Why Are My Dog’s Eyes Bloodshot?

Your precious dog is your happy pill and the joy that your pet brings into your life is immeasurable. When you come home, you have a furry friend who welcomes you back with wagging tail and happy yaps. And when you go out for the day, you have a sad little creature that is reluctant to let you go. Dogs are definitely human kind’s best companion, and they are always there by their human’s side through everything. That is why it is important that you are aware of everything that your dog is going through, and simple bloodshot eyes must never be disregarded as a natural occurrence that will go away in a few hours. Red eyes on your dog could be a slight irritation or minor allergy, or worst, it could be a sign of an eye disease.

CAUSES OF YOUR DOG’S BLOODSHOT EYES

As a dog owner, you need to be aware of the conditions that your beloved pet is going through, and when your pet has bloodshot eyes, you need to know that it can be caused by several factors.

• Allergies
• Glaucoma
• Conjunctivitis
• Trauma or eye injury
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or dry eye syndrome
• Corneal Ulcers
• Underlying medical problem
• Uveitis
• Orbital disease
• Hemorrhage at the eye’s front
• Hemorrhage within the eye that is caused by recently formed vessels

Never take your dog’s bloodshot eyes for granted, as the causes ranges from mild to serious eye problem for your pet. Consult a vet immediately as soon as your dog shows red eyes.

BLOODSHOT DOG EYES DIAGNOSTIC

Bringing your canine companion to the vet is the best thing to do when your dog has red eyes. The vet will perform the necessary tests to diagnose what is the cause of the bloodshot eyes, and the most common tests that vets perform are:

Complete Ophthalmologic Exam

This test is where the vet will examine closely every structure of your dog’s eyes to determine what the real problem is.

Tonometry

The vet will look into the internal pressure inside your dog’s eyes.

Schirmer Tear Test

This is the process where the vet will check the abundance or lack or normal production of tears in your dog’s eyes.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are done when the vet wants to find out if there is an underlying medical problem that is causing bloodshot eyes for your dog.

Fluorescein Stain Test

This is the method of eye testing for dogs where the vet looks for signs of injury or scratches to the cornea.

KEEPING YOUR DOG’S EYE FROM GETTING RED

No matter how much you love your dog, you can never protect your pet from every single factor that can potentially cause eye injury, irritation, or illness. However, what you can do is take pre-emptive measures in order to keep bloodshot eyes away from your precious furry friend.

Trim the Front Hair

Dogs with long hair are absolutely adorable, but long hair at the front can cause irritation to your pooch’s eyes. If you have a long-haired breed of pet, make sure that the hair of your dog does not reach the eyes, have it trimmed and clean. If you prefer to have your dog’s front hair long, then you can use a pretty dog hair clip to tuck away the hair so give a clearer vision to your precious pet, and avoid causing irritation to the eyes.

Remove Gunk

Always clean away the gunk on your dog’s eyes using clean damp tissue or thin cloth or a cotton ball. Wipe your pet’s eyes very gently, making sure that there is no more gunk in the inside corner of the eyes, and the outside. Just be very careful that you are not getting in contact with the eyeballs. Do this process as often as needed, and do not wait for the buildup to happen before you take action.

Buy a Pair of Dog Goggles

It is always a dog owner’s ultimate joy to watch their dogs hang their cute heads outside the running car window, and this scene is the common cause of awed stares from the other cars. But as adorable as dogs are in this position, this delightful act is actually one of the leading causes of bloodshot eyes in dogs. The open road contains a lot of debris, flying rocks, environmental pollutants, dirt, and small particles that can get in your pooch’s eyes and cause irritation. Buy your pet a pair of dog goggles when the situation on the road calls for a hanging of the head outside the window, and watch how your precious pet catches more attention than ever.

Periodic Vet Exams

Your dog’s health must be one of the top priorities for you, no matter how hectic your schedule can get. Bring your dog to the vet for a full body examination once a year if your pooch is still a young adult, and two times a year if your pet is s senior dog already. This periodic examination is important in order to make sure that your beloved dog is healthy, and any potential health problems can be addresses immediately.

Healthy Diet

You love your dog and there is no question about it. But, sometimes loving your dog can mean giving your pet all meat meals all the time, pizza slices, sugary treats, and many other forms of unhealthy foods. Fact is, dogs can become unhealthy and acquire diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, or worst, cancer. You need to take very good care of your dog’s health, and avoid problems like bloodshot eyes that can be a cause of many illnesses and underlying medical conditions.

Proper Exercise

Your dog needs proper exercise like daily walks in the neighborhood or in the dog park. Promote a healthy lifestyle for your dog so illnesses can be avoided, but be careful in letting your dog lose in the park or in the streets to avoid eye irritation that can cause bloodshot eyes, which can make your dog ill.