Causes of pathology
Conjunctivitis acts not only as an independent disease, but also as a symptom of another disease. When bacteria enters an animal's eye, disease immediately spreads. Most often this can happen when the animal's immunity weakens. In addition, veterinarians note a number of reasons that can give impetus to the development of eye disease in dogs:
- injury to the organ of vision;
- contact with chemicals in the eye;
- inflammatory processes concentrated on the eyelids or cornea of the eye;
- getting small particles into the eye, such as dust, hair, etc.;
- infectious diseases of an endogenous nature;
- hypothermia of the animal;
- burns of the organ of vision;
- lack of vitamin A in the animal’s body;
- allergic reactions;
- viral and microbial infections in the body;
- eye diseases that affect the tear ducts;
- poor metabolism;
- ingrown eyelashes.
In addition to these common causes, veterinarians note that Doberman Pinschers and Great Danes are most prone to this disease. It is important for the owners of these animals to be attentive to the condition of their eyes.
Pugs, bulldogs, Yorkshire terriers and Pekingese may also be considered at increased risk. If you are the owner of a dog of this breed, remember that their eyes are at high risk of infection with various pathologies.
Chlamydia as a cause
Chlamydial conjunctivitis is a fairly serious disease, and this no longer concerns the dog, but the people who live next to it. Chlamydia is extremely dangerous for humans. The problem is that it is extremely difficult to distinguish it from the usual bacterial type of pathology:
- a lot of thick pus is released from the affected eye;
- Damage to the reproductive and respiratory systems may be observed.
If a dog has lost its puppies and simultaneously develops conjunctivitis, immediately isolate the animal from people.
General signs
The disease has common symptoms for all species, with the help of which the dog owner can easily understand that his dog is suffering from conjunctivitis:
- discharge from the eyes;
- the palpebral fissure narrows;
- the dog begins to blink frequently;
- eyes close;
- the animal is bothered by itching;
- eyes turn red;
- the conjunctiva swells;
- bubbles form (in the chronic form).
When diagnosing conjunctivitis, you need to monitor the hygienic treatment of the animal’s eyes, after which the veterinarian will prescribe medications.
Conjunctivitis begins to develop in dogs when pathogens (bacteria, viruses) enter the mucous membrane of the eye. If the animal’s immunity is weakened, the body cannot cope with this problem on its own. This leads to the development of an inflammatory process.
In addition, the following factors can provoke this disease:
- Eye injuries.
- Hypothermia.
- Burns.
- Getting small particles of dust, fur or lint into your eyes.
- Allergic reaction to chemicals.
- The presence of concomitant infectious and inflammatory eye diseases.
- Vitamin A deficiency.
- Metabolic disease.
- Trichiasis is a disease in which the eyelashes on an animal's eyelid grow inward.
Dog breeds at particular risk include Dobermans, Pekingese, bulldogs, Yorkshire terriers, pugs, and Chihuahuas. This is due to the special structure of the eye in these animals. They have a slightly convex shape of the eyeball, which contributes to more frequent eye injury and foreign bodies getting into the conjunctiva.
A Yorkshire Terrier's eyes can become watery or festering for many reasons.
The eyes are often subject to inflammation due to a number of reasons:
- Hair is not pulled back into a ponytail. If the bangs constantly get into the dog's eyes, it will cause irritation to the mucous membranes of the eyes.
- There are bacteria on the bangs. In this case, the hair is a carrier of harmful organisms, which, when they get into the eyes, cause suppuration.
- Hair tied tightly. Many owners try to tighten the elastic band on their pet's forehead so that the upper eyelids lift. As a result, the conjunctiva becomes exposed, tears begin to be released in huge quantities, and pathogenic microflora joins.
- There is an infectious disease.
- Obstruction of the tear ducts. Suppuration of the eyes can also be caused by the fact that the dog’s tears stop going into the nasal cavity.
The disease develops after various microbes from the external environment enter the mucous membrane of the eyelid. Bacteria and viruses accumulate in the conjunctival sac and begin to multiply under favorable conditions.
With conjunctivitis, the lining of the dog's inner eyelid becomes inflamed.
The entry of pathogenic microflora into the eye is not dangerous for a healthy animal with a strong immune system. The body destroys harmful viruses on its own, and the disease has no chance.
Inflammation cannot be avoided if the animal’s body is weakened. In this case, microbes linger inside the eye and begin to actively multiply.
The cause of the disease can also be diseases of the eyes (see stye on the eye in dogs) and other organs.
The disease has only one cause - the proliferation of pathogenic microbes and fungi on the pet’s conjunctiva. Here you need to understand that the body constantly encounters pathogens, but usually it can destroy them on its own (that is, it has resistance). However, in some cases, resistance to infection decreases.
Experts list a number of predisposing factors as follows:
- damage to the conjunctiva due to eye injury;
- contact of a chemical with the eye;
- infection in the eye with foreign bodies, such as sand, dust;
- infectious diseases of an endogenous nature;
- lack of vitamin A;
- burns or hypothermia;
- metabolic disease;
- ingrown eyelashes;
- any other eye diseases.
Dobermans, pugs, Pekingese, Yorkies, bulldogs and Great Danes suffer from conjunctivitis more often than other dogs. In this regard, owners of these breeds need to carefully monitor the health of their pet's eyes.
Causes
A disease detected in time is easier to cure without serious consequences. It is worth understanding that even harmless inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye can lead to loss of vision, and if a secondary infection occurs, the scale of the consequences is completely unpredictable.
First, let's figure out what you mean by “sour”? As practice shows, owners use this term to describe different situations:
- A viscous, opaque discharge without a pungent odor accumulates in the corners of dogs' eyes.
