Dog's Red Eyes and Closed Pupils: Mystery Solved!

The eyes are the windows to the soul, and when a dog's eyes exhibit abnormal symptoms such as redness, inability to open, or excessive tearing, it could be a sign of various health issues, including foreign body irritation, infections, or allergies. It's crucial for pet owners to take these signs seriously and address them promptly.

Next, we will delve into the common causes and treatment methods for dogs with red, closed eyes, hoping to provide valuable insights for all pet guardians.

Part 1: Causes of Red, Closed Eyes in Dogs

1. Eye Irritation

During baths or playtime, dogs might accidentally get shampoo, dust, mud, pollen, smoke, or other foreign particles into their eyes, leading to redness, tears, and difficulty opening their eyes.

2. Eye Infection

If a dog's eyes have puslike discharge, it may indicate an infection such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, or blepharitis, which could be caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. In cases of viral infection, the dog might also exhibit symptoms like fever, runny nose, loss of appetite, lethargy, and diarrhea.

3. Allergic Reaction

Sensitive dogs may react to environmental factors like pollen and dust mites, leading to allergic conjunctivitis, characterized by red, itchy eyes.

4. Trauma

While playing outside, dogs might sustain eye injuries from collisions or scratches, resulting in red, swollen, and painful eyes that may not open. If left untreated, these injuries can lead to further inflammation.

5. Other Conditions

• Dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, and eyelash malposition can also cause red eyes.

• Certain systemic diseases, such as autoimmune disorders, can impact eye health as well.

Part 2: How to Address These Issues?

Firstly, if the dog does not exhibit other symptoms, you might consider using some antibacterial eye drops to alleviate the eye inflammation, such as the petspecific Beranming (Neomycin Sulfate Eye Drops). This is an aminoglycoside antibiotic eye solution that effectively targets bacterial infections caused by Gramnegative bacteria, Proteus, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus, among others, in pet eye inflammation such as conjunctivitis and keratitis.

In case you cannot find petspecific medication, you might opt for humanuse levofloxacin eye drops and erythromycin ointment, although their effectiveness may vary. If the condition does not improve, it is important to discontinue use to avoid the development of drugresistant bacteria.

Typically, mild conjunctivitis and keratitis caused by bacterial infections should see improvement within 5 to 7 days of treatment. However, it is advisable to continue medication for an additional 2 to 3 days for consolidation.

If, after treatment, the dog's red, closed eye symptoms persist or worsen, with signs of pus, it is essential to seek veterinary care immediately.

Additionally, if the dog shows other abnormal symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, runny nose, or loss of appetite, it may be infected with canine distemper virus or canine infectious hepatitis. In such cases, it is crucial to consult a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.