Eye Conditions
Eyes are the windows to the soul. Looking into our dog’s eyes, we can tell if they are happy, sad, excited, scared or not feeling well. Their eyes can be especially helpful in telling us if something is wrong and it's a good practice to regularly look at their eyes for signs of illness.
When checking your dog’s eyes, first start by looking at the eyes from a distance. They should be clear, bright and fully open. Then inspect your dog’s eyes more closely. A good way to do this is to hold up a treat for them to look at. Like us, dogs will often have sleep crusties in the corners of their eyes and that's nothing to worry about.
If you see cloudiness of the eyes, inflammation, or tearing it may be a symptom of ill health. This can be caused by a variety of reasons and some may warrant seeing a vet while others can be helped with a healthy raw diet.
Common Eye Problems
The most common eye issues for dogs include:- Conjunctivitis
- Dry eye
- Cherry eye
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Corneal wounds
- Entropion (eyelids roll inward)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (gradual blindness)
Eye Problem Symptoms
Healthy eyes should appear clear and bright with both pupils being equal in size and the areas around them white. If you notice that your dog’s eyes are producing any of the following symptoms it could be an eye condition that needs medical attention:- Excessive discharge, crust, or goopy eyes
- Excessive tears (Epiphora)
- Eyes appear cloudy
- Whites of eyes are red or bloodshot
- Pupils are unequal in size
- Droopy eyes, squinting or excessive blinking
Symptoms of many different eye problems look the same. If your dog is experiencing any of the above issues, consulting your vet can help determine if it's an infection or allergy, dry eye or something more complex.
Causes
Eyes are extremely sensitive and there are many factors that can contribute to your dog’s eye issues. Common causes are:- A minor abrasion
- An infection
- A genetic cause
- Allergies
- Dirt, debris, or excessive wind coming in contact with the eye
- Fur or hair lodged in the eyes
Prevention
A dog’s eyes are one of most essential parts of the body and can be very telling for illnesses making it extremely important to be proactive about protecting them. It's best to consult your vet for eye health care for any breed specific genetic predispositions and eye related issues.
One easy step you can take every day with any breed is to feed your dog a proper diet. A poor quality, highly processed, high carbohydrate diet is one of the most common causes of crusty, runny, or dull eyes. Commercial foods can also cause an allergic reaction, leaving your dog with red runny eyes. Feeding premium raw food full of quality whole foods will allow your dog to naturally fight off toxins that would otherwise cause issues with their eyes, ears and digestive tract.
Rebel Raw's meals are wheat free, gluten free, GMO-free, and made with a variety of different proteins and organ meats to provide the maximum range of nutrition and to prevent health issues from developing. Our Mix Complete meals contain parsley which has been shown to help with facial staining associated with excess tears. Our food also contains Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids to keep the cells in your dog’s eyes and brain working at full capacity.