- A thick, stretchy, clear or slightly cloudy liquid collects in the corners and on the dog’s lower eyelids.
- The dog's eyelids are covered in pus (or pus-like discharge). After sleep, the eyelids stick together and it is difficult for the pet to open his eyes.
The third point indicates already developed conjunctivitis , a contagious and harmless disease, unless, of course, timely treatment is started.
The first and second types of manifestation may indicate a very wide range of reasons:
- Trauma – during walks, a dog can injure its mucous membranes, especially if the four-legged dog likes to run in bushy areas.
- Foreign body ingestion – when playing in sand, loose soil, or keeping puppies in straw or sawdust, there is a high probability of damage to the mucous membranes by small foreign objects.
- Diseases of the gums and teeth - in case of inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, the dog may experience increased secretion of mucus from the nose and eyes.
- Allergy is an immune reaction expressed by itching, general deterioration, active functioning of the mucous membranes of the mouth, eyes and nose.
- Infectious lesion or weakened state - with any barely begun illness or elementary hypothermia, the mucous membranes of the body begin to work more actively, which can be expressed by copious discharge from the eyes.
- Bacterial infection - when affected by streptococci and staphylococci, dogs experience an acute development of general malaise, profuse discharge from the eyes and photophobia.
- Viral disease - canine distemper, rabies, enteritis and other viral diseases, are accompanied by profuse discharge from the eyes or conjunctivitis.
- Worm infestation - with severe infestation, whitish discharge is often observed, which dries out and sticks the eyelids together.
- Features of the structure of the eye - some dogs are characterized by more active work of the mucous membranes of the eyes due to breed characteristics or physiological predisposition. We are not necessarily talking about defects; for example, there are breeds that are universally prone to conjunctivitis.
What is meningoencephalitis?
Meningoencephalitis is an inflammatory process in the brain of dogs. This disease often passes so quickly that the animal simply dies before our eyes. With meningoencephalitis, the brain itself and the cerebral cortex are affected.
Bacterial meningoencephalitis can be caused by plague and viral infections, and non-bacterial meningoencephalitis can be caused by helminthic infestation and traumatic brain injury.
The prognosis of this disease is disappointing - the mortality rate is very high due to lack of response to drugs.
Treatment depends on what type of meningoencephalitis. Usually prescribed injections of cytarabine, antibiotics ampicillin, enrofloxacin. Therapy is continued for 2 weeks. In addition, vitamins and anticonvulsants are prescribed.
General signs of conjunctivitis
- Redness of the conjunctiva.
- The appearance of edema.
- Severe lacrimation.
- Itching.
- Photophobia.
- Discharge from the eyes (mucous, watery, purulent).
- Frequent blinking or complete closure of the eye.
- Poor appetite, deterioration in general health.
- Increased body temperature.
- discharge from the eyes (watery, mucous, purulent),
- narrow palpebral fissure,
- blinking,
- closing an eye,
- itching,
- redness,
- swelling of the conjunctiva,
- formation of bubbles (chronic course).
Treatment of conjunctivitis is initially aimed at hygienic treatment of the eye and the use of various eye medications (depending on the nature of the inflammation). These may be drops or ointments containing glucocorticoids or antibiotics. The active ingredients in them are aimed at reducing swelling, itching and excessive lacrimation; have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
The dog's eyes are itchy: what to do, treatment methods
Pets may have problems with their eyelids: inflammation, tearing, and itching. If a dog scratches its eyes, it may be due to dust and other foreign bodies getting into them as a result of an illness.
Possible diseases
A dog's eyelids may itch with the following pathologies:
- Blepharospasm. Involuntary contractions of the circular muscles are observed. The animal avoids bright light.
- Prolapse is a violation of the placement of the lacrimal gland.
- Inflammation of the conjunctiva. The dog blinks frequently, rubs its face with its paws and whines.
- Cataract. Due to clouding of the lens, the dog begins to see worse, and touches its eyes with its paw due to the sensation of a foreign body in them.
- Inflammation of the skin around the eyeballs due to bacteria, parasites, and dust.
- Eversion or inversion of the eyelid is characterized by severe pain.
- Dermatitis.
- Ulcerative lesion of the cornea. Blurred contours of the pupil and clouding of the cornea are noticeable. Pus leaks from the eyes.
- Development of neoplasms.
Additional symptoms
Corneal lesions are accompanied by the following additional symptoms:
- discharge of a large amount of pus;
- lacrimation;
- the appearance of scabs on the skin of the eyelid;
- redness of the eyelid;
- frequent blinking;
- corneal clouding;
- increased body temperature;
- impaired pupil reaction to light;
- photophobia;
- weakening and lethargy of the animal.
If you notice at least one of the listed symptoms, your pet should be taken to a veterinarian.
The dog whines
The animal whines or howls because its eyes are very itchy and painful. At the same time, it tries to scratch them with its paw.
This phenomenon is usually observed with conjunctivitis. The disease is almost always secondary, i.e. developing against the background of some other pathological process.
Inflamed eyelids hurt and itch. Because of this, the pet cannot play, see, or sleep normally.
Types of conjunctivitis:
- Catarrhal: manifests itself in the form of redness of the mucous membranes.
- Purulent: characterized by the release of a large amount of purulent contents.
- Follicular. This variety is the heaviest. The inflammatory process affects the lymphatic follicles.
Rubbing his face
This may indicate not only eye damage, but also other problems.
- Sometimes a dog likes certain smells.
- Often the dog tries to rid the mouth of food debris in this way.
