Dogs’ eyes have a third eyelid at the inner corner
of the eye. Sometimes a foreign object may become lodged underneath
this lid causing irritation and possibly infection. A vet cannot remove
the debris without using an anaesthetic, so usually the “wait-and-see”
approach is taken and the object comes out on its own. Don’t allow
your dog to ride in the car with her head out the window because that
is one way that dogs get grit, insects, seeds, etc., in their eyes.
If you notice
a problem, a trip to the vet is the safest measure. For routine irritations,
you might notice a discharge and use an infusion of fennel (a tea made with
purified water and fennel seed) to clean and sooth the eye area. Some Dobes
develop hayfever in the summertime and can benefit from an eye wash. Avoid
using any eye drops that aren’t safe to drink, however, because liquid flows
from a dog’s eye to its throat. Human preparations from the drugstore aren’t
intended to be swallowed.
It’s not a good
idea to allow puppies and adult dogs to play together unsupervised. Adult
dogs will place their jaws over a puppy’s nose in order to establish dominance,
and sometimes a tooth accidentally damages the pup’s eye.
Older
dogs may develop cataracts, especially if they’ve spent a lot of time
in the sun during their lives. There are mesh masks made for horses that
protect the eyes from sun damage, but an indoor dog probably doesn’t need
this precaution. If you notice that your older dog is becoming clumsy,
stumbling more in the dark, or misjudging distances, you might also notice
a greenish tinge to the eye that wasn’t present when the dog was younger.
Consult your veterinarian--cataract removal is now available for dogs.
