Please see a veterinarian in case of eye diseases or changes in your dog's eyes.
Eye diseases in dogs – N –
Retinal detachment in the dog
A retinal detachment in a dog can go over the entire retina (total) or the retinal detachment is limited to certain areas (partial). Retinal detachment disease involves the detachment of the retina from the underlying choroid. Untreated retinal detachment leads to blindness of the dog.
Causes: – Hypertension of the dog – Abnormal differentiation of the retina/retinal dysplasia – Focal/partial retinal detachment – Inflammation of the retina and choroid/chorioretinitis Symptoms: – Partial retinal detachment is usually an incidental finding because nothing can be seen externally. Eye of the dog has a dilated pupil. Reacts poorly or not at all to light.
Treatment: – Lowering of increased blood prere in dogs – Laser therapy is successfully used in dogs with retinal dysplasia. – In case of partial retinal detachment, laser therapy is also successfully used in dogs. – Antibiotics.
Treatment when dog suffers from chorioretinitis.
Nucleus sclerosis/nucleosclerosis in dogs
Many older dogs develop an eye disease called nuclear sclerosis/ nucleosclerosis. This, despite the pupil appearing grayish-white (as in cataracts), has no effect on the dog's vision.
Nucleosclerosis is a normal, age-related change in the lens of the dog's eye.
Causes: Normal, age-related change in the lens of the dog's eye.
Symptoms: – The dog's eyes become cloudy. – The dog's ability to see in the dark is reduced. – Possible defective vision in the dog.
Treatment: The nucleus sclerosis / nucleosclerosis does not require any further treatment.
Eye diseases in dogs – P –
Persistent pupillary membranes (PPMs)
As an unborn puppy in the embryonic stage, the dog is equipped with vessels in the front of the eye that are connected to its cornea. These vessels serve for development and supply. Normally, these vessels regress. Detachment until the dog is born. If this does not happen, the result is a persistent pupillary membrane, which is the name given to the remaining embryonic vascular cords in the anterior region of the eye. There are vascular strands that can be seen with the naked eye. Others again only with a strong enlargement. The remaining vessels cause a continuous friction and this can lead to a corneal opacity, which is only visible after opening the eyes of the puppy. If the corneal opacity is punctiform. Small, the dog rarely has a limitation of his vision.
Total corneal opacity In total corneal opacity, the dog can see little to nothing with the affected eye.
Causes: Vessels above the cornea do not regress in dogs.
Symptoms: – A small, punctate corneal opacity – A total corneal opacity.
Treatment: Rarely does persistent pupillary membrane cause a decrease in the dog's vision. If the dog's ability to see is endangered, surgical treatment is performed.
Fungal conjunctivitis of the canine eye
This conjunctivitis is caused by fungi. The conjunctiva of the dog's eye also harbors many fungi, germs, normal bacteria that can multiply extremely and rapidly due to some things, causing infection of the dog's eye.
Causes: – by foreign bodies in the dog's eye – by injuries of the dog's eye – by infections caused by viruses – by the reduction of the tear flow Symptoms: – a reddening of the affected dog's eye – the eyelids of the affected dog's eye stick together/crust – the affected dog's eye secretes greenish-yellow secretion – the dog blinks – the dog pinches the eyes together – the dog often rubs the affected eye with the paw
Treatment: Present the dog to a veterinarian. The reason for the bacterial. Fungal conjunctivitis can be found.
Usually local antibiotic medication is administered.
The stuck and encrusted eyelids must be softened with a wet lukewarm and lint-free cloth to remove the encrustations afterwards.
Pigmented keratitis (pigmented cornea) Keratitis pigmentosa
In canine corneal inflammation, pigmentation of the cornea of the affected dog's eye is prominent.
Pigmentary creatitis is often found in flat-faced breeds of dogs, z.B. in: – Pug – Shih Tzu – Pekinese
Causes: – Chronic irritation caused by the hairs of the nasal folds. – Not properly closing eyelids – Abnormal/misgrown eyelashes – Curling of the lower eyelids – Dog has weak immune system Symptoms: – Pigmentary creatitis usually starts at the eyeball on the side of the nose Treatment: – The most effective treatment is surgical removal of the nasal fold – Drug treatment: of pigmentary creatitis – Regular trimming of the hair around the nasal fold prevents constant irritation of the cornea.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)/death of the retina in dogs
Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a hereditary eye disease in dogs. This eye disease causes the retina of the dog's eye to slowly but steadily die, to the point of complete blindness of the eye. Between the appearance of the first symptoms (at 3-5 years). His total blindness (with ca. 6-9 years) lie years.
