What Causes Nystagmus & Eye Weeping in Dogs?

Canines can have eye malformations, or defects, due to several diseases or other causes, just like humans. The eye is a very sensitive area in all species. Slight irritants, such as an eyelash that is repeatedly touching the eyeball, can cause extreme irritation over time. A pet will often try to remove irritants from his eyes with a paw, and this can result in scratches on the cornea or actions that increase the pain and swelling. If you notice your pet wiping his eyes often, or if you notice an excess of weeping, a vet visit is in order to diagnose and treat him.

  1. Types of Nystagmus

    • Nystagmus is a condition characterized by unintentional eye movement back and forth. This condition has two categories; jerk nystagmus and pendulum nystagmus. The symptoms of jerk nystagmus are when an eye slowly moves to one side, then rapidly moves to the other side. Pendulum nystagmus moves the eye in a circular motion at a constant rate of speed. A dog may also exhibit head tilting to one side in an attempt to regain his balance, as nystagmus affects the vestibular system which is in the inner ear and gives him balance. Some canines will walk in a circle to relieve the feeling of dizziness.

    Nystagmus Causes

    • Traumatic injuries from an event such as a car accident can cause the vestibular system to malfunction and display erratic eye movements. Canine distemper and viral infections can cause internal damages that display themselves as nystagmus. Dogs that live in older environments with lead paint may display these characteristics from lead toxins. A pet with hyperthyroidism disease that overproduces thyroxine can have nystagmus due to a malfunction in the pituitary gland. The symptoms may appear as a sign of heart hemorrhages or a heat attack. It is best to take your canine friend to the vet for a checkup as soon as these signs appear.

    Eye Weeping

    • Constantly running eyes, or eye weeping, is a condition where you can visually see clear or mucus discharge draining from one or both of your dog̵7;s eyes. The eyes may be cloudy rather than clear, or may have a film covering them.

    Eye Weeping Causes

    • An irritant, such as long hair near the eyes or grass seed that rubs the eye, can cause eye weeping. Eye infections cause weeping and will continue until a course of antibiotics is administered. Corneal ulcers and glaucoma affect the eyes and produce extra moistness. Blocked tear drainage will allow the moisture to pool around the eye instead of draining naturally down the tear duct and into the top of the nasal cavity. Blockages can quickly turn into a severe nasolacrimal duct infection that is painful to your pet. Your vet may be able to open the duct by flushing it out, or the dog mmay need antibiotics injected directly into the duct.