Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

178 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
CHEMOSIS (ALLERGIC BLEPHARITIS)
Sudden swelling of the eyelids is an allergic reaction, most often to insect
bites or ingredients in foods. The lids appear fluid-filled, soft, and puffy, and
the dog itches and rubs his face. The reaction may be accompanied by hives
in which the hair stands out erect in little patches all over the body.
This is not a serious problem. It is of short duration and improves when the
allergen is removed.
Treatment: Simple cases can be treated with eye drops or ointments containing
a corticosteroid prescribed by your veterinarian. Your veterinarian
may also suggest an oral antihistamine to reduce the allergic response.
FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EYES
Foreign material such as grass seeds, dirt, and specks of vegetable matter can
adhere to the surface of the eye or become trapped behind the eyelids. Dogs
who ride in the open bed of a pickup truck and in the cars with their head out
the windows are at high risk for getting dirt and debris in the eyes. Thorns,
thistles, and splinters can also penetrate the cornea. This is most likely to
happen when a dog is running through dense brush and tall weeds.
Signs of a foreign body in the eye are tearing and watering, blinking,
squinting, and pawing. The third eyelid may protrude to protect the painful
eye.
Examine the eye as described on page 172. You may be able to see dirt or
plant material on the surface or behind the upper and lower eyelids. If not, the
foreign body may be caught behind the third eyelid. In that case, the dog will
need a topical eye anesthetic before it can be removed.
Treatment: To remove foreign material on the surface of the eye or behind
the eyelids, restrain the dog and hold the eyelids open as described in How to
Apply Eye Medicine, page 174. Flush the eye for 10 to 15 minutes using cool
water, or preferably a sterile saline eyewash or artificial tears. To flush the eye,
soak a wad of cotton in the solution and squeeze it into the eye repeatedly. If
you have a bottle of artificial tears on hand, you can flush the eye directly
from the bottle.
If the foreign body cannot be removed by irrigation, you may be able to
remove it by gently touching it with a wet cotton-tipped swab. The foreign
body may adhere to the cotton tip. Foreign bodies that penetrate the surface
of the eye must be removed by a veterinarian. Restrain the dog from pawing at
the eye while you drive to the veterinary hospital.
If the dog continues to squint or tear after the foreign body has been
removed, have him checked by your veterinarian to see if the cornea has been
damaged.