Head to tail: The eyes have it
April 05, 2010 • Health & Wellness
Can it really be April 5th? Where is the year flying off to? Hopefully somewhere relaxing, road ready and Fido friendly for you and your canine crew. April is also Pet First Aid Awareness month. To celebrate and inform, we’ll be featuring tips and advice throughout the month, complete with checklists, some goodies to give away and handy reminders. How often have you looked over at your favorite Fido and caught the glance of those loving, pleading eyes asking you for “just one more treat?” Or maybe a belly rub? A play session? A walk? Who amongst us won’t willingly admit to falling prey to the soulful gazes our BFF (best furry friends) cast upon us? Present company included!
More than windows to the soul, a canine’s eyes provide important health information. As much as we’d like to know if his vision is blurry or his eyes feel itchy, Fido just can’t tell us. According to veterinarian Dr. Dennis Selig, everyday irritants such as dust, smoke and pollen can cause eye discomfort and redness as well as carpet fresheners, potpourri and perfume. For pets, this irritated tissue around the eye can rapidly become inflamed or infected and lead to serious pet eye issues, which can often require expensive medical care.
So just what can we, as loving guardians, do to keep an eye out for healthy vision? Since eye problems may or may not present themselves in a front and center fashion, we’ve outlined some preventative measures and things to ‘look out’ for in your favorite pooch/pooches:
Although tempting, it’s not in Fido’s best interest to let his head hang out the window while riding in a car. Fragments, dirt and debris flying into Fido’s eyes while traveling even at a low rate of speed can cause serious damage or injury.
Are Fido’s eyes frequently bloodshot, bulging, or appear swollen? Don’t use over-the-counter human eye medications. Have those baby blues (or greens or browns) examined asap by the vet.
Does the eyelid appear to be turned inward or outward? Never attempt to fix these problems, as more damage can be done. Call the vet.
Fido face first. Since dogs tend to sniff the ground and tackle their immediate path face first, the cornea can easily be scratched. Redness, watering, and pawing at the eye may ensue.
A cloudy and/or bluing of the eyes may indicate glaucoma, so a vet visit is in order.
Any sort of growth or formation, especially if causing an inability to close the eye, requires urgent attention.
Discharge or excessive tearing may be signs of infection or a blocked tear duct or may cause irritation to underlying skin. Refer to the vet.
Disturbances in vision and/or early signs of blindness may include bumping into things and Fido may seem confused. The earlier this is checked out , of course, the better.
We love our pooches and in return they speak love with their actions, a tail wag and the story told through the eyes. An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a lifetime of canine companionship.
Did you know? Thousands of service dogs will receive free sight saving eye exams throughout the U.S. and Canada? Click here to learn more: NATIONAL SERVICE DOG EXAMS
Question: When you last looked at your dog, what were his/her eyes saying to you?
