How Eye Problems In Dogs Can Be A Threat To Your Cocker Spaniel's EyesightLoading
Eye Problems In Cocker Spaniels At some point in his life, your Cocker Spaniel may develop a problem with his eyes which could threaten his eyesight and, subsequently, his health. As an observant and caring owner, you can minimise any discomfort and ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment by taking your dog to see his vet as soon as you spot any signs of trouble. How To Spot Potential Eye Problems Problems in dog's eyes, such as infection, allergies, or disease, may manifest themselves as follows:
Help Your Cocker Spaniel To Avoid Eye Problems There are a few things you can do to avoid eye problems and help keep your Cocker Spaniel's eyes safe and healthy; ensuring a lifetime of trouble-free vision.
Eye problems in dogs can range from very mild irritations to severe conditions that need immediate medical treatment. If you're in any doubt about the condition of your dog's eyes, please consult your vet immediately.
Keeping Your Cocker Spaniel's Eyes Clean And Healthy Keeping his eyes clear and clean will help to avoid eye problems in dogs. Whilst grooming your dog, it's important to take the time to clean around the eye area, and be observant for potential problems. Use a cotton-wool ball soaked in a solution of 1 cup of distilled water and half a teaspoon of salt. Be gentle, and take care not to touch your dogs eyes with your fingers or the cotton-wool ball. Use a separate cotton ball for each eye to avoid possible cross infection. If you notice any of the above signs in your dog, it is very important that you take your Cocker Spaniel to see his vet without delay. Eye Problems In Dogs - Excess Tearing Many eye problems in dogs can produce excessive tearing (tears) which may stain the hair around the eyes - this is particularly noticeable in dogs with lighter coloured coats. Tearing could be caused by bacteria, infection, an allergy or irritation, an ear infection, cutting teeth, or it could be the sign of a blocked tear duct.
In any case, we would recommend that you visit your vet to find out what is causing the excess tearing. Our Cocker Spaniel (Max) has a blocked tear duct which causes his tears to overspill out of the corner of his right eye. Apparently this is quite a common problem in Cocker Spaniels. Our vet has suggested a small operation under anaesthetic, but doesn't recommend subjecting Max to the trauma of an operation for a blocked tear duct alone. There are products available on the market which help to remove tear-staining. Your vet can recommend something for you, but should you find a specific product that you particulary like the look of, we recommend that you check it with your vet first. There are 'recipes' easily available on the internet for removing tear staining, but we don't recommend them unless they've been sanctioned by your vet, as some of them use extremely harsh chemicals, for example, human hair bleach (peroxide), diluted in water. If you're not familiar with these chemicals, or if you get the ratio of ingredients wrong, you could cause serious damage to your dog's eyes. To help you identify various eye problems we've listed below some common ailments and diseases.
Common Eye Problems In Dogs Entropion Entropion is a condition where the bottom eyelid rolls inward and causes hair to rub against the eyeball, causing considerable irritation. It can be present in both eyes. Entropion can be hereditary, in which case it usually develops before 6 months, but it may also be congenital; ie., present at birth. Entropion should be treated with surgery. Distichiasis is a condition where abnormal hair (Distichia) grows from the oil glands of the dog's eyelid and can cause irritation on the eyeball. There may be no visible symptons if the hair is fine and soft; however, where there is irritation, your dog's eyes may become red and/or inflamed. He may squint and try to rub his eyes with his paws to relieve the irritation. There are several treatments available for Distichiasis, and which one your vet chooses will depend on the severity of the dog eye problem. The abnormal eyelashes may be removed manually, by surgery, or by using a form of electrolysis. This may be followed up with a course of antibiotics to prevent infection after any surgery, and to help clear up any ulcerative infection caused by the distichiasis. Ectopic Cilia Ectopic Cilia is similar to Distichiasis but, instead, the hair grows from the inner surface of the eyelid. This can be very painful for your dog and can cause corneal ulcers. Eye problems can manifest as; squinting, tearing or discharge, ulceration, clouding of the cornea. Your dog may paw at his eyes in an attempt at relief. This condition may be treated in the same way as for Distichiasis. Eyelid Tumours (Cancers) Eyelid tumors are usually found in middle-aged to older dogs and can be treated successfully with surgery. However, if the tumour is not removed while it is small, it can grow large and destroy the eyelid. Conjunctivitis and discharge are common in dogs with growing eyelid tumors. Prolapsed Third