Dogs are special. Their specialty and uniqueness are based on their physical features and emotional features as well. Pertaining to their physical features, one of these features that stands out is their expressive eyes. Most people love their eyes because of how they appear. But, it is important to know that the eyes need to be taken care of in order to prevent certain eye-related illnesses. One such illness is the corneal ulcer. Hence, in this article, we will tell you all you need to know about Dog corneal ulcers.
The Cornea
The cornea is found in the external region or layer of the eyes. It is very important to the body of animals as it helps prevent bacteria and harmful objects from coming close to the iris and pupil, the inner regions of the eye. It is made up of four layers, viz: epithelium, basement membrane, stroma, and Descemet’s membrane. While the epithelium is the outermost layer, the basement membrane is, as the name denotes, found as the basement, the stroma is the thickest of the layers and the Descemet’s membrane is the innermost layer.
Corneal Ulcers
The Corneal ulcer is nothing more than an injury inflicted on the eyes caused by sharp objects or scratches. This is caused by external objects such as smoke, heat, chemicals, or debris, that come in contact with the inner layer of the eyes. Dogs easily develop this illness, most especially breeds with flat noses and prominent eyes.
Symptoms of a Corneal Ulcer
The symptoms associated with corneal ulcers are easily noticeable in some dog breeds. The Dog cannot conceal its painful experiences from its owner, as a result of this illness. Thus, it would necessarily express the symptoms of eye scratching, squinting, or an unusual manner of shaking its head. Some other symptoms include redness of the eyes, excess teardrop, and cloudiness, amongst others. Once the owner or the vet discovered these symptoms, one should take a necessary step by taking one’s dog to the veterinary doctor. This is very crucial as it would prevent further defects of the eyes, which includes blindness. Yes, Corneal ulcers can cause blindness to your dog. So, if you don’t want to jeopardize the life or health of your dog, it is advisable to take it to the veterinary doctor, once these signs have been discovered.
Diagnosis of Corneal Ulcer
When you take your dog to the veterinary doctor, it is the duty of the doctor to inspect and examine the condition of the dog. The doctor does this by using his or her diagnostic stain to check through the eyes of the dog in order to directly observe the ulcer. This stain serves two purposes; to make the injuries clear to the doctor and to show the extent or depth of the injury. The doctor may also wish to conduct other tests like the analysis of facial nerve function, the dry eye test, search for bacteria or fungi, and test for viral infections. After all, these, have been diagnosed and examined, the next step is to treat the illness.
Treatment of a Corneal Ulcer
We can say the diagnosis is complete only when the doctor is sure to have a clear vision of the ulcer. And has identified its depth or level. Then, the next step is to treat the illness. In treating the dog, the doctor makes use of antibiotic drops or ointment and puts it into the eyes of this poor dog. The doctor can also use optical pain medication. However, any method he or she uses. He or she needs to train the owner in its application and would be mandated to follow a certain prescription for better results.
One such prescription is the use of optical pain medication sparingly. So, that it will not interfere with disturbing the natural healing process or rate of the dog’s eyes. Another prescription is the use of a kind of collar, termed as Elizabethan collar, to put still the dog in the application of ointment. This would prevent the dog from scratching its eyes with its paws so that it will not complicate the situation. If this illness still persists, then take your dog to the veterinary doctor or ophthalmologist once more to take charge.
Prevention of Corneal Ulcers
Once The vet treats the issue, our dog gets back to its usual routine. But it is important to keep watch and prevent this from happening once more. In order to prevent this. It is important to prevent the dog from playing or rolling around in areas surrounded by sharp objects. As it poses a great threat to the Dog. Also, check the dog’s eyes daily for these symptoms, and once noticed, contact your veterinary doctor immediately.
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