White Film Over Puppy's Eyes: Possible Causes & Solutio
Section 1: Why Does a Puppy Have a White Film Over Its Eyes?
The presence of a white film over a puppy's eyes is often indicative of canine keratitis.
Canine keratitis refers to inflammation of the cornea, which can be found in the superficial or deeper layers of the eye. This condition commonly arises from trauma, injury, infections, allergies, or nutritional deficiencies affecting the cornea. Other eye diseases or conditions can also trigger keratitis. The primary symptoms include photophobia (sensitivity to light), excessive tearing, conjunctival hyperemia (redness), corneal opacity (a white film), eyelid closure, and corneal ulcers.
Symptoms of Canine Keratitis:
A. Traumatic Keratitis: In cases of traumatic keratitis, visible外伤痕迹 can be seen on the outer surface of the cornea, with roughened areas and damaged corneal epithelium at the site of injury.
B. Superficial Keratitis: Superficial keratitis presents with swelling of the corneal epithelium, a roughened surface, reduced transparency, and areas of opacity that may appear pale blue or grayish.
C. Deep Keratitis: This type of inflammation primarily affects the deeper layers of the cornea, causing significant pain upon palpation. The cornea appears cloudy and white, with the surrounding areas showing brushlike blood vessels and a hint of purple.
D. Purulent Keratitis: If the inflammation is purulent, the puppy will experience severe pain upon palpation, and puslike discharge may be present. In severe cases, corneal perforation and purulent endophthalmitis may occur.
Section 2: How to Treat Canine Keratitis
1. Eliminate Inflammation in Dogs
Firstly, we need to administer antiinflammatory treatment to the puppy. Gently soothe the dog with petting and conversation, then carefully flush the affected eye with sterile saline solution. Use a damp cloth to remove any secretions from the corners of the eye. Next, apply antibiotic eye drops or ointment to the conjunctival sac to prevent adhesion of the iris. Additionally, instill 0.5%1% atropine eye drops twice daily.
2. Inhibit or Prevent Canine Corneal Infection
After cleaning the dog's eyes, apply a lowconcentration antibiotic eye drop, such as 0.51% gentamicin or 0.25% chloramphenicol, one to two drops at a time, four to six times daily. In severe cases, switch to highconcentration eye drops, such as 40,000 units/mL penicillin, administered every half hour or apply antibiotic ointment.
The above information provided by Dr. Oxygen Pet offers insights into the symptoms and treatment methods for puppy eyes with a white film due to keratitis. However, there are other diseases that can cause a white film in a puppy's eyes. Eye diseases can be challenging to diagnose, so it is advisable for pet owners to take their dogs to a veterinary clinic for examination and treatment.