Eyelid Gland - PTEG (Also known as 'Cherry Eye') Your dog has a third eyelid which protects the eye. This third eyelid also contains a tear gland. In some dogs, this tear gland bursts out of its normal position and appears in the inside corner of the eye as a red swelling. If your Cocker Spaniel develops PTEG he will need surgery to suture the gland in place. After surgery, your dog may be at risk of developing a dry eye problem. Dry Eye (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca or KCS) Dry Eye is a condition where your dog's eyes don't produce enough tears. This causes the eyes to become dry and irritated, and can lead to infections, injured corneas and, in serious cases, blindness. Symptoms of Dry Eye problem include, redness and obvious irritation, squinting, lacklustre eyes, dislike of light, and discharge. Dry Eye is generally treated with antibiotics and corticosteroids. A cataract causes the eye to become cloudy in appearance and impedes vision. If left untreated it will lead to blindness; however, cataracts can be removed quite successfully by surgery. A cataract in one eye only may be caused by a physical trauma, but cataracts in both eyes is usually a hereditary eye problem, especially in Cocker Spaniels. It is important, therefore, when buying a Cocker Spaniel puppy, to check that both there is no history of cataracts in either parents or their grandparents. Lenticular or Nuclear Sclerosis As your dog ages, the lenses of his eyes can become hardened and turn a hazey blueish-grey, and can resemble a cataract. This is called Lenticular or Nuclear Sclerosis and does not usually interfere with your dog's vision until it becomes quite pronounced later on in life. No treatment is necessary for Lenticular/Nuclear Sclerosis. This dog eye problem will not affect your dog's eyesight until the very late stages, by which time contribution to any deterioration in your dog's eyesight may be as a result of other natural aging processes. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) This is an inherited eye problem to which Cocker Spaniels may be prone, and which leads to eventual blindness. There is no treatment. Early symptoms include dilated pupils, night blindness and difficulty in low light, a loss of confidence when walking down stairs, and a slight glowing or shining to the eyes. Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition where there is an abnormal increase in pressure inside the eye. The eye produces a clear fluid (aqueous humor) which nourishes and maintains the shape of the eye. The eye produces and drains this fluid, maintaining the correct pressure, and keeping the eye healthy. However, if there is a problem with drainage the pressure inside the eye is increased and can cause enlargement of the eyeball and eventual blindness. Symptoms include pain, red eyes, sensitivity to light, protruding eyeball. Treatment can involve medicines (temporary) or surgery depending upon the type of Glaucoma (primary or secondary), but your dog may still eventually lose his eyesight despite treatment. Conjunctivitis - Eye Problems In Dogs This is an inflammation or infection of the membrane connecting the eyelid to the eyeball (conjunctiva), which can become irritated as a result of an allergy to pollens or grasses, or from infections caused by bacteria, fungi or a virus. Where the white part of the eye is also inflamed, it is sometimes known as 'pink eye'. Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye problems in dogs and can be very painful. Apart from redness and swelling of the eyelid, symptoms include weeping of the eye, or a yellowish-green discharge. Your dog may rub his affected eye on carpets or with his paw for relief. Conjunctivitis caused by an allergy is not contagious, but conjunctivitis caused by infection may be contagious to other dogs so extra hygiene precautions may need to be taken to ensure it's not passed on to other dogs. Your vet may prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment depending on the cause of the eye problem. The bacteria that causes conjunctivitis in dogs is not the same as the one that affects humans, so dogs cannot pass conjunctivitis on to humans. Eye Problems In Cocker Spaniels - Summary As you can see from the above, there are many potential eye problems in dogs, so it's important to inspect your cocker spaniel's eyes on a regular basis in order to ensure they remain clear and healthy. This inspection can be carried out each day, but a more thorough examination may be incroporated into your dog's regular grooming routine. If you'd like to know more about eye problems in dogs, you can visit this website - Dog Health Guide - we think you'll find it very useful. Like our own, your dog's eyesight is very precious. If you should discover any of the above symptoms, or you have any concerns or questions about eye problems, please consult your vet immediately: don't try to diagnose the symptoms yourself, leave that to the professionals.
Return to top of page - Eye Problems In Cocker Spaniels Return to Grooming Cocker Spaniels Return to the Cocker Spaniel Homepage
|