- Parasite infestation is the most common reason why a dog scratches its eyes and face a lot. Due to severe irritation, delicate areas of the skin become red and inflamed.
- Bites from ticks or insects that feed on blood. The most dangerous for pets are wasps and bees, which cause a severe allergic reaction.
- Demodecosis. Mites sometimes live in the skin, on the eyelid, causing very severe bouts of itching.
- Viral or bacterial dermatitis of various origins.
- Dental diseases. Dogs, like humans, have caries, tartar deposits, stomatitis, and gum inflammation.
- The animal may rub its eyes and face as a result of stress.
Dog scratches one eye
The dog can do this as a result of conjunctivitis or injury. Foreign bodies could enter the organ of vision, causing pain and anxiety.
If there is a suspicion that something has got into the eye, you should not try to get it out without special skills. It is best to take your pet to a veterinary hospital.
Pathology in puppies
If signs of itching in the organ of vision are noticeable in a puppy, this may be a signal of infection of the body with worms. Children are most susceptible to worms.
If you notice that your small pet has begun to scratch its eyes, you need to take a closer look at the fur and other signs. Typically, the following symptoms indicate worm infestation:
- dullness and dryness of the coat;
- intense shedding;
- the appearance of a rash on the skin;
- intense discharge from the eyes that the puppy tries to scratch;
- diarrhea or constipation;
- a sharp decrease in appetite;
- reduction of body weight;
- coughing
In severe cases of helminthic disease, the following symptoms are associated with itching:
- severe vomiting and diarrhea;
- flatulence;
- hiccups
Treatment
The most common eye disease is conjunctivitis.
Veterinarians prescribe:
- Tsiprovet;
- Leopard;
- Conjunctivin (antibacterial ointment).
In case of injury, it is important to know what to do if the organs of vision are affected. The eyes are washed with an anesthetic solution .
The item can only be removed after appropriate processing. It is even better if this procedure is performed by a specialist. If necessary, painkillers are administered in the form of drops.
For blepharitis, the following may be prescribed:
- Sofradex;
- Lacrican;
- Calendula ointment.
For keratitis, Lacrimin, Sofradex or Forvet eye drops are prescribed.
The drug Diamond Eyes is an effective antibacterial and decongestant. Used to effectively eliminate itching and discharge from the eyes. Drops are a means of preventing the development of cataracts.
Preventing itchy eyes
To prevent the development of diseases, you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- choose high-quality food for your dog;
- carry out vaccinations;
- take anthelmintic drugs in accordance with the calendar;
- treat wool from insects;
- protect your pet from contact with homeless relatives;
- limit access to household chemicals.
Necrotizing encephalitis
Necrotizing encephalitis has been poorly studied and is practically untreatable.
Most common symptoms:
- decreased appetite;
- weight loss;
- limping;
- lack of coordination;
- sudden change in behavior;
- pain;
- convulsions.
Timely detection of symptoms of the disease and contacting a clinic can, despite the poor prognosis for this disease, lead to positive results.
As a result of the examination, the veterinarian will prescribe surgical or other treatment.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis in dogs
You can also suspect the disease by paying attention to the behavior of your pet. Since conjunctivitis is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort and severe pain localized in the visual area, the dog becomes nervous, irritable, passive, often closes its eyes and rubs its eyes with its paws.
Often with conjunctivitis, the animal experiences sleep disturbances and a permanent lack of appetite.
Since conjunctivitis in dogs can occur in different forms, the symptoms of the disease are slightly different. So, with catarrhal conjunctivitis, the membrane of the pet’s eye is red, swollen, and sometimes protrudes from under the eyelid.
Also with this form, serous discharge from the eyes is observed. profuse lacrimation.
The catarrhal form of conjunctivitis begins acutely; if not treated in a timely manner, it becomes a chronic disease and is very difficult to treat.
The purulent form of conjunctivitis is characterized by liquid purulent discharge from the eyes, which over time acquires a yellowish and thick consistency. Swelling and redness of the eyes, a depressed state of the animal, and refusal to eat are also observed.
In the follicular form of conjunctivitis, inflammation of the conjunctiva is very noticeable, and dark red follicles are visible on the inner surface of the third eyelid. This type of conjunctivitis, as a rule, occurs in a chronic form over several years with periods of exacerbation and attenuation.
The most common causes of conjunctivitis in dogs are mechanical or chemical damage to the membrane. When exposed to grass, sand, insects, wool and microorganisms, the connective tissue of the eye shell becomes inflamed, which leads to conjunctivitis.
Also, the dog's eyes may be irritated by smoke or caustic gases; viral or fungal infections; allergies in animals.
It is important to note that conjunctivitis can become a concomitant disease with diseases such as plague, hepatitis and others. Pekingese and French bulldogs with bulging eyes are also at risk for conjunctivitis.
Most often, with the purulent form of conjunctivitis, inflammation develops in both eyes, but there are cases with damage to only one side. Determining the type of inflammation is not difficult, but to determine the type of pathogen it is necessary to take exudate from the conjunctiva.
Acute purulent conjunctivitis
In the acute form, the symptoms are as follows:
- swelling of the eyelids;
- fear of light;
- blepharospasm;
- temperature rises;
- the conjunctiva turns red;
- severe pain in the conjunctiva and eyelids.
But the most characteristic symptom is purulent discharge from the eyes. They are thick white or with a yellow tint. In the morning, they glue the animal's eyelids together, which makes it difficult for him to open his eyes. The pus may have a slight admixture of blood; it accumulates on the inner corner of the eye, causing wet eczema to form underneath.