A frequent consequence is cataract.
Causes: – Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a genetic disease of the retina. The affected dog already has this condition from birth
Symptoms: – First symptoms are signs of night blindness. – Affected dogs have an unsteady movement in the dark. – Unknown persons/objects are fearfully barked at by the dog. – Lower self-confidence is observed in the dog (z. B. with stairs). – The affected dog bumps into objects unknown to it. – The affected dogs do not leave their owner's side. – The pupil of the dog closes incompletely.
Treatment: At present there is no medication or surgical method that can cure Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
Eye diseases in dogs – R –
Retinal dysplasia – maldevelopment of the retina
The maldevelopment of the retina in dogs is mostly inherited.
The most common dog breeds affected by it are: – American cocker spaniel – Australian shepherd – Bedlington terrier – English springer spaniel – Golden retriever – Labrador retriever – Poodle
Causes: – Vitamin A deficiency – Trauma in the womb – Various medications – Viral infection (z.B.herpes) – Infectious canine hepatitis (adenoviruses) – Kennel cough
Symptoms: – Retinal dysplasia is often diagnosed by a veterinarian during a routine examination of the dog's eyes.
Treatment: There is no treatment possibility in this sense. Retinal dysplasia rarely causes blindness in dogs.
Rollid (entropion) in dogs
Entropion is the eye disease where the eyelids of the dog roll inwards.
There are dog breeds in which this disease is hereditary, for example. B Rottweiler. Chow- Chows.
Causes: – Through heredity in some dog breeds. – Longer lasting eyelid infections. – Scarring of the skin around the dog's eye. – Eye pinching
Symptoms: rolling in of the eyelids
Treatment: The eye disease of the dog is treated surgically.
Eye diseases in dogs – S –
Optic neuritis (neuritis optica)
The optic neuritis is an eye disease of the dog which mostly affects both dog eyes. It leads to sudden blindness.
Causes: – Possible consequence of an infectious disease z.B. canine distemper – an abnormal reaction of the immune system without any apparent cause.
Symptoms: Pupils of affected dog's eyes are fixed and wide.
Treatment: The dog should be presented to a veterinarian as soon as possible. – Immediate administration of cortisone is usually necessary. – The treatment of optic neuritis is based on the underlying disease and may be used to prevent blindness. Accompanied with anti-inflammatory medications.
Sheepdog – keratitis (inflammation of the cornea)
The eye disease shepherd dog – keratitis (corneal inflammation) has its name from the fact that it occurs predominantly in German shepherd dogs and in German shepherd dog mongrels.
Shepherd dog keratitis usually occurs in dogs between the 3. and 5. This eye disease occurs episodically before the dog reaches the age of 18.
Shepherd dog keratitis is a chronic inflammation of the cornea of the dog. The affected dog should be kept in the summer (z.B. at the seaside and when there is bright sunshine) and in winter in the mountains should be protected from the sun. During this time, it's best to do so only very early. Going out with the dog late in the evening.
Also sunglasses, which are accepted by most dogs after a period of acclimatization, bring relief to the dog.
Causes: A final clarification of the causes of shepherd dog keratitis does not exist yet. It is suspected that it is an autoimmune disease, that is, the immune system of the dog attacks its own body cells in the outer cornea. The UV light is an external trigger (due to the intense sun rays in summer. In winter in the mountains, a more frequent outbreak of shepherd dog keratitis can be observed).
Symptoms: The disease almost always begins at the outer corner of the eye, both eyes. – At the beginning the outer corneal rim has reddish-white deposits. – In the further course of the disease the reddish-white deposits move to the center of the cornea.
Treatment: After the onset of the disease, quick action is necessary to avoid permanent damage to the dog's eyes.
– Cortisone is prescribed by the vet in acute condition. – For the permanent therapy usually an eye ointment is prescribed. – Regular control examinations by the veterinary surgeon are important
If the shepherd dog keratitis is not treated in time and above all regularly, it can come to the blindness of the dog.
Atrophy of the fundus of the eye (PRA)
Ocular atrophy is a hereditary eye disease that results in loss of vision for the dog.
The poodle is one of the most frequently affected dog breeds.
