 Getting Rid of Tear Stains Imaging walking around day and night with dark goo streaked down your cheeks serving as a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. As unpleasant as this may sound to us humans, our canine friends commonly experience rheum, otherwise known as “tear stains”.Tear stains are a reddish-brown discharge causing unsightly discoloration around the eyes and is often extremely irritating for both dogs and cats. This excessive tearing condition is frequent amongst smaller breeds with short snouts and shallow eye sockets, and especially noticeable on dog breeds with light-colored fur. Poodle, Chihuahua, and Maltese breeds in particular are notably prone to this affliction, particularly when they are puppies undergoing their teething stage. Thankfully though, it is fairly easy to remove these unsightly and irritating marks at home. Home Remedies for Tear Stains It is also advisable to consider scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian if the problem continues to persist over time. While tearing occurs naturally, it can also be a symptom of greater problems, including ear infections, clogged tear ducts, allergies, and/or gum disease. For stronger tear stain relief and protection for your pet, VetRxDirect currently offers the following popular medications on sale now!
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Category Archives: Pet Eye Health
Does My Dog have Glaucoma?
Can dogs get glaucoma?
As much as human beings complain about getting older, we don’t have it nearly as bad as our pets. Because they have much shorter life spans, they experience accelerated aging, which often results in age-related illnesses. Arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, hearing loss, and other chronic and degenerative diseases often affect our canine friends from middle age on. One of the most serious disorders is glaucoma, since it can lead to complete and total blindness.
What is glaucoma in dogs?
The eye is one of the most sensitive and sophisticated structures in the body of most mammals. And like any other organ, it wears out over time. Glaucoma occurs when the ciliary body produces more fluid in the eye than is needed. This fluid helps our pets keep their eyes clean and protects them from dirt and dust and other debris that might cause damage. But when this vital lubricant becomes superfluous, it can increase the pressure on the retina and the optic nerve, which often adversely affects or impairs vision.
What are the types of glaucoma in dogs?
Since it is highly heritable, some breeds are susceptible to primary glaucoma. Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, and other breeds are far more likely to suffer from the disorder as they age. And after the first eye is damaged, the other one follows suit in about half of all cases, resulting in total blindness.
Secondary glaucoma occurs when another eye disease causes trauma to an eye that is affected with the disease. A disease such as uveitis, for example, can result in severe and expedited symptoms of glaucoma if it is not treated as soon as possible.
Like most age-related conditions, glaucoma can be either chronic or acute, depending on how quickly and aggressively the symptoms develop. In most cases, an eye that is affected with acute glaucoma is incredibly painful, and therefore much easier to detect. Even though your dog can’t talk, your furry friend will blink and squint and even cry from the pain. In advanced cases, the eye will not look normal. Because the pupils may be enlarged, it often results in a fixed, blank stare, much like a shark’s eyes. In other words, they will appear lifeless or dead.
Symptoms of Glaucoma in Dogs
Overproduction of fluid and the inability to get rid of it can cause a whole host of problems. They include headaches, excessive blinking, a cloudy appearance, dilated pupils, redness in the whites of the eyes, and partial or total vision loss. Many of these signs are obviously difficult to discern, since your pet cannot articulate them to you. But there are a few simple tests any dog lover can use to check his best friend’s eyes.
No, you won’t need an eye chart! Simply stand a few paces away and move a favorite toy from side to side. Do not use food, since your dog’s heightened sense of smell will enable him to follow it without his eye. But if you use a ball or a rubber bone, he won’t be able to focus on it if his vision is impaired, in which case he should be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Treatment of Glaucoma in Dogs
Both acute and chronic forms of the disease can and often are extremely expensive to treat. Surgery is an option, but it is quite costly and potentially dangerous, which is why most dog owners choose to manage the pain with eye drops. Most require a prescription, including the following drugs.
Dorzolamide Eye Drops for Dogs: A generic drug available in drop form, Dorzolamide can help decrease the pressure in eyes that are affected by primary glaucoma. These eye drops can also be used to help prevent the disease in an unaffected or good eye. The success rate of the treatment always depends on the extent of the damage and how early and often doses are administered.
Latanoprost Eye Drops for Dogs: Like the aforementioned medication, Latanoprost is a generic ophthalmic eye drop that helps reduce intraocular pressure, since that is what causes glaucoma and the consequent vision problems. For optimal results, it must be given on a daily basis, or as instructed by your veterinarian.
Flurbiprofen Eye Drops for Dogs: An anti-inflammatory eye drop solution, this generic drug can help alleviate the most painful symptoms of canine glaucoma. The prescription medication must be administered on a regular basis to be effective. Flurbiprofen Sodium can be used to treat both the primary and secondary types of glaucoma. Veterinarians recommend using it in affected and unaffected eyes, since it may prevent or at least slow the development of the disease in good eyes.