Chronic purulent conjunctivitis
The disease becomes less noticeable. Photophobia and pain may disappear, but the conjunctiva often becomes bluish in color (due to stagnation of blood). In this case, part of the conjunctiva protrudes and becomes ulcerated and necrotic. The pus becomes thick, gray-yellow in color with an unpleasant odor, and its amount decreases.
The dog won't get sick. Yorkshire Terrier diseases
Probably not a single living creature can live without diseases in its life. Dogs in this regard are no exception, including small ones, for example, Yorkies. As purebred animals, they are especially susceptible to many diseases due to weakened immunity. At the same time, Yorkshire Terrier diseases have their own characteristics, as well as their treatment.
Predisposition is hereditary
There is a list of diseases to which animals of this species may be hereditarily .
Let us briefly list them:
- hypoglycemia; this disease is characterized by a sharp decrease in blood glucose levels; affects puppies up to 4 months of age, although it sometimes occurs in adults; manifests itself in the form of general weakness and unsteady gait; may be the result of poor nutrition;
- retinal dysplasia; expressed in its stratification or improper development; this disease is common and dangerous for Yorkies; may result in complete blindness;
- dislocation of the kneecap; alas, this is the scourge of all small breeds, so watch your pet more carefully;
- Partes disease; This is necrosis of the head of the femur, and it occurs even in humans; Usually joint ailments bypass these terriers, but this one strikes quite often;
- tracheal collapse; another problem with dwarf dogs; Often it develops due to an incorrectly selected leash.
These ailments in their own way and require attention , especially since Yorkshire terriers are predisposed to them. Be careful and, at the slightest suspicion, consult a doctor. But there are other diseases that can overtake your four-legged friend, and which are much more common in Yorkies.
Allergy and its treatment
Let us note right away that, as a rule, puppies under one year of age do not suffer from it. This happens due to the still-preserved immunity transmitted through mother’s milk, more carefully selected food, and generally not such a wide halo of habitat as that of an adult.
Let's start with the fact that allergies in animals, like in people, can be expressed by internal and external signs . External signs are rashes of red spots on the skin, peeling, and phlegm. You can notice them where there is little fur:
- on the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose;
- on the tummy;
- on the paws;
- on the inner surface of the ears.
Internal signs include coughing, refusal to eat, and diarrhea.
Sometimes terriers can lose their hair seemingly for no reason. This may also be a sign of an allergen.
How these allergens appear ? It can be:
- house dust; it contains countless components that can cause irritation;
- plant pollen; small dogs “collect” it during walks even from the shortest plants;
- or leather products in the house
- the reaction is caused by household chemicals , and in Yorkies this type of allergy occurs more often than other small breeds;
- insect bites.
A special mention should be made of food allergies , which are also very common in this species.
The small weight of the animal (about 3 kg) is not always taken into account by inexperienced owners when feeding: a piece of ordinary apple , for example, can become an allergen for a Yorkshire terrier , because for us it is a piece, but for a small dog and his body it is a whole piece.
IMPORTANT! You cannot treat allergies in a pet on your own. The process can become chronic.
Today there are many veterinary medications that can quickly stop allergy attacks and identify the allergen.
Try to follow the veterinarian’s recommendations, walk less with your pet among the vegetation during the flowering period, and do wet cleaning more often. And watch your dog’s diet more carefully, then you won’t have to worry about his health.
How to treat diarrhea?
So, your client has a delicate problem. Don't panic right away.
Determine the cause of your diarrhea. There are quite a lot of them:
- food poisoning;
- the appearance of worms;
- sudden change in diet, feeding frequency or food;
- excessive food consumption;
- entry into the gastrointestinal tract of an animal foreign body
- allergic reaction;
- infection.
If, say, a small stomach upset lasted only one day , it means that some low-quality product just came across the menu at one time, and the body has already dealt with it.
To be safe, give your terrier a quarter of chloramphenicol or a weak solution of potassium permanganate . It is better not to give food, the water should be fresh all the time.
But if the process continues for more than 2 days , and even worsens, sound the alarm .
ATTENTION! Diarrhea can be a sign of dangerous diseases, such as plague or parvovirus enteritis.
True, this is possible if you decide to save on vaccinations at one time.
What to do if your dog is constipated?
The situation may be the opposite - your dog’s stool is difficult. There are too many reasons here too:
- economy class food;
- eating small bones;
- lack of drinking;
- again – the presence of worms;
- binge eating;
- low daily physical activity;
- the presence of gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes mellitus.
To help your pet, prepare thinner food for him. Add a spoonful of vegetable oil there. Eliminate chicken, bones and rice from the menu. But, if the process continues anyway, seeing a doctor is already a necessity.
REMEMBER! Prolonged constipation can lead to intestinal rupture and death.
Why do my eyes itch and water?
Often, as mentioned above, these may be the consequences of allergies. But we should not exclude the onset of an infectious disease, the presence of ticks or metabolic disorders. If such symptoms persist, it is better to consult a doctor.
What should be the normal body temperature?
And one last thing. All dwarf dogs have the so-called hot blood. the normal temperature of a Yorkshire Terrier is considered to be 37-39 degrees. There is absolutely no need to sound the alarm about this.
Treatment of allergies in Yorkies
In any case, be more attentive to your friend, and he will repay you with loyalty and kindness. To keep your pet healthy, don’t forget to give him vitamins!
Source: https://lovegav.ru/jork-terer/bolezni-2.html
Drug treatment
How to treat conjunctivitis in dogs? Treatment of the disease must follow an individual regimen and is prescribed by a veterinarian. Therapy depends on the type of pathology and its severity. Before visiting a doctor, the dog's owner can alleviate its condition himself.
