paresis would be the protrusion of the nictitating membrane In this case, the explanation for why our dog has white eyes would be this protrusion, which may be due to a retraction of the eye in its orbit, which is known as enophthalmos, or its sinking, which can occur when the dog is experiencing pain in the eye.
Some dogs are born with this paresis without implying the existence of a pathology. For them the only problem would be aesthetic. In other cases we must go to the vet because the cause of the protrusion will have to be diagnosed in order to be able to treat it.
My dog has a white spot on his eye: keratitis
One cause that explains why a dog has white eyes is keratitis, which is a inflammation of the cornea that occurs seen as a cloud or spot in the eye. In addition, we will see that the eye waters, the dog rubs it, the light bothers him and we may also appreciate the protruded third eyelid.
There are several types of keratitis, so it is possible to see a black spot in the dog's eye or white, and all require veterinary assistance, as they can cause blindness and complicate due to bacterial infections. Ulcerative keratitis is what causes the cornea to turn milky white. The veterinarian must prescribe the appropriate treatment.
My dog has whitish eyes: cataracts
It is perhaps the best known cause that can explain why a dog has white eyes, since this condition involves a loss of transparency of the lens, which gives the appearance of a white film, cloth or layer on the eyes, behind the pupil. There are some congenital or juvenile cataracts that appear in breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, the Fox Terrier, the Poodle, the Golden, the Labrador or the Schnauzer. These will appear in dogs less than six years old and in both eyes, although they do not have to develop simultaneously.
Las Acquired cataracts, on the contrary, are those linked to age or the consequence of some ocular diseases, such as uveitis, or systemic, like diabetes. They are a cause of blindness and can be operated if they reduce the quality of life of our dog, therefore, whenever we observe a white cloth or spot in the dog's eyes, we must go to the veterinarian for its evaluation.
For more information, check the article "Cataracts in dogs - Symptoms and treatment".
My dog has white eyes, what do I do?
As we have explained throughout the article, there are several causes that develop as a kind of white cloth in the dog's eye or produce a stain, so it is necessaryGo to a specialist for a correct diagnosis. Medicating the animal on our own can be very harmful, since if we administer inappropriate drugs, its general he alth is in danger. Thus, if we have access, the ideal would be to visit a veterinarian specialized in ophthalmology.
