Irritants and allergens can cause your dog's eyes to become red and possibly infected. Most infections are easily treated if caught early. Treatment at home may relieve some irritation; however, a true infection will require an antibiotic suitable for the eyes.
-
Causes
-
A variety of irritants can cause your dog's eyes to become red, weepy and possibly infected. Foreign objects, allergens, parasites, bacteria, viruses and even dryness are among the typical causes.
Symptoms
-
Discharge from the eye that is either cloudy or clear is one sign of a potential infection. Red, irritated mucous membranes are another symptom of irritation and possibly infection. Although in most cases the inflammation is not painful nor initially serious, it is important to seek veterinary treatment to avoid complications and a worsening of the condition.
Initial Treatment
-
When eye irritation and inflammation are first noticed in your dog, you can attempt to clear the irritant at home. A sterile saline solution can be used to rinse potential allergens and/or foreign objects from the eye. Eye scrubs that are Ph balanced can also be used to painlessly wash debris from your dog's eyes. Failure to alleviate eye inflammation within 2 days through home treatments should result in a trip to the veterinarian. A variety of tests are available at the veterinarian's for proper diagnosis of the eye condition.
Types of Infection
-
Inflammation, redness and mucous discharge are typically indicative of the most common eye infection in dogs, called conjunctivitis. A less common and more painful infection is uveitis. Uveitis can actually affect your dog's vision and has the potential to cause blindness if left untreated. Another infection in your dog's eye can result from keratoconjunctivitis sicca, the clinical name for dry eye. When enough tears are not produced in your dog's eyes, the mucous membranes dry out and become red, inflamed and infected. Left untreated, this can become not only painful but potentially damaging to your dog's eyesight.
Antibiotics
-
A variety of antibiotics are utilized for eye infections in dogs. Fougera triple antibiotic ointment is a combination ointment consisting of bacitracin, neomycin and polymyxin B. Fougera is commonly used for any bacterial canine eye infection. Terramycin is another highly effective ophthalmic ointment. A unique medication called cyclosporine exists for the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Cyclosporine is considered an immunomodulating drug, and when it is applied topically, it has been shown to effectively provide control in 80 percent of dogs who suffer from this condition.
-