When the dog is undergoing treatment, avoid spending a long time on the street; this will be an additional insurance against microparticles of dirt and street dust getting into the eyes. You also cannot get hypothermia, it will only worsen the dog’s condition.
How to treat conjunctivitis in dogs? As medications, veterinarians use antibacterial drugs, antibiotics, ointments, bactericidal drops, and tablets that are taken orally to relieve inflammation in the body. It wouldn’t hurt for your dog to take a vitamin course that will boost the immune system and the protective properties of the whole body.
When conjunctivitis becomes allergic, antiallergic drugs and drops with an antiallergic effect must be prescribed in treatment. Most often, to begin with, the dog’s eyes are treated with a cotton pad, previously soaked in a decoction of suitable herbs, then dripped, and then an ointment prescribed by the veterinarian is applied.
This scheme is repeated approximately 4 times a day for a couple of weeks. Everything will depend on how well the dog feels and on the severity of the pathology.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs is considered incurable. However, you should not let the course of the disease fade away. You can greatly reduce unpleasant symptoms. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, allergy medications, and tear replacement medications can be used. In many cases, surgery is used.
Treatment of catarrhal conjunctivitis in a dog should be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. However, according to reviews from owners, when the first signs appear (tears, redness, blinking), the disease can be dealt with without contacting a specialist.
Folk remedies
Until you can show your animal to a veterinarian, you can carry out the following procedures yourself:
- Rinse the dog's eyes with a cotton pad soaked in strong tea, chamomile decoction, furatsilin or a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. This must be done several times during the day. This procedure will help remove accumulated exudate in the corners of the eyes.
- Remove purulent crusts using Vaseline ointment.
- Make a compress from eyebright herb. Take 10 g of this herb, pour a glass of boiling water and leave for several hours. This decoction has good antibactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects.
In order to cure this pathology, it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian. He will conduct a thorough eye examination, take a culture of microflora from the diseased eye and prescribe the necessary treatment. Normally, the conjunctiva of the eyeball is pale pink in color, with a smooth surface and moderate moisture.
Also
It is important to promptly and accurately determine the reasons that could trigger the development of the disease. Conjunctivitis does not always manifest itself as an independent disease; sometimes such symptoms indicate metabolic disorders or the onset of infectious diseases.
Treatment of conjunctivitis in dogs is based on the use of ointments and drops containing antibiotics or glucocorticoid substances. They have anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects.
In case of an allergic form, the doctor prescribes antihistamines.
Before taking action, you need to find out what is causing the inflammatory process, and only then decide how to treat your Yorkie at home.
If the cause is hair getting into the eyes, then you need to treat the dog’s bangs. Shampoo for Yorkshire Terriers is suitable for these purposes. Wash your bangs, rinse thoroughly, dry and tie them into a ponytail with an elastic band. At the inner corner of the eyes the hair is usually not long enough to be pulled back into a ponytail. Therefore, it is cut to the optimal length.
If pus has dried on the eyelids, you need to soak it using cotton wool moistened with a 0.05% solution of chlorhexedine or ordinary warm water (boiled). Soaked crusts can be easily removed with a dry cotton swab or napkin.
When the pus is removed, drops such as Bars or Iris can be placed into the eyes. 2-3 drops per eye, instilled at least 3 times a day, are enough.
Eye problems should disappear after 3-4 days. If this does not happen, you will have to show the animal to the veterinarian.
First of all, you need to remove the dog’s bangs into a ponytail and cut the hair around the eyes short.
Don't forget about traditional medicine. You can prepare silver water to treat your Yorkie's bangs and eyes. To do this, place a silver object in a glass of clean water and keep it there for 2 days.
Every day, our beloved pets, including dogs, walk a lot of time in the fresh air, communicate with other animals and therefore have many risks of contracting various infections. One such disease is conjunctivitis.
It affects the mucous membrane of the eye, which lines the inner surface of the eyelid and the eyeball. This disease is quite common in pets.
To treat conjunctivitis, an accurate diagnosis is necessary. The cause of inflammation is determined by a specialist based on the results of a visual examination and a survey of the dog’s owner. Important information is provided by cultures of swabs from the diseased eye. This makes it possible to identify the specific causative agent of conjunctivitis in order to prescribe specific treatment.
The course of treatment for the disease consists of ointments (Tetracycline, Chlortetracycline, Etazolic) and drops (CiproVET, Sulfacyl sodium, Levometicin, Sofradex). Apply the product for 5-6 days four times a day. Drops and ointments are combined for severe inflammation, the interval between use is 10-15 minutes. Severe swelling is relieved with Dexazone.
IMPORTANT. Before instilling or applying the ointment, the eyes must be washed with disinfectant solutions (furatsilin, boric acid), and dry films are carefully removed.
Conjunctivitis in dogs is treated with drops and ointments that are placed behind the lower eyelid.
The newest method of treating eye diseases in dogs is special medicinal films. They attach to the eyeball, completely dissolve on it and produce a therapeutic effect. This type of treatment for conjunctivitis is very convenient, since the use of drops and ointments is not always convenient, due to the danger of causing additional eye injuries during the procedure.
If conjunctivitis is a consequence of another disease, first of all, you need to treat the root cause. With a viral etiology of the disease, intramuscular administration of antibiotics may be necessary.
Along with drops, the doctor prescribes immunostimulation of the body. A good effect is achieved by taking vitamins B, A, E and immunomodulators (see the drug Fosprenil).
As soon as you notice that your dog's tearfulness has increased, you should wash the animal's eyes as often as possible with a cotton pad soaked in boiled water. In this case, the dog should be given rest, not walked in windy weather and avoid physical activity. Your pet's contact with other dogs should also be limited, as this disease can be contagious.
