9 Common Eye Problems in Pets – Part 1

The eyes are one of a dog or cat’s most important body parts as they give the sense of sight. This sense of sight brings with it an easier ability to socialise and develop mentally. Here at My Pet Nutritionist, we often help those with a variety of eye complaints – nutrition can make a difference to your pet’s eye health!

Eye problems in pets can range from minor issues like Conjunctivitis, all the way through to severe conditions like Progressive Retinol Atrophy and other conditions that can end in blindness. This bumper 2-part blog explains what the 9 common eye problems we see most are, how they’re caused, and what you can do to help prevent or improve eye problems in your beloved pet.

In Part 1, we will be looking at Cataracts, Conjunctivitis, Dry Eye, Cherry Eye and Entropion.

Cataracts

With their classic ‘cloudy eye’ appearance, cataracts are one of the most commonly diagnosed eye issues in pets, especially in dogs. Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes clouded, and vision becomes impaired.

There are 3 types of cataract, each with differing levels of severity and cloudiness:

• Incipient: an extremely small, pinpoint-like opacity in the lens. This type of cataract does not require treatment, and doesn’t generally cause any form of vision impairment.
• Immature: partial lens opacity. Starts affecting vision, and is usually treatable.
• Mature: full lens opacity. Vision is lost, and treatment may be possible.

Cataracts are typically an age related condition, and is far more prevalent in the older population of pets than the younger population. The prevalence of cataracts is high in dogs older than 4-7 years (breed dependent), and very likely in those ages 10-13 or older.

Breed predisposition is also a determining factor for cataracts. Some studies suggest that cataracts are most common in 60 breeds of pure bred dog as opposed to mixed breed dogs. Common breeds that tend to be prone to cataracts include the Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Smooth Fox Terrier and Boston Terrier.

In a lot of cases, hereditary genetics are a determining factor too! Quite often if a parent pet has cataracts, it’s offspring will develop them too. These often affect dogs and cats earlier in life, however can appear later in life too.

Dogs with Diabetes Mellitus are largely at risk of cataracts; in fact, within their first year of diagnosis, around 75-80% of dogs with diabetes develop cataracts.

Trauma and inflammation are also associated with cataracts.

In most cases, cataracts are treated surgically. This surgery entails the clouded lens being removed (high frequency ultrasound breaks up the clouded material, and this is then suctioned out), and an artificial lens being inserted. This treatment is quite costly, but does greatly improve the lives of those who receive it.

Minor cases of cataracts are treated with corticosteroid or non-steroidal eye drops which manage inflammation in and around the eye.

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Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is the most common eye infection in pets. The swelling of the pink tissue inside the eye cavity becomes inflamed, which causes the outward symptoms associated with conjunctivitis.

There are many causes of conjunctivitis, such as:

• Bacterial, viral or fungal infection: these all cause inward stress leading to outward stress, and the pathogens themselves cause inflammation.
• Allergies: dust, dander and pollen can cause conjunctivitis.
• Foreign bodies: grass seeds are a big one! Grass seeds are nasty – they migrate inside the pet! The eyes are somewhere these seeds can get stuck. The inflammation caused by foreign bodies can cause conjunctivitis.
• Dry eye: when the tear glands are underactive, the eye lid becomes abrasive which causes inflammation around the eye. Read more on this in the next section!
• Breed predisposition: some breeds, namely those with unusually shaped eyes or who are susceptible to blocked tear ducts such as Pugs, French and English Bulldogs, Clumber Spaniels, Great Danes are predisposed to having conjunctivitis regularly.
• Environmental Irritants: areas of pollution outside, including smoke, gardening products etc can irritate the tissues around the eyes, causing conjunctivitis.

The signs to look out for which would commonly be associated with conjunctivitis include redness in the eye cavity, bloodshot eyes, discharge from the eye, squinting or rubbing the eye on furniture or with their paw, and unusually matted fur around the eye.

Treatment is usually done at home using prescription treatments from the vet, such as antibiotic eye drops, steroids or antihistamines, and massage of the tear drops. Saline flushes may be carried out at the vet in severe cases. Hypochlorous Acid products such as Leucillin may be beneficial for your pet, and chamomile tea soaks are often very soothing too!

