Similar to humans, dogs are prone to eye irritants and infections. This includes temporary problems such as bacteria or a virus, or dirt and shampoo. With vision deterioration prevalent in senior dogs, dog owners must care for their canine’s eyes through the years. This article discusses why you shouldn’t delay treating your dog’s eye problems.
Dog Eye Problems are Uncomfortable
Dog eye problems are uncomfortable and, sometimes, painful. Even a simple condition like allergies requires an antihistamine to treat their eyes. If left untreated, it can lead to redness, squinting, swelling, and tearing. This is why you shouldn’t delay treating your dog’s eye problems.
The Problem Can Worsen
Dogs experiencing eye problems will try to alleviate their discomfort. This means they’ll paw at their eyes or attempt to rub them in several ways. Unfortunately, this can worsen the problem. For instance, a dog experiencing pink eye may paw at their eyes to the point of scratching its eye and causing corneal damage.
Moreover, it’s prevalent for dogs to experience infection in only one eye if an irritant enters one eye. However, that infection can quickly spread to your dog’s other eye if left untreated. Now your dog is experiencing increased discomfort and will require more extensive treatment. Additionally, an eye infection can readily spread to other pets in the home.
Dog Eye Problems Can Lead to Blindness
Blindness is another reason you shouldn’t delay treating your dog’s eye problems. This is also true for easily-treated eye conditions like pink eye. While more severe eye conditions like cataracts and glaucoma might lead to vision loss or blindness with treatment, addressing the problem and starting treatment can help keep your dog’s vision for much longer.
If you discover symptoms like eye redness, discharge, swelling, excessive blinking, pawing, or other changes in your dog’s eyes, take them to Alexander Animal Hospital for an evaluation.
Support Your Pet’s Wellness at Alexander Animal Hospital
Alexander Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital located in Severna Park, Maryland, serving the Severna Park, Pasadena, and Arnold Areas. Our goal is educating clients on the needs of their pets and understanding the importance of individualized veterinary care in order to strengthen the human-animal bond between owners and their pets.
We understand you have a choice when deciding on the care for your pets, and we strive to provide you with unparalleled services including wellness exams, vaccines, lost pet microchip ID, dental care, surgical services, digital radiography, and in-hospital laboratory services and diagnostics. Other highlights of Alexander Animal Hospital are the separate cat and dog waiting and exam rooms, as well as after-hours on-call emergency services.
Please take a look around our website and then give us a call at 410-777-8678 to set up an appointment. We’re social! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for all the latest updates!