Dog Eye Health: Assessing and Optimizing

Your pup’s tail communicates a lot, but so do those sweet eyes. One look from your dog lets you know she’s ready for a walk, wants a bite of whatever you’re eating, or needs to go potty. Those eyes also let her explore the world around her and be on the lookout for robbers or vermin! And this is why optimizing and maintaining dog eye health is so important!

In this blog post, we’ll cover how to tell if your dog’s eyes are healthy, some of the most common eye conditions to be aware of, and tips for maintaining good dog eye health.

How Healthy Are Your Dog’s Eyes?

Your dog’s eyes not only tell you much about her mood, but also her overall health. That’s why it’s important to take a good look at her eyes every once in a while to assess.

The following are some ways you can determine your dog’s eye health:

Clear and Bright

In a well-lit area of your home (or outside), take a good look into your dog’s eyes. Healthy eyes are clear and bright and the area around the iris should be nice and white white. The pupils should both be the same size.

If you see any cloudiness in the eye, or unequal pupil sizes, bring your dog in for a checkup.

Free of Tears or Discharge

It’s not uncommon for a dog’s eyes to tear once in a while from dirt or other debris getting in there. But if your dog’s eyes have suddenly begun to tear often, or if you notice any colored discharge, this could be an indicator of an eye injury or infection. Call your veterinarian.

Observe

Simply watch your dog to observe her behavior. Is she suddenly rubbing or pawing at her eyes? Is she squinting? Does she seem more skittish or less confident than usual on walks? These are all indicators that something may be going on with her eyes that warrants a trip to the vet.

Common eye Conditions in Dogs

There are a variety of eye conditions that dogs are prone to, with some breeds being more genetically predisposed than others.  Let’s take a look at some of the most common canine eye problems:

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is a common eye infection in dogs. It can be caused by:

• Foreign objects: An eyelash or other debris in the eye
• Infections: Bacteria or viruses
• Allergies: Environmental irritants
• Dry eye: Lack of natural tear production

This inflammation leads to:

• Eye discharge: May be clear, cloudy, yellow, or greenish
• Redness and swelling: Around the eye and eyelids
• Itchiness and pain: Causing pawing at the eye and squinting

Cataracts

As dogs age, many will develop cataracts. This is a condition where their eyes become cloudier. While not a painful condition, it can eventually lead to full vision loss. 

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a painful eye condition caused by high pressure in the eyeball. Without prompt treatment, glaucoma can lead to permanent eye damage and vision loss. In addition to a haze that spreads across the eye, the whites turn red and watery. Your dog may also squint a lot. 

Corneal Ulcers

Corneal ulcers are deep scratches on the clear part of the eye. These can happen due to rough play, long hair poking at the eyes, or debris from exploring their environment. These ulcers should be treated promptly so they do not become worse. 

Tips for Maintaining Optimal Dog Eye Health

In addition to taking a good look at your dog’s eyes from time to time, the following are some of the best ways you can keep your pup’s precious eyes health as they age:

Grooming

If you have one of those breeds with long hair that can easily poke their eyes, you’ll want to be sure to have the area around their eyes groomed each month. While you can attempt to do it yourself, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional groomer.

Teach Your Children

If you have very little ones, be sure to teach them to be gentle around your pup. Babies and toddlers don’t understand that they can hurt your fur baby. And always supervise playtime with your pup and very young children just to keep everyone safe.

Car Trips

Though your dog may desperately want to hang their head out the window on your car trips, this is a surefire way to have a bug or debris fly into his eyes and cause a corneal ulceration. Go ahead and crack the windows a bit so they can sniff the air, but not so much they can stick their entire head out.

Understand Your Breed’s Health Risks

Some breeds such as English Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, Pugs and Collies are more prone to developing eye conditions. Ask your vet about your own pup to see if you’ll need to stay extra vigilant regarding eye health.

Regular Vet Appointments

Be sure to take your pup to see the vet for their annual checkup. As your dog ages, she’ll need to be seen twice a year to stay ahead of any potentially developing health issues, including eye issues.

Enroll Them in Pet Insurance

Keep your dog’s eyes healthy – and all of them healthy – by enrolling them into a pet insurance policy. Pet insurance gives pup parents peace of mind knowing no matter what accident or illness may occur, they can comfortably afford treatment. 

If you’re interested in pet insurance but don’t have a clue which providers are the beest, here are the top pet insurance providers – in order – based on over 150,000 authentic reviews from pet parents just like you:

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024

Rating	Provider	Total Review
4.9	Embrace	10,255
4.9	Healthy Paws	7,475
4.9	Fetch	174
4.9	Lemonade	781
4.8	Trupanion	55,007
4.8	Nationwide	21,391
4.8	Prudent Pet	124
4.7	ASPCA	5,697
4.7	Hartville	164
4.7	PetPartners	98
4.7	Spot	160
4.6	MetLife	424
4.5	Pets Best	7,194
4.4	AKC	889
4.4	Figo	587
4.3	Pet Assure	12
4.3	Pumpkin	54
3.2	ManyPets	11

References:

1. https://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/your-dogs-health/caring-for-your-dog/canine-eye-health.html
2. https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/evr_dg_eye_problems_in_dogs
3. https://cvm.msu.edu/vetschool-tails/pet-eye-health

Disclaimer

The information contained on this blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Always consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pet's health care or treatment plan.

The authors of this blog are not veterinarians and do not claim to be experts in pet health. The information provided here is based on our own experiences and research, as well as information from reputable sources. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information.

We encourage you to do your own research and consult with your veterinarian before making any decisions about your pet's health.