Eye problems in dog and cat

Dogs and cats with eye problems

In general the eyes of dogs and cats are very vulnerable and they are generally more easily damaged than other organs. Eyes can cause complaints when the cornea is damaged, an infection occurs but also due to the malfunctioning of the tear fluid production or drainage. The latter can be seen by owners because there are tear marks running down from the corners of the eye. The symptoms that we observe in dogs or cats with eye problems are very different and depend enormously on the cause of the complaint.

What symptoms can you see in dogs and cats with an eye problem

The cornea is always sensitive to touch but when it is damaged or infected, the sensitivity increases even more when touched.
They'll close their eyes or blink excessively.
Continuously rub the eye with the leg or rub the entire head against something.
Irritation or infection will cause the eye and the eyelids to turn red, sometimes with swelling or some bleeding, depending on rubbing the legs.
When the eye or the environment is infected there may be yellow-green or cloudy effluent.
In dogs and cats with eye complaints, this may seem to increase with an increase in light, this is called increased sensitivity to light.
When the cornea is damaged or when the pain is severe, it seems as if a haze is pulled over the eye, then the third eyelid is closed.
Loss of sight.
When your pet is older the eye can become cloudy, think of cataract.

With the above symptoms, usually only one of both eyes is affected. If both eyes appear to be irritated, there may also be an allergic condition or other diseases.

For which eye complaints is it better to call the veterinarian?

If your dog or cat has eye problems, it is important to take them seriously. Damage to the eyelids or the cornea (cornea) can cause permanent eye complaints when neglected. There are several symptoms where it is necessary to discuss with your vet what is wise to do.

When your dog or cat keeps his eye really close and it seems very painful, there may be damage to the surface of the eye.
Your dog or cat has fought and may have had a hard blow to the eye resulting in bleeding or damage.
Dogs and cats with more torn eyelids. Also with small tears because they can lead to corneal complaints when healing incorrectly.
When the eye seems to be protruding more than normal or when even the whole eye / eye socket seems to have come out, try to prevent your pet from sitting on it even further and prevent dehydration by moistening the eye with salad oil.
When you can't exclude that toxic substances or chemicals have got into the eye.

If your dog or cat has any signs of cataracts, you can discuss this during a consultation.

What is Cataract?

When the lens in the eye shows a degree of obfuscation, this is called Cataract. The medical term for cataract is cataract or lens cataract. Usually they are dogs in which cataract occurs, it is really observed less in cats. Due to the cloudiness of the lens, it is less and less permeable to light, causing the dog's vision to slowly deteriorate. When you look at a dog and see that the normal black pupil is beginning to show a blue-white haze then there is cataract. Especially older dogs (as from 9 years approximately) can suffer from cataract, usually this concerns old age cataract or grey cataract. When the whole lens is cloudy, the dog can no longer see with that eye. Cataract is a gradual process through which the dog gets used to the fact that he sees less and less and can therefore often manage fine.