If symptoms worsen, which are characterized by redness of the eyes, you should immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe anti-inflammatory and antibiotic ointments or eye drops. The most effective are: Sulfacyl sodium (10-20-30%), Kanamycin (0.1%), Levomycetin ointment and Sofradex drops.
The following ointments have also proven themselves very well in the treatment of conjunctivitis: Sulfacyl, Tetracycline, Etazolic. In case of severe swelling, a mixture of hydrocortisone and novocaine solution or the drug Dexazone is injected under the conjunctiva.
Also in the treatment of conjunctivitis, special eye films are used that contain kanamycin, nemycin and sulfapyridazine. They are inserted into the conjunctival sac using special anatomical tweezers.
The principle of operation of these eye films is that, when wetted by tears, they swell and stick to the conjunctiva, after which they envelop it and dissolve. This provides a high therapeutic effect.
As for the use of antibiotic ointments and eye drops, they should be dripped into the animal at least 4 times a day for at least 5 days. In this case, the dog’s eyes are regularly washed with boiled water, a solution of novocaine and a solution of boric acid.
Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the lining of the inner eyelid, develops under the influence of viruses, bacteria or fungi that enter the eye. The purulent discharge that accompanies the disease causes a lot of inconvenience and can cause complications, so conjunctivitis in dogs should be treated immediately after the first symptoms appear.
With timely treatment, any complications can be avoided. But if the animal is not treated, then the inflammation spreads to the cornea and tear ducts.
As a result, the dog goes blind, the disease becomes more complicated with the formation of purulent follicles and sepsis. It is possible to save a pet’s life in such severe cases, but it will not be possible to restore vision.
Treatment consists of symptomatic and specific therapy with the mandatory use of antibiotics.
Specific therapy
Why does a dog scratch its eyes?
The main signs that a four-legged pet has problems with the eyes are: red mucous membrane of the eyelids, their swelling, possible discharge, frequent blinking and itching. Such symptoms can be caused by infectious diseases, mechanical damage, hereditary abnormalities, and many diseases. How they manifest themselves, what reasons lead to the dog whining, scratching its eyes and rubbing its muzzle, should be considered in more detail.
Hidden infections caused by microorganisms that belong to the group of mycoplasma or chlamydia can cause not only discomfort in the animal’s eye area, but also infect humans
Infections
Conjunctivitis occurs due to inflammation of the conjunctiva, the outer layer of the dog's eyeball. It can be caused by viruses and bacteria, immune-related diseases or an allergen. The dog’s eyes hurt, itch, and water, which negatively affects the animal’s condition.
The causes of bacterial conjunctivitis can be:
- injuries;
- foreign bodies (sand, dirt, etc.);
- chronic dermatitis in the eye area;
- inversion or inversion of an animal's eyelids;
- dry eye syndrome.
Viral infections can cause inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes. For example, canine distemper, which causes diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, and nasal discharge, may be accompanied by purulent conjunctivitis. Among viral diseases, it is necessary to separately highlight canine influenza, infectious hepatitis, adenovirus, etc.
Did you know? Many of the bacteria and viruses that cause infections in weakened dogs cannot develop if the animal has a strong immune system.
Mechanical problems
Mechanical damage to the eyeball is a serious cause for concern. Such injuries are especially common in animals with protruding eyes (lapdog, pug, etc.).
Mechanical damage to a dog’s eyes can be determined by a number of signs:
- frequent squinting;
- purulent, clear or bloody discharge from the eyes;
- unusual behavior of the animal, which may be accompanied by whining, aggressive behavior when the owner tries to touch the face.
- whitish, bluish and bloody spots on the cornea.
If your pet's behavior changes or alarming symptoms occur, you should immediately take your pet to a veterinarian.
A pet's vision can also be affected by a blow to the head. The owner may not notice such internal injuries to the organs of vision for a long period. And the pet’s recovery directly depends on the speed of assistance provided to him.
Consequences that may arise from indirect injuries to the dog’s visual organs:
- retinal detachment or damage;
- hemorrhages inside the eyes;
- inflammation of the optic nerve as a result of edema.
Did you know? Eye loss is not uncommon among brachycephalic dog breeds. Pugs, Pekingese, and bulldogs are most often affected. These dogs have a rather flattened head shape, a shallow orbit and short extraocular muscles.
Congenital abnormalities
Congenital diseases occur in dogs due to abnormal intrauterine development. One of these deviations, which leads to frequent scratching of the eyes with a paw, may be an inversion of the eyelid. It is caused by microphthalmia - underdevelopment and small volume of the eyeball. The pathology can be either unilateral or bilateral.
Entropion is a violation of the seal of the eyelid to the cornea of the eye. The eyelid either fits very tightly, or the eyelash edge damages the eyeball. Therefore, the animal experiences discomfort and rubs its eyes. The palpebral fissure swells and narrows. This leads to an even greater inward turning of the eyelids. As a result of this effect, the animal squints its eyes or tries not to open its eyelids at all. Due to constant friction, the cornea becomes inflamed and mucopurulent discharge may be observed.
Congenital entropion of the eyelids can be observed in the following breeds: Chow Chow, Caucasian Shepherd, Shar Pei, Terrier, Pekingese, Bulldog, Spitz, Pug, Poodle, Spaniel.
Did you know? Pets with entropion may require frequent eye hydration and even surgery. They are more susceptible than others to the development of keratitis (inflammation of the cornea of the eyeballs), drying out of the cornea, and subsequently partial or complete loss of vision.