If your dog has been prescribed eye drops for glaucoma share your story in our comments below where members of our online community learn from each other.
Wes
What Prescription Pet Medicines Can Help Corneal Ulcers in Dogs
Because of genetics, dogs tend to have more eye problems than cats. According to experts, canines have a larger field of vision, but felines see much better up-close. Dogs cannot clearly focus on objects more than ten inches away. But since they evolved as hunters, both animals rely more on motion than on clarity or focus. In terms of overall vision measured by human standards, cats see better than dogs in all lighting conditions, including low light.
And when it comes to eye health, dogs tend to have more problems as they age. One of the most common and debilitating disease is ulcerative keratitis, also known as corneal ulcers. In this article we will discuss the signs and symptoms of the condition, as well as effective treatment options.
What is the dog’s cornea?
When it comes to basic structure and anatomy, the eyes of man and his best friend aren’t all that different. Both contain corneas, which are transparent parts covering and protecting the iris and pupil. The cornea also admits light and is extremely sensitive to environmental pollutants. Ulcers which form on corneas are classified as either shallow or deep.
Causes of Corneal Ulcers in Dogs
There are many reasons why your canine friend may develop corneal ulcers, including infectious bacteria, bee stings, pawing, tear deficiency, trauma, facial paralysis, or irritation caused by something stuck in the eye. The discomfort level of this condition ranges from minor irritation to extreme pain.
Symptoms of Corneal Ulcers in Dogs
Because it is incredibly sensitive, the cornea will react to the smallest of foreign bodies. More often than not, the eye will produce more tears to try to soothe the aggravation. Irritation may also cause redness, squinting, and sensitivity to light. Your pet may also try to rub at the eye with his or her paws in a vain attempt to achieve relief. In serious cases, there may be a noticeable discharge and a film may form over the eye.
Certain Dog Breeds are More Susceptible to Corneal Ulcers
As we mentioned earlier, dogs are more susceptible to genetic disorders and anomalies than cats. Because some dogs have eyelids that tend to roll inward, their eyelashes may come in frequent contact with their corneas, which can cause irritation. Pugs, boxers, bulldogs, and Boston Terriers are just a few of the breeds more likely to have this problem.
Diagnosis of Corneal Ulcers in Dogs
An experienced veterinarian is quite capable of diagnosing corneal ulcers with a simple eye exam. If your pet’s veterinarian needs to get a closer look, the use of diagnostic dyes to search for corneal ulcers or erosions may be used. When there is no noticeable damage, your pet’s veterinarian may take a sample and test it for bacteria and fungi. Blood tests may also be completed in order to rule out serious viral infections.
Treatment of Corneal Ulcers in Dogs
Common treatments for ulcers range from eye drops to surgery. Your veterinarian’s recommendation depends on the underlying cause. If the ulcers are found to be deep and growing, surgery may be the only option. However, this can be avoided with early detection and proper treatment. Catching ulcers early when they are merely superficial makes all the difference.
Antibiotics and other eye medications may also be applied topically onto the eye. Most are designed to stimulate tear production, which has a soothing effect on the eye and may expedite recovery. If your dog is in pain, the veterinarian may prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication.
Remend Available at VetRxDirect
One of the newest drugs for injuries to the cornea is hyaluronan corneal repair drops. Hyaluronan supports dogs’ natural repair system by providing the optimal environment for healing.
If your dog has protuberant eyes, there’s a good chance tears will not be able to reach the center of the eyes. This can and often does result in dryness, which can cause irritation. Many times, your pet’s veterinarian will recommend artificial eye drops or ointment to increase eye lubrication. Other pets are simply born with tear ducts that are deficient in some way. This can cause Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, also known as dry eye. The most effective and affordable way to deal with this issue is to apply prescription cyclosporine eye ointment as directed by your dog’s veterinarian. Without proper care of dry eye, this problem can lead to corneal ulcers in dogs.
As we mentioned, the drugs your veterinarian will prescribe depend on the underlying
Ciprofloxacin Eye Drops Available at VetRxDirect
cause of the condition. Ciprofloxacin is used primarily to treat bacterial eye infections in both dogs and cats. This powerful antibiotic is sold in drop form and must be used as directed. Although often more docile and obedient than cats, some dogs will resist the application, which must be administered on a regular basis. If you have difficulty applying these eye drops, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Your pet’s veterinarian will show you how to apply the drops without much fuss. Also be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before applying any eye medication. Failure to do so could result in increased irritation and recovery times.
Has your dog suffered from Corneal Ulcers or Dry Eye? What products did your veterinarian suggest or prescribe? What successes did you have with these pet meds? Let us know by adding your comments below to share your experiences with other readers who have dogs with eye problems.
Thank you,
Wes