Causes: – Atrophy of the fundus of the eye.
Symptoms: In this eye disease, the dog gradually loses its vision.
Treatment: At present there is no treatment possibility to prevent the blindness of the dog.
Eye diseases in dogs – T –
day blindness (hemeralopia)
The eye disease day blindness (hemeralopia)is inherited, but in most cases it affects only the following dog breeds:
Causes: Inherited retinal disorder.
Symptoms: The affected dog suffers from low vision in dim light.
Treatment: There is currently no successful treatment for affected dogs.
Teary eyes in dogs
Many eye diseases of the dog are accompanied by lacrimation. However, blocked or congenitally deformed tear ducts also cause watery eyes in the dog.
Dog breeds that tend to have blocked tear ducts, (inherited): – Bichon Frisee – Lhasa Apso – Maltese – Pomeranian – Poodle – dwarf dog breeds – flat-faced dog breeds
Causes: – Blocked tear ducts – Congenitally deformed tear ducts.
Symptoms: Chronic lacrimation colors the dog's coat at the eye mahogany color. Once the cause of lacrimation in the dog has been identified. Eliminates improvement occurs.
In case of bacterial infection the dog is treated with antibiotics.
A surgical treatment method for congenitally deformed tear ducts does not exist at this time.
Chronic lacrimation does not stain the dog's coat if the tears are wiped off 2x daily (preferably in the morning/evening) with a cotton ball soaked in physiological saline solution.
Trichiasis in dogs
The eyelashes are bent inwards and not outwards in this eye disease.
Causes: The eyelashes are bent inward and touch the eye.
Symptoms: – The abnormality of the eyelashes causes constant irritation of the eye. – the risk of conjunctivitis is increased. – the risk of corneal damage is increased.
Treatment: – A temporary relief brings the dog the plucking of the eyelashes with tweezers, but unfortunately, the eyelashes grow back again. – More effective is the surgical removal of the hair follicles.
Dry dog eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)
Since conjunctivitis is a common disease of the dog's eye, it is difficult to diagnose dry eye in a dog if only inflammation is visible but no tear production test is done. The dry eyes of the dog are caused by a lack of sufficient tear fluid, which can lead to a drying out of the cornea and the conjunctiva on one or both eyes of the dog. In the initial stage this eye disease is difficult to diagnose in dogs.
The following breeds of dogs are often affected by dry eyes:
– American Cocker Spaniel, – ChiHuaHua – Dachshund – English Bulldog – English Cocker Spaniel – Lhasa Apso – West Highland White Terrier – Yorkshire Terrier – Miniature Pinscher – Miniature Schnauzer
Causes: – Lack of tear fluid – Chronic conjunctivitis – After injury to the lacrimal glands – After surgery in the area of the lacrimal glands – Immunodeficiency/immune system related diseases of the dog – Bacterial infections – Viral infections (e.g.B. distemper) – adrenal gland malfunction – infections caused by staphylococci – after-effect after a dog's middle ear infection when the nerves of the lacrimal glands have been damaged. – Various medications (z.B. Sulfonamides) – A vitamin deficiency (z.B. Vitamin A) – Failure of the lacrimal gland to attach or develop (z. B. Yorkshire Terrier).
First signs of the disease dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) in dogs are z.B.
– Itching of the eye, the dog rubs it constantly. – frequent blinking of the dog. – Sometimes the dog is also hypersensitive to light.
Signs as the disease progresses dry eyes (keratoconjunctivitis sicca):
– The dog eye retracts into the eye socket. – The cornea of the affected dog's eye looks dull/matte, loses its shine. The nictitating membrane/third eyelid falls before. Becomes visible. – The secretion from the affected dog's eye is mucus-like, which is viscous and looks yellowish-greenish or whitish-yellow, especially in the morning. – The conjunctiva of the sick dog eye is reddened and swells strongly. – The color of the cornea changes depending on the severity of the disease stage (from cloudy, milky white to reddish).
If the disease has become chronic, the cornea of the diseased dog's eye is – darkly pigmented, which leads to the restriction of the dog's vision.
Treatment: if the disease is mild, artificial tears are administered for several weeks.
If the dog also has a bacterial infection, it is treated with antibiotic medication
– For permanent therapy of dry eyes, an eye ointment with the active ingredient cyclosporine is usually used. – If this is not successful, the disease can be treated surgically. – A cure of the disease dry eyes is not yet possible.
