Mary Allen
Eye diseases are becoming more common in our dogs. Therefore, check your dog’s eyes regularly and see a veterinarian if problems occur.
Healthy eyes are important for our four-legged friends, but unfortunately many people have problems with their eyes. Check out what is normal for your dog’s breed and get in the habit of looking at your dog’s eyes every week. Some breeds, such as Dobermann and Collie, have deep-set eyes and then it is normal with a little extra secretion in the inner corner of the eye.
Hereditary diseases
Hereditary eye diseases are found in almost all dog breeds. Some examples of diagnoses are PRA, cataract, collie eye anomaly and lens dislocation. Dogs can also get more acute eye diseases, such as injuries, says Kristina Narfstrom, professor of veterinary ophthalmology and consultant at Djurakuten and Sollentuna Djurklinik in Stockholm. She has for 35 years conducted research, teaching and clinic with a focus on eyes and eye diseases, of which 10 years with only research activities in the United States.
Unfortunately, eye diseases are becoming more common in our dogs. Those who should be predisposed to, for example, PRA should therefore not be used in breeding. As it is very important to know if dogs have hereditary eye diseases, eye lighting / eye mirroring is recommended in the first place. Breeding dogs should be eye-lit before each mating and the eye certificate must then not be more than one year old. But even if dogs with hereditary eye diseases should not be used in breeding, they in most cases work well as family dogs.
Eye reflection
– Eye mirroring is a general health check of the whole eye, says Kristina Narfström. The control can be done from 6-8 weeks of age, but is usually performed only when the dog is one year old and then preferably twice more during the dog’s life. Then they examine, among other things, vision and eye reflexes and that there are no external problems such as incorrectly growing eyelashes or incorrectly positioned eyelids. You then give pupil dilating drops and look through the whole eye with a so-called ophthalmoscope. Then a magnifying device, a biomicroscope, is used. Then you get a sharp enlargement of the eye structures and also see any changes in depth.
Genetic tests, mainly with blood tests, show whether the skin has a certain defect in single or double form (then from both parents). They are a complement but not a substitute for eye reflection. A genetic test only provides information about whether the dog has the specific genetic defect you are looking for.
Damaged cornea
– Many short-nosed dogs are easily damaged by the cornea of the eye. They must be treated, otherwise the consequences can be very serious. Go to a veterinarian immediately, preferably with eye contact, if the dog pinches the slightest eye and / or it is red and irritated. Eye injuries are often treated with antibiotic drops or ointment. Often you have to drip five times a day for the medicine to have full effect and it must be done properly, Kristina Narfström emphasizes.
Make sure that the dog does not itch in the eye or go against things. A collar or funnel over the head protects the eye until it is healed.
Many dogs, especially hunting dogs, often injure their eyelids. The damage should be sewn as soon as possible if the eyelid edge is damaged.