Our pets’ eyes are so precious. They are amazing organs that can turn light into nerve impulses, which the brain can interpret as images! Here are some of the most common eye problems that we encounter at Coquet Vets.

Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva - the pink lining of the eyelids - is very common. You may notice that the pink part of their eye is looking more red than normal, or that there is yellow or green discharge from their eyes.

This can be caused by irritants, infection, allergy, or something rubbing the eye.

We will examine your pet’s eyes thoroughly and then we can usually prescribe ointment or drops to treat the inflammation and any infection. You can help your pet feel more comfortable by cleaning any discharge away from the eye with cooled boiled water where possible, and trying to stop them from rubbing or scratching their eyes.

Eye ulcers (Corneal ulcers)

A corneal ulcer is an injury to the cornea - the see-through front surface of the eye. It can be caused by a scratch, a foreign body in the eye, in-growing hairs, infections, or problems with the tears. Your pet’s eyes might be more watery and more closed than normal. You might notice that the eye is inflamed and blood shot, or that it looks cloudy or blue. Your pet might be scratching or rubbing at their face.

We can use a special dye to highlight the injury - it shows up bright green where the cornea is damaged. Once we have assessed the ulcer, we will decide on a treatment plan.

A corneal ulcer can vary in severity from a superficial scratch to a deep ulcer, which means the animal is in danger of losing their eye. Similarly, the treatment can vary from a number of different types of eye drops to surgery in very severe cases.

Some brachycephalic breeds of dog are more prone to developing corneal ulcers because their eyes bulge forwards and are more vulnerable to damage. Some breeds are prone to other problems - such as not producing enough tears - and this leads to a tendency to ulcers.

Guinea pigs can sometimes have a small piece of hay stuck in their eye, which can then scratch their cornea. We will numb the eye and remove any hay seeds and give them pain relief and eye drops where necessary.

Blindness

There can be a number of causes of blindness in our pets. Many pets can live an active and happy life with very limited or no vision as they can use their other senses to help guide them. Some blind dogs even benefit from having a companion who is their ‘guide dog’. They can follow their friend on walks!

Cataracts

Just like people, older pets or those with diabetes mellitus can develop cloudiness of the lens of the eye which can hamper the vision of that eye. However, cloudy eyes don’t always mean cataracts and we are happy to examine your pet to be sure of the diagnosis.

Cataract surgery is possible in our patients and is performed by specialist ophthalmologists.

Glaucoma

The production and drainage of fluid in the eye is normally really carefully controlled to maintain a constant pressure. Glaucoma is an increased pressure within the eye which can lead to permanent damage and loss of sight. Just like in people, in pets this condition causes a lot of pain like a very bad headache or migraine. You might also see that their pupils are different sizes, the eye looks red and watery, and your pet is squinting or blinking more often. Contact us urgently if you think your pet might have glaucoma.

Retinal disease

Conditions such as retinal detachment, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) may cause blindness by damaging the light detection system within the eye.

Entropion

This is a condition where the eyelids are turned or rolled inwards, causing irritation where the hair rubs on the eye. The irritation results in pain, increased tear production, and eventually may cause damage to the cornea.

Entropion can affect one or both eyes and we see this condition most often in dogs with lots of folds of skin on their face, or dogs with short noses (brachycephalic breeds). It can be an inherited condition, so even if it is corrected, these animals should not be used for breeding.

We often see this in a younger animal, and they might need one or more temporary operations while they are growing, with a more permanent operation to move the hairs away from the eye performed when they are fully grown.

If you have any concerns about your pets’ eyes or their vision, please don’t hesitate to call us on 01665 252 250.