Eye diseases in dogs – U –
Ulcerative keratitis in dogs
Ulcerative keratitis is an inflammation of the cornea that either – affects the surface of the cornea or – penetrates deep into the lowest layer of the cornea
Ulcerative keratitis can progress with deep or superficial ulceration and lead to the collapse of the eye. This eye disease is more severe. More serious than non-ulcerative keratitis.
Non-ulcerative keratitis
Causes: formation of ulcers due to – dry eyes of the dog, – hypothyroidism, – physical injuries, – diabetes in the dog, – inherited corneal dystrophy, – adrenal gland hypofunction in the dog.
Symptoms: – Eventual sensitivity of the dog to light. – Increased lacrimation. – Eye pinching. – In case of ulceration severe pain may occur.
Treatment: – Especially for dogs, soft contact lenses can give protection to the eye. – Surgical intervention is usually unavoidable.
Uveitis of the dog eye
Uvetitis is diagnosed when the choroid (uvea) of the dog's eye is inflamed. The choroid is the supplier of the blood to the dog's eye with z.B. Glucose, oxygen and much more supplied. This allows pathogens/inflammatory cells to quickly reach the dog's eye. Damage to the dog's eye can occur if inflammation of the choroid does not stop.
Uveitis Anterior (inflammation of the iris)
There are two types of inflammation of the inner eye in dogs. Uveitis Anterior is an inflammation of the iris. Of the ciliary body of the dog's eye which is associated with great pain for the dog. Uveitis posterior is an inflammation of the choroid gland. Adjacent retina (chorioretinitis).
Causes: – Weak immune system of the dog – Various organ diseases of the dog – Various infectious diseases of the dog, z.B. Leptospirosis (bacterial infection), Leishmaniasis u.s.w. – Fungal infections of the organs of the dog – Tumors – Cancers that metastasize
Symptoms: – Blinking of the dog – Reddened conjunctiva – Reddened iris – Hypersensitivity to light – Clenching of the eyelids – Cloudy cornea (corneal edema) – Constricted pupils – Bleeding in the eye – Cloudy aqueous humor of the affected dog's eye
Treatment: A fast and intensive treatment of uveitis anterior and uveitis posterior is necessary to avoid the destruction of the inner eye structures and to prevent a possible. To avoid subsequent chronic inflammation.
– Anti-inflammatory drugs – If there is an organ infection of the dog at the same time, antibiotics are administered.
Eye diseases in dogs – V –
Viral conjunctivitis/ (viral conjunctivitis) in dogs
This is a form of conjunctivitis of the dog's eye caused by a viral infection, making the eyes susceptible to bacterial conjunctivitis.
Causes: – distemper viruses – hepatitis viruses
Symptoms: – Decreased tears/dry eyes – Irritated, reddened conjunctiva of the affected dog's eye – The dog blinks – The dog rubs the affected eye with his paw
Treatment: – A distemper infection can be diagnosed by the veterinarian by a swab of the conjunctiva early – If a secondary bacterial infection is present it must be treated with antibiotic medication. – If tears are reduced, keep the dog's eyes moist with physiological saline solution.
Prolapse of the nictitating gland in the dog
This disease is also called cherry eye in dogs. Normally, the gland of the third eyelid/nictitating membrane is not visible in dogs. The prolapse of this nictitating gland occurs more frequently in young dogs. Causes – prolapse of the nictitating gland Symptoms: – the prolapsed inflammatory-reddened roundish nictitating gland becomes visible – decreasing lacrimal flow with chronically prolapsed nictitating gland Treatment: – surgical correction of the nictitating gland – removal of the nictitating gland is not advisable, because the consequence for the dog and the affected eye can then be dry eyes.
Eye diseases in dogs – Z –
Central progressive retinal atrophy
Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy is similar to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).
It is also a hereditary eye disease. nd. Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy usually affects both eyes of the older dog, but only the center of the retina (retina). It does not necessarily lead to complete blindness in dogs. Central Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a genetic disease of the retina. Is in the affected dog already from birth.
Symptoms: – Night blindness is not present – The dog's central vision is impaired – The dog cannot see static/solid objects/anymore. Moving things he can still see.
Treatment: – z. Zt. there is still no treatment against the Central Progressive Retinaathrophy.
Information on canine eye diseases from A-Z can be found …here
Worth knowing around the dog eye you find …here
Information about the care of the dogs eyes you will find …here
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