Dogs are vulnerable to several diseases and possible injuries due mostly to the shape and structure of their eyes. You should always pay attention and look for signs of discharge, squinting, cloudiness, irritation, redness, or swelling. If your dog starts to bump into household furniture, or any other objects this could be a first clue to vision loss.
The most common dog eye problems usually stem from one of the following:
* Cataracts - an opacity of the lens
* Cherry Eye - the dog's third eyelid's tear gland protrudes outward
* Conjunctivitis - an inflammation of the membrane that lines your dog's eyelids and the front of the sclera
* Entropion - eyelids are turn inward which causes the eyelashes to scratch the cornea
* Glaucoma - increased eye pressure caused by fluid buildup in the eye
* Progressive Retinal Atrophy - inherited vision-destroying diseases caused by deterioration of the retina's image-processing cells
This is by no means a complete list of eye diseases, but it does include the most common ones.
A dog's eyes may have some discharge fluid for any number of reasons. Allergies are the most common cause, as is irritation from dust or small specs of foreign materials. Be sure to have your dog's eyes thoroughly checked at each veterinary visit, or a minimum of once a year, more often if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Catching possible eye problems before they become severe will help prevent future vision problems in your pet.