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Findings Here

Dry Eye

Known clinically as Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), Dry Eye happens when the pet has an underactive tear gland. The role of the tear glands is to lubricate the eye, so when these are not producing enough tears, they eye becomes dry. This leads to inflammation of the tissues in the eye cavity, and sticky discharge, and eventually blindness if not treated.

In order to diagnose Dry Eye, the Schirmer Tear Test will be performed during which the veterinarian will place a specific paper strip under the lower eyelid for 60 seconds. The results are interpreted by identifying how far up the strip the tears have absorbed.

There are various causes of Dry Eye such as:

• Chronic infection: severe or long term eye infections can cause dry eye.
• Congenital issues: pets may be born without tear ducts.
• Autoimmunity: the body’s immune system attacks itself; in this case, it attacks the tear glands.
• Neural issues: some pets may have problems with the nerves that stimulate tear production by tear glands.
• Trauma: injury to the eye can cause the glands to stop working
• Medications: unfortunately all medications come with side affects. Some medications hold the side affect of reduced tear production, which can then lead to dry eye.

Treatment for dry eye is typically treated at home with a combination of medications to promote tear production, and artificial tear eye drops. This condition is life-long as there is no cure; it’s a case of management only.

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Cherry Eye

Cherry Eye is another condition affecting the tissues in the eye cavity and the tear glands, however in this case, the tear glands are usually functioning properly. Those with cherry eye find themselves with a cherry shaped lump at the bottom of the eye, protruding from the eye cavity itself. This lump is actually a tear gland from inside the third eyelid that has prolapsed due to weakened ligaments that are supposed to secure it in place.

It is thought that cherry eye is as a result of genetic predisposition. There is no specific known cause, other than it being down to the breed of the dog, though those of any breed suffering with dry eye or conjunctivitis may also be seen to get cherry eye. The breeds most affected by this eye condition are French and English Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Great Danes, Bloodhounds, Saint Bernards, Cane Corsos, Beagles Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus. Young examples of these breeds are most commonly affected. Allergies could also be linked to cherry eye in dogs.

Treatment of cherry eye depends on the severity of the cherry eye, and the frequency of the problem. If it’s a dog’s first time, and the cherry eye is fairly small, the vet will likely massage it back into position, however if this problem reoccurs or the cherry eye is severe, the vet will most likely treat it surgically whereby the lump is placed back inside its pocket, and often stitched in place to stop it from popping out again.

Findings Here
Findings Here
Findings Here

Entropion

This eye condition is extremely painful. Unlike with cherry eye where the tear gland pops out, entropion is where the dog’s eyelid rolls inwards, which then causes the eyelashes to rub on the lens of the eye. This rubbing causes inflammation and irritation, which can lead to infections, ulcers, scarring of the cornea, and in severe cases, blindness.

Typically entropion is a hereditary condition which affects certain breeds the most. The breeds most affected by entropion are generally those with wrinkly/excess skin including Bulldogs, Shar-Peis, Bloodhounds, Mastiffs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Rottweilers etc. Entropion can also be caused by injury, however this is less common.

When a dog has entropion, you will notice excessive tear production, squinting, potential pawing at the eyes or rubbing the face on furniture, inflammation around the eye, redness in and around the eye, and potentially ulcers, which we will discuss in part 2 of this blog!

When it comes to treatment of entropion, a surgery called a Blepharoplasty is usually performed, though in younger patients this isn’t often the first path of treatment until they’re a little older. The surgery entails the removal of a small section of skin and the placement of the eyelid in it’s proper position. Younger patients may have a stitch put into the eye lid to keep it from turning inwards, but the Blepharoplasty would usually be carried out between 6 and 12 months of age. If there are any secondary infections, antibiotics may be given too.

Entropion can also happen in our feline friends, most commonly in Persians, Burmese, Maine Coons, Himalayans, and Exotic Shorthairs due to their excess skin.

Findings Here
Findings Here

These conditions are all seen fairly often in the pet health industry, and can all heavily impact the quality of a dog or cat’s life, so it is paramount they are seen by a veterinarian as soon as symptoms begin! Head over to Part 2 of this bumper blog to find out more about common eye problems in cats and dogs. In Part 2 we will be looking at Glaucoma, Corneal Ulcers, Corneal Dystrophy and Progressive Retinol Atrophy, as well as looking at eye health from a nutritional standpoint!



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