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

184 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
The Outer Eye
CONJUNCTIVITIS (RED EYE)
Cherry eye (on the right
side in the photo) is a
prolapse of the tear gland
of the third eyelid.
Conjunctivitis, sometimes called red eye or pink eye, is an inflammation of
the conjunctival membrane that covers the back of the eyelids and the surface
of the eyeball, up to the cornea. It is one of the most common eye problems
in dogs.
The classic signs of conjunctivitis are a red eye with a discharge.
Conjunctivitis is not usually painful. If the eye is red and the dog is squinting
and shutting the eye, consider the possibility of keratitis, uveitis, or glaucoma.
Any delay in treating these conditions can lead to blindness.
When the discharge involves both eyes, suspect an allergy or a systemic
disease such as canine distemper. When it involves only one eye, consider a
local predisposing cause such as a foreign body in the eye or hair rubbing on
the eye.
The eye discharge in conjunctivitis may be clear (serous), mucuslike
(mucoid), or puslike (purulent). A stringy, mucoid discharge suggests the dog
may have inadequate tear volume, a problem associated with keratoconjunctivitis
sicca (see page 187). In fact, this is the most common cause of conjunctivitis
in dogs.
Serous conjunctivitis is a mild condition in which the membranes look
pink and somewhat swollen. The discharge is clear and watery. Serous conjunctivitis
is caused by physical irritants such as wind, cold, dust, and various
allergens such as those that cause allergic blepharitis. Allergic conjunctivitis
is often accompanied by itching, and the dog will rub his face. Some viral
agents will cause a clear discharge as well.