Teddy Bear Eye Discharge: Causes, Treatment, & Medicati
Leaking tears from a Teddy's eyes is a common issue that can stem from a variety of causes, such as hair getting caught around the eyes, narrow tear ducts, or eye infections. To effectively treat a Teddy's eye leakage, it's crucial to first identify the underlying cause.
Next, Dr. Oxygen Pet will delve into the specific reasons behind a Teddy's eye leakage and provide some effective treatment methods and care suggestions.
Part 1: Common Causes of a Teddy's Eye Leakage
1. Excessive Eye Surrounding Hair: The dense, curly fur of a Teddy can irritate the eyes, causing discomfort and excessive tearing.
2. Foreign Objects in the Eyes: Teddy's eyes are prone to irritation or infection from dust, smoke, bacteria, viruses, and cotton fibers, leading to tears.
3. SaltRich Diet: Highfat, highsodium foods can affect a Teddy's gastrointestinal and liver health, indirectly causing an overactive tear gland.
4. Ear Infection: Accumulated earwax can lead to infection, and the sensitive facial nerves can extend the pain to the eyes, triggering tears.
5. Inverted Eyelashes: Naturally inverted eyelashes or entropion can cause abnormal hair growth direction, irritating the eye and leading to tear leakage in Teddy dogs.
6. Tear Duct Blockage: Many Teddy dogs have congenital narrow tear ducts or duct closures, preventing tears from draining normally and resulting in excessive tear overflow.
7. Eye Infection: Conditions like conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and keratitis can also cause a Teddy to tear up, accompanied by symptoms like redness, swelling, and increased discharge.
Part 2: How to Treat a Teddy's Eye Leakage?
For different causes of eye leakage, various treatment approaches should be adopted:
• Eye Cleaning: Firstly, it's essential to regularly clean a Teddy's eyes. Use a gauze or medical cotton ball soaked in physiological saline to gently wipe around the eye area to remove any accumulated secretions. This should be done 12 times a day to reduce irritation and prevent secondary bacterial infections.
• Medication: If a Teddy's eyes continue to leak and are accompanied by other symptoms such as redness and inflammation, a dogspecific antibiotic eye ointment can be used for treatment. For instance, Berangming (Neomycin Sulfate Eye Drops) can be applied 35 times a day, 12 drops each time. This is an aminoglycoside antibiotic eye ointment suitable for conjunctivitis and keratitis caused by Gramnegative bacteria, and it is also sensitive to Staphylococcus aureus.
• Regular Care: Keep the Teddy's face dry and clean, and trim the surrounding hair regularly to reduce eye irritation.
• Veterinary Examination: If a Teddy's eye leakage persists, it's advisable to take it to a pet hospital for a checkup. The vet may determine if the Teddy has issues like tear duct blockage, eye infection, or inverted eyelashes. In severe cases of inverted eyelashes and tear duct blockage, surgical treatment may be necessary.
During the treatment period, monitor the dog's daily behavior. If you notice it scratching its affected eye, consider using an Elizabethan collar to prevent further injury and infection.
In addition, maintain a clean living environment for the Teddy, especially the area where it lives, to avoid dust, hair, and other irritants from entering its eyes.