Eye diseases
A number of diseases cause a pet to want to scratch its eyes:
- Blepharitis is an inflammation of an animal's eyelids caused by infections, allergens, tumors or other inflammatory diseases. The animal's eyelids are swollen and red. The surrounding skin may peel off and become covered with pustules. As a result of the dog scratching, inflammation can spread to the conjunctiva or cornea. Dog breeds with folds of skin on the face, a long, narrow or flattened muzzle, and bulging eyes are predisposed to blepharitis. Among the diseases that can cause blepharitis in an animal are scabies caused by mites, endocrine disorders, Cushing's disease, and diabetes mellitus.
- An allergy can provoke such actions in an animal in the presence of an irritant. Allergens can be dog food, plant pollen, new hygiene products, dust, etc. When examining the animal, redness of the mucous membrane of the eyes and discharge from them are observed. An allergic reaction can be caused by food, infections, skin diseases, namely tick and flea bites.
- Intestinal dysbiosis can cause decreased immunity and provoke the growth of fungal flora, which leads to conjunctivitis.
- Otitis . As a result of inflammation of the dog's ear, complications may arise that will lead to inflammation of the corresponding eyeball.
Infection with worms
Worm infestation can lead to purulent discharge from the mucous membranes of the eyes, as a result of which the animal begins to scratch them. The symptom is mild. A small amount of pus dries out, forming crusts. The dog's eyes may become closed. A pet becomes infected with worms while walking, by eating raw meat or fish, by contact with sick animals, by mosquito bites or ingesting fleas. Puppies get sick in utero or from their mother's milk. The presence of worm eggs in dogs depends on whether the area in which they walk is infected and on the state of the immune system. Puppies and females during lactation, dogs with heavy physical exertion, pathologies, and those in the recovery stage are more predisposed to this.
Recommended vaccinations
Professional dog breeders advise using drugs from foreign manufacturers to vaccinate Yorkies:
- NobivakLepto;
- NobivakDHPPI;
- Hexadog;
- Eurican.
It is necessary to re-vaccinate as it expires after a year. These drugs have gained popularity due to the fact that pets tolerate them well.
How to give a dog a pill?
- In many cases, the tablet can be wrapped in a piece of meat or other treat that the dog will eat with pleasure.
- If the pet eats the treat, but the tablet remains unswallowed, then more radical measures can be taken. To do this, before giving the tablet, prepare a small amount of water, for example, in a syringe without a needle.
- The dog's upper jaw is grabbed with one hand from above so that the index finger and thumb hold the mouth behind the fangs.
- With the second hand, place the tablet on the root of the tongue (tweezers can be used) and immediately close the mouth, holding it closed.
- Raising the lip, a small amount of water is injected between the teeth from a syringe, thereby forcing the dog to make swallowing movements.
- After 15-20 seconds, the dog is released and observed whether the pet managed to swallow the tablet.
Some drugs can be crushed into powder and given with a small amount of water.
Good afternoon. We live in Belgorod.
Our dog is 2 years old.
and for the last 1.5 we have been suffering with the eye.
In general, this is how things stood. At first, the veterinarian told us that she had conjunctivitis and prescribed medicine.
it did not pass. Then they said again that it was conjunctivitis.
treated.
it did not pass. Then they said that the dog’s eye had grown, but the eyelid had not stretched.
Therefore, the eye rubs and festers. Then they said again that it was conjunctivitis.
they were dripping again. Then they said that it was a torsion of the eyelid and that I needed to have surgery.
They had an operation. The eye began to fester again in less than a month.
We were told that we had demodicosis and were prescribed to smear our eyes with Demolan. In general, nothing helped.
The eye festered and festered endlessly. 2 months ago, the same wonderful doctor told us that we needed to cut the eyelid again, they didn’t cut out much then (although the dog’s lower eyelid was protruding and did not go back into place even after such an operation).
Literally a day later, I noticed that a cloudy film seemed to be swollen on my eye.
several mm area of the spot. When the doctor looked at this spot, she touched it with an instrument and it turned out that there seemed to be air there.
We went to another veterinarian. They immediately took a swab from our eyes.
It turned out that a MUTANT lives in the eye. Some kind of coc, but not staphylococcus, not streptococcus, it’s not clear what.
A total of 6 antibiotics were injected: 1) Cefoxitin (boncephin) 2) Gentamicin 3) Enrofloxacin (we gave these injections - a course of 10 injections). 4) Co-trimoxazole 5) Meronem 6) Levofloxacin In general, one of these five antibiotics should be dripped into the eye.
We can neither buy nor order anywhere. The eye is just festering, getting worse and worse, the cloudy spot seems to have increased.
I'm desperate.
Conjunctivitis is a fairly common inflammation of the connective membrane of the eye in dogs. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that it is extremely difficult to treat and often becomes chronic.
In addition, the consequence of conjunctivitis can be a variety of and quite dangerous diseases, including loss of vision.
With catarrhal conjunctivitis, the connective membrane of the eye is red, swollen, and sometimes protrudes from under the eyelid. The dog has serous discharge from the eyes and tears are flowing. The catarrhal form often begins acutely, after which it becomes chronic and is very difficult to treat.
In the purulent form of the disease, liquid, purulent discharge is first noticeable, which over time becomes yellowish and thick. There is swelling and redness of the conjunctiva. The animal is depressed.
In the follicular form, inflammation of the conjunctiva is noticeable, and follicles can be seen on the inner surface of the third eyelid. These are raspberry-like dark red formations. This type of conjunctivitis often has a chronic course over several years with periods of exacerbation and attenuation.
