Similar to humans, dogs are also prone to develop serious eye problems. Some signs which are often associated with eye problems are redness and intensive tear production.
The dog’s eyes can turn red due to many reasons, one of them being environmental conditions and the other being the enlargement of small blood vessels present in the sclera.
The sclera is the white part of the dog’s eye. This part sometimes turns red and appears to the owner as a bloodshot.
A proper diagnosis and treatment for this redness are necessary and we will be learning about the same in this article.
How Does a Dog’s Eye Turn Red?
The majority of dog owners already know what a dog looks like when its eyes turn red and there are a lot of chances that they have already witnessed it in their pets.
But as to the question concerned, how do the eyes of a dog turn red? We see that a dog’s eyes are highly vascularised.
Several blood vessels are present in the human as well as the dog eye. They transport not only nutrition but also allow the migration of immune cells.
These immune or inflammatory cells allow one to keep their eyes protected from various kinds of pathogens and environmental hazards.
When a dog’s eye gets injured or irritated, the body responds by speeding up the migration of inflammatory and immune cells which helps in quick healing.
As a result, the small capillary vessels, which are commonly not that visible to the naked eye, get engorged with blood. This causes redness in the eye.
This engorgement is usually visible in the white part of the eyes which is called the sclera. This is the part that catches the eye of the dog owner and they start to fret.
But, in some cases, the eye of the dog also gets injured due to the damage caused to the cornea of the eye. The cornea is the outer protective barrier of the eye.
This results in the migration of the blood vessels to the site of the corneal injury or damage. This results in the redness of the eye.
The inflammation of the conjunctiva which is the mucosal tissue that surrounds the eye of the dog causes the eye to redden up. The dog owners become anxious about seeing this.
The third eyelid gland which is known as the cherry eye when going through a prolapse turns red. A dog owner should be well acquainted with all these problems.
A dog owner must have the ability to distinguish between all these problems and must know the treatments for the same.
Common Causes of Redness in a Dog’s Eye
As we noted above, redness in the eye can be caused due to many reasons. A proper diagnosis is required to come up with an effective and appropriate treatment.
These are some of the most common causes of redness in a dog’s eye:
- Irritation in the Eyes Due to Foreign Material
The most sensitive part of a dog’s body is believed to be its eyes. If the dog’s eye comes in contact with any foreign material it will cause the blood vessels to congest.
This engorgement makes the eyes of the dog bloodshot and causes redness. This is supported by other signs and symptoms such as squinting, pain, etc.
The treatment for this is the flushing of the eye to make it clear of the foreign material which has entered the eye.
Even eye drops can be used to lessen the redness. It also helps in controlling the inflammation of the eye.
- Glaucoma
Glaucoma occurs due to the increase in intraocular pressure. This takes place when the drainage of the aqueous humor gets blocked.
Aqueous humor is the fluid that is present in the anterior chamber of the eye which is responsible for providing nourishment to its parts.
This can be dangerous and should be treated as an emergency. It is quite painful for the dog and should be treated as quickly as possible.
- Corneal Injury
Any kind of damage caused to the cornea of the dog’s eye can lead to severe inflammation of the eye which should be treated as quickly as possible.
A corneal injury leads to the engorgement of the blood vessels which surround the eyes. This causes the eye to turn red.
What Should I Do if My Dog’s Eye Turns Red?
It’s from my personal experience that I share this that as soon as you see your dog’s eye turning red, you should immediately consult a vet.
As we have already mentioned above, some symptoms should be taken as an emergency, and action should be taken as quickly as possible.
The vet will perform a thorough check-up which is the ophthalmic examination which will help in the diagnosis of the problem. After the diagnosis is done, the treatment will then take place.
Treatment of Redness in a Dog’s Eye
As and when the diagnosis is completed, the mode of treatment is chosen by the vet. It depends on the symptoms as to what treatment should be given to the dog.
There are several treatments available depending upon the symptoms shown by the dog.
Topical Medication
Topical medications are available in the form of drops and ointments and may even require to be applied three times a day.
This practice should be continued for a week or a couple until you see the symptoms diminishing.
The medications include antibiotics, pain relievers, steroids, artificial tears, and dilators. These are some of the treatments which come under topical medications.
Surgery
In some cases, there is a slight possibility that your dog might need surgery. It happened to me as well and I had to get my dog operated on.
If cherry-eye is diagnosed at an early stage then the vet might try to reset the gland manually with the help of medications. But if the issue isn’t solved there, then surgery takes place.
Entropion problems might also require surgery for their proper eradication and treatment. In some cases, surgery might be necessary.
So, whenever your dog’s eye turns red, you shouldn’t assume things. I committed this mistake too hence I would request you to consult a vet as early as possible.
Consulting a vet will assure you and it will ensure that your dog is at harm or not. Sometimes, dogs even have to get their eyes removed due to late diagnosis.
The kind of treatment your dog might need can be determined only when a proper diagnosis is done, conducted with the proper tests.
Conclusion
Redness in a dog’s eye could be a response to foreign particles entering its eyes or it could be something serious. Hence, you should not assume things on your own and consult a vet for proper diagnosis and treatment of your dog.
You should ensure that your little pet does not roam around in polluted environments to avoid the entrance of dust/foreign particles in its eyes.