Canine Conjunctivitis
Facts About Canine Conjunctivitis
Canine conjunctivitis can be quite annoying and heartbreaking. With any pet, you feel for them when they get sick. As a dog owner, I know I get nervous every time my K9 shows a sign of illness. I can understand an owner feeling that anxiety when his/her dog shows signs of conjunctivitis. However, if caught early and dealt with, it can easily be treated.
Conjunctivitis is defined as an infection or inflammation of the tissue around the eye region. There are two primary causes of conjunctivitis in all animals. A lot of times it is due to untreated allergic reactions. The other cause is when the dog has had a bacteria infection in the eye region. Either way, you should be able to easily notice this in your dog.
There are many symptoms and ways to recognize if your dog has conjunctivitis. First, you must be able to distinguish between an allergy and the virus. If you have had your dog for years this should be easy to do. You and your vet should have an idea on what your dog is allergic to. If you do not know your dog, then you should consider getting an appointment with your vet.
Either way, both allergic reactions and conjunctivitis cause a redness and glaze over the eyes. One way to tell the difference is take a Q-tip and swab the material that the eye is discharging. If it is a clear color, then it is allergies. If it is a dark mucus color, then it is conjunctivitis. Also, you will notice that your dog will be closing its eyes a lot. It is a common sign that the conjunctivitis is irritating the dog.
It is important that if you think it is conjunctivitis, you should consult an animal expert. Most of the time, it is nothing more than a mere sickness, but you have to consider the overall quality of life for your dog. As stated before, it is an irritation of the eyes. If it goes on too long, your dog’s eyesight could be damaged irreparably.
Sometimes, canine conjunctivitis can be part of a bigger problem. If you notice symptoms of conjunctivitis, just keep in mind that it could be something much more serious. An example of this would be ulcers in the eye. Another reason why the symptoms need to be looked at as soon as possible.
As stated before, you have to take care of the problem if your dog does have conjunctivitis. When you take the dog to the vet, they will do a series of test such as blood work and swab samples will be taken. Depending on whether it is bacteria, the vet will recommend a couple medications that will help eradicate it. One of the most popular ones is standard eye drop. By applying the eye drops through out the day, you essentially clear the eyes and help fight the bacteria or virus. An ointment is another option. It will last longer on the dog but you have to remember, your dog might not comply.
After your dog begins to show the signs of clearing, you should have a follow-up with your vet. It is important that when dealing with your dog and any sickness, you follow through. By following through and making sure that the condition does not come back, you ensure that the overall quality of life for your dog is good, the dog’s health is where is should be and that nothing else comes of it. And make sure that, as allergy season comes back, you are prepared to watch your dog more thoroughly.