eye drops dry eye

What is Dry Eye?

As dogs age, they become more prone to certain diseases and conditions. You may notice behavioral changes in your dog as well. While aging is a necessary part of life, deteriorating health isn’t and if you’ve invested in your dog’s health throughout his life, aging shouldn’t necessarily be a debilitating experience. Monitoring your dog’s eating and drinking habits throughout his life is vital but is especially so in this later years. Observe your dog’s activity levels as well as this can tell you a lot about the condition of your dog. Fur and coat condition is also a good indicator of how well (or not) your dog is doing and any change in coat condition or weight should prompt you to investigate further.

One of the most common condition older dogs develop is dry eye. This happens when a dog’s tear glands aren’t working as efficiently as they used to and results in a painful condition known as dry eye. If the condition is ignored it can lead to eye infections and even corneal scratching. When the eye becomes so dry that the cornea becomes scratched, your dog could eventually become blind or at the very least develop ulcers in his eyes.

Discovering dry eye is relatively easy as it begins to manifest itself through a thick yellow discharge permeating from your dog’s tear ducts. Instead of clear or cloudy tears that help your dog in getting rid of debris and harmful organisms that potentially affect the eyes, this yellow discharge eventually develops into a crusty substance on your dog’s eyes and eyelids. Your dog may start pawing at his face in an attempt to wipe his eyes or he may begin to lose his eyesight. Don’t write this off as part of the normal aging process, it is not and can be easily treated so never neglect consulting your vet if you suspect anything is not right with your pet’s eyes.

Take your dog to the vet right away. Your vet will perform a simple test to determine if your dog has developed dry eye. This test involves holding a strip of absorbent material to your dog’s eye to see if the tear duct is producing any tears. By doing this, your vet will be able to determine if your dog’s tear ducts are functioning normally or not. It is a quick and simple test that only takes a minute but can literally save your dog’s sight.

Your vet will prescribe treatment to deal with any secondary infections resulting from the condition and if your dog is on any sulfa medication this will be stopped. Eye ointment or drops are usually used to treat dry eye, tacrolimus and cyclosporine ointment are usually the drug of choice. Never attempt to treat this condition by yourself, your dog’s eyes are very fragile and you risk blinding your pet. If the eye drops and ointments fail to cure the condition your vet may recommend artificial tear solutions. In extreme cases a salivary duct is transplanted to perform the function of a tear duct.

Always pay attention to any changes in your dog; this is especially important as your pet begins to age. Keeping on top of your dog’s health will ensure you enjoy your dog’s companionship for many years to come.

About the Author

Tony is an avid pet lover and also writes articles for Discount-Pet-Mall: A site that sells pet supplies such as dog beds and bark collars.

What is the best eye drops to use?

What is the Best Eye drops to use for dry eyes?
What is the best eye drops to use for Red Eyes?

Visine has one that is “Advanced Relief ” that is a lubricant and redness reliever eye drop. It works for me. =)

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