Tips on dog eyesWhat do watery eyes in dogs mean?? What to do in case of conjunctivitis?
Dog eyes react much faster to movements than the human eye. In turn, however, dogs can't see as sharply as we humans can.
Compared with the other sense organs, the eye plays a rather subordinate role in dogs.
Dog eye diseases
In dogs, similar diseases of the eyes can occur as in humans. conjunctivitis, eyelid diseases and cataracts are not rare.
What do dog eyes see
Since we can not look through the eyes of our four-legged friend, we will never know exactly how dog eyes can see. Only on the basis of scientific findings and comparisons with the human eye can we draw conclusions about how dogs see their world.
Due to the similar structure of the eyes in all mammals, the eyes of the dog and the human can be compared quite well.
Interesting facts about the dog eye
According to the scientific work of Dr. Dana Vaughan dogs recognize the colors blue, indigo, violet and red quite well. On the other hand, they cannot perceive colors like green, yellow and orange. They distinguish them only on the basis of their contrast to the environment. Dog eyes look almost the same as the human eye. Nevertheless there are some things that differ. The eyes of the dog are flatter than those of the human eye. Dogs' eyes are more sensitive to movement and light, and as hunters, this is also more important. The dog's eye consists mainly of rods, which are the light-sensitive cells of the retina. This allows the dog to detect even weak light.
In the dark, both dog and human can't see anything, but at dusk or in low light, the dog is again superior to us due to a reflective layer on the back wall of the eye. This is also the reason why dog's eyes are so reflective when illuminated by headlights in the dark. Due to the fact that the muscles of the dog's eye are not as strong as those of the human eye, the vision of the dog's eye is weaker.
The dog's eyes are further apart than those of humans, which results in generally much better peripheral vision in dogs. The differences in peripheral vision also depend on the breed of dog. This peripheral vision can z.B. Pekinese by 5-10 times. In a typical terrier around 20-30 times lie.
Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva)
Conjunctivitis is a very unpleasant disease in humans as well as in dogs, which is accompanied by swollen eyelids, constant lacrimation and reddened eyes. Sometimes the inflammation can cause. The constant flow of tears agglutinate the eye.
Often dog owners notice that their four-legged friend constantly wipes his eye, blinks very often and the eyes are reddened. These are the first signs of conjunctivitis. Touching in the eye region is very unpleasant. Can even cause aggression! The visit to the vet is inevitable! Do not experiment yourself!
You can find more detailed information about conjunctivitis here .
But what are the causes for such an inflammation??
Some dogs have to deal with conjunctivitis more often due to their breed. For example, breeds with very large eyes (Pug , Cocker Spaniel, o.a.), or a too narrow palpebral fire.
Also susceptible are dogs with hair on the eyelid margin. But also bacteria, viruses or fungi can be responsible for such a disease. Also an allergy can be one of the triggers. But also dust, foreign bodies in the eye or draught. So there are many possibilities how this inflammation may have occurred.
Therefore, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible to find out where the inflammation came from. In most cases, this person will give you an ointment or drops to put in the eye for treatment. Let us show you how to do this, because not every dog likes to be touched on the eye. After a few days the symptoms should subside.
Disease of the eyelids
In addition to congenital disorders of the eyelids such as inwardly directed eyelash rows, pairs of eyelashes in unnatural inwardly directed position, the inwardly rolled eyelid (entropion), we know at the eyelids mainly injury-related problems.
Any change in the eyelids will usually be noticed quite quickly by you as a concerned dog owner. They will recognize the change, either by an increased flow of tears or by a visible thickening in the eyelid area.
Especially the pairs of eyelashes rubbing directly on the cornea are the real problem with the congenital eyelid changes. Due to the continuous friction of the eyelashes on the uppermost layer of the cornea, it is destroyed and reacts with a clear opacity. If this strain on the cornea is not stopped, even blindness can be the result.
Any change in the eyelids should be presented immediately to a veterinarian to avoid further complications.
Cataract in dogs
Dogs can also develop cataracts. This is a pathological change in the lens of the eye and leads to opacities. Depending on the strength of the cataract, it can lead to poor eyesight, up to complete blindness.
This disease can be congenital, or it can be caused by infections. It is often also a side effect of aging. Some breeds of dogs, such as Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers or Afghans tend to develop cataracts at a young age.
The so-called primary cataract describes a disease that originates from the eye lens itself. Secondary cataract, on the other hand, is the result of a disease, such as inflammation, malformation or pathological regression of the retina, or diabetes mellitus may be.
What treatment methods are available?
Depending on the cause of the cataract, there are different treatment methods available. If the cataract is caused by a disease, priority is given to treating this disease. If it is a primary cataract, then often in severe cases an operation is performed by a specialist. The clouded lens is removed. A new artificial lens is inserted.