Effective Treatment for Dog's 'Red Eye Disease'

"Red Eye Disease" refers to acute conjunctivitis, a condition primarily caused by bacterial infections. It can affect dogs of any age and breed, typically impacting just one eye, although it may later spread to both eyes.

Symptoms of Dog Red Eye Disease:

● The conjunctiva becomes red and inflamed.

● An increase in eye discharge, often in the form of mucous or pus.

● The eye may swell due to inflammation.

● Excessive tearing.

● Photophobia (sensitivity to light).

● Eye pain.

● Frequent blinking.

● The dog may scratch at its eyes with its paws.

Common Causes of Dog Conjunctivitis:

1. Mechanical Irritation: This includes eye injuries caused by issues like misaligned eyelashes, entropion, external trauma, scratching, or foreign bodies entering the eye, which can lead to secondary bacterial infections.

2. Allergic Reactions: Dogs may be allergic to environmental allergens like pollen, dust mites, or disinfectants, or to certain food ingredients, leading to red, watery, and inflamed eyes.

3. Viral Infections: Diseases such as canine distemper, canine adenovirus, and canine cough can also cause conjunctivitis, often accompanied by other symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, loss of appetite, and fever. Immediate veterinary care is necessary.

4. ImmuneMediated Diseases: Sometimes, a dog's immune system may mistakenly attack normal tissues, including the conjunctiva, a condition known as autoimmune conjunctivitis.

Medications for Dog Red Eye Disease:

Treatment for acute conjunctivitis in dogs should be tailored to the underlying cause. At home, you can follow these steps:

✔ Fit your dog with an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from scratching its eyes and causing further infection.

✔ If there is a lot of discharge, gently flush the conjunctival sac with 3% boric acid solution or normal saline. Be cautious to avoid damaging the corneal epithelium and ensure that the contaminated fluid does not enter the other healthy eye.

✔ Administer antibiotic eye drops, such as Beramycin (neomycin sulfate eye drops), levofloxacin eye drops, or chloramphenicol eye drops. In severe cases, apply erythromycin ointment. Different antibiotics target different types of bacteria, so if there is no improvement after 23 days, consult a veterinarian for a precise diagnosis and medication adjustment. It's not recommended to mix multiple antibiotics without professional diagnosis, as this could lead to allergic reactions or other adverse effects.

✔ Adjust your dog's diet by avoiding highfat and highsodium foods. Encourage your dog to drink plenty of water and offer cooling fruits and vegetables like winter melon, pear, cabbage, cucumber, and broccoli.

Preventive Measures:

▷ Regularly trim the hair around your dog's eyes to prevent hair from getting into the eyes.

▷ If you notice any discharge or dirt in your dog's eyes, clean it promptly to prevent bacterial growth.

▷ Keep your dog away from potential pathogens, allergens, and hazardous sharp objects.

In cases of acute conjunctivitis caused by canine distemper or other diseases, it's essential to use canine distemper hyperimmune serum, monoclonal antibodies, and gamma globulin to suppress viral replication. Concurrently, use medications containing amoxicillinclavulanate potassium or doxycycline to control secondary infections. Due to the high mortality rate of canine distemper, it's generally not advisable to selftreat if your dog's eyes are infected and accompanied by symptoms like fever, runny nose, and sneezing.