Conjunctivitis can be caused by an infection or allergy, which affects the dog's eye. In some cases it can be the alarm bell of the appearance of distemper. The opinion of the veterinarian and a quick intervention, in most cases, solve this annoying and painful problem of the dog.
Conjunctivitis is the infection of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the inner part of the eyelids. This irritation can be caused by allergies induced by pollen or other substances, such as dust, or by infections caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi, or finally by a foreign body. Inflammation can affect the sclera and is considered the most common ailment that can affect the dog's eye.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis differ depending on the cause. Generally, both allergies and infections both cause severe redness of the conjunctiva, caused by edema and an increase in the size and number of blood vessels within the conjunctival tissues. Ocular discharge is what is determined by conjunctivitis: infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi cause a dense, yellow or greenish discharge, to the point that the eyelids could remain "stuck" and remain closed, due to the accumulation of pus in the 'eye. As for allergies, they produce a clear or watery drain. Summer is the period in which conjunctivitis can make its appearance more easily, as it is usual for a forasacco (graminaceous arista) to become infected in the eye, which if not removed immediately can corrode the cornea causing serious ulcers. Forasacchi cause severe inflammation of the conjunctiva and are difficult to spot if the eye is not examined carefully and closely.
The dog with conjunctivitis often closes the eyelids and / or keeps the third eyelid extended to partially cover the eyeball. This infection is particularly painful and annoying, to the point that the animal usually rubs its eye with its paw or against objects or the ground.
Generally conjunctivitis is not a clinical phenomenon that puts the dog in danger of life, even if it is done too late it can lead to blindness. Conjunctivitis, in some cases, is the alarm bell of the onset of a more serious disease such as distemper. Conjunctivitis can be transmitted as it is contagious. The best way to treat this condition is to intervene immediately. The therapy to be followed can be anticipated by a culture test to establish if the cause is of an infectious type, what type of microorganisms are involved and which drugs are immune, in order to organize an effective treatment. Therapy usually consists in the administration of eye drops or ophthalmic ointments into the eyes, which are applied respectively every 4-6 hours and two or three times a day.
If you suspect that the cause is allergic, then anti-inflammatory drugs are applied, usually cortisone, subject to the exclusion of the presence of corneal ulcers, while if the cause is attributable to an infection, bactericidal or fungicidal drugs are used. . In overly compromised cases, the vet may adopt antibiotics to be administered orally, in addition to eye drops or ophthalmic ointments. Most cases respond to treatment, although it may take a week or two for complete recovery. Once the infection has been eradicated, i.e. the redness has disappeared as well as the discharge, it will still be necessary to continue the treatment even several days after the eye has regained its normal appearance. Furthermore, the hygiene of the eye is essential: it is recommended to gently clean the eyelids from mucus or pus with a gauze or cotton soaked in warm water, before applying the drugs in the eye. Avoid hydrogen peroxide for cleaning.
As with all diseases that affect dogs and animals in general, it is strongly recommended to listen to the opinion of the veterinarian, in order not to aggravate the situation and adopt the right therapy.