Eyes may be irritated by smoke or corrosive gases. It could also be the spread of an inflammatory process that occurs in the cornea, eyelids, impaired tear secretion, fungal or viral infections, or allergies in the animal.
In addition, conjunctivitis can simply be a concomitant disease with more serious diseases: plague, hepatitis in dogs. parvovirus infection and others. At risk are dog breeds with bulging eyes, such as Pekingese and French bulldogs.
It is easier for such dogs to injure their eyes. Although some breeds often suffer from conjunctivitis of non-infectious origin, for example German shepherds.
If you observe the very first symptoms - the flow of “tears”, you should regularly wipe the dog’s eyes with a cotton swab moistened with boiled water. At the same time, it is worth excluding physical activity so that the wind does not disturb the animal, and dust and debris do not stick to the discharge from the eyes. It is worth limiting contact with other dogs, as the disease can be contagious.
If the symptoms begin to worsen and the eyes become red, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only he can prescribe treatment. As a rule, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic ointments or eye drops, as well as general anti-inflammatory drugs, are prescribed.
These are drops of 10-20-30% sodium sulfacyl, 01% kanamycin, 25% chloramphenicol, sofradex 4-5 times a day.
If large swelling is noticed, a mixture of 0.1-0.2 ml of hydrocortisone and 0.5-1% novocaine solution or 0.5-1 mg of dexazone is injected under the conjunctiva.
A new word in the treatment of conjunctivitis is GLP - eye medicinal films, proposed by E.P. Kopenkin. They contain kanamycin, neomycin, sulfapyridazine sodium. They are inserted into the conjunctival sac using anatomical tweezers once a day.
Wetted with tears, the films swell and stick to the conjunctiva, and then evenly envelop it and dissolve. Thanks to this, a high therapeutic effect is achieved. Often, treatment tactics have to be changed several times to achieve improvement. Antibiotic ointments or eye drops are used for at least 5 days.
Your Yorkie's eyes are running: what to do if there is tearfulness or pus?
When asked why Yorkies have watery eyes, some owners answer that this is a feature of the breed.
But experts say that tearfulness is a problem that needs to be solved. It’s one thing when the mucous membrane brings debris and dust to the surface, and these accumulations are easy to remove. But when your eyes water constantly and profusely, or the discharge is cloudy or purulent, you need to sound the alarm.
After all, eye diseases occur more often in Yorkies than usual.
Discomfort from lacrimation makes Yorkies sad, and the pet loses interest in games and walks.
Why do Yorkshire Terriers' eyes water?
There are several reasons for lacrimation:
- irritation;
- inflammation;
- allergy;
- Epiphora disease;
- development of pathology against the background of other diseases.
Regular hair on a pet's face can irritate the cornea if the hairs come from the area around the eyes. The owners of their pets often use tight elastic bands and very tightly braid the tails of their Yorkies. This can cause irritation of the mucous membrane, as the conjunctiva moves away and the process of natural hydration is disrupted. This is the first reason why Yorkies have runny eyes.
Inflammation occurs due to pathogenic bacteria and viruses entering the mucous membrane. The most common source is dirty fur that comes into contact with your pet's eyes.
A dog can also get inflammation in a draft in an apartment or in a car with open windows. Since Yorkies do not have an undercoat, they are very sensitive to cold. Why do Yorkies have watery eyes after bathing and grooming?
An allergic reaction, like in humans, can occur to:
- Food;
- Construction Materials;
- plants, poplar fluff, flower pollen.
By observing what exactly has changed in your pet's environment, you can determine the source of the allergen. The renovation that was started in the room where the dog lives. In the spring season, pollen, dust, and poplar fluff can fly. And sometimes an allergenic plant settles on the window in the form of an indoor flower.
Food allergies can occur due to a sudden change in food. Poor quality chicken meat often causes peeling skin on the body and can also cause a tearful reaction. Of the prohibited foods that are generally contraindicated for dogs, sweets and chocolate are one of the first causes of problems with lacrimation.
It is important to know! The digestive system of Yorkshire terriers is prone to allergies to food, low-quality products, and sugar-containing products.
With Epiphora disease, there is a continuous release of fluid. Mucus occurs due to disruption of the normal functioning of the lacrimal systems. A specialist can determine the exact diagnosis and cause.
Discharge can be a symptom of other diseases. If, against the background of lacrimation, the dog has apathy, elevated body temperature and refusal to eat, this could be distemper. Inflammation of the ears can also cause drainage from the eyes.
The photo shows that the disease is becoming more severe. The discharge has lasted for more than one day, the mucus is not clear, the eye is swollen.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis in dogs
The main symptom of conjunctivitis in a Yorkie is watery eyes and the secreted fluid is not clear. The mucous membranes become inflamed and red. Associated symptoms of this disease:
- clumping of fur around the eyes;
- the appearance of follicles on the inner eyelid;
- turning of the eyelids;
- unpleasant odor of discharge;
- the dog experiences pain when blinking;
- fear of light;
- severe itching of the eyelids and eye area.
If your Yorkie's eyes are festering, this is advanced conjunctivitis, but it is impossible to determine which one without tests. After all, it can be viral, bacterial, allergic, follicular.
Attention! The drugs prescribed for different types of disease differ from each other.
Therefore, if a Yorkie’s eye is festering, only a specialist can tell how to treat the pet after the diagnosis has been made. Treatment at home without diagnosis and prescriptions from a veterinarian can result in your pet losing his sight.
Against the background of conjunctivitis, Yorkies refuse to eat and behave restlessly. Body temperature may rise, chills and trembling may appear.
A sign of conjunctivitis is inflamed red mucosa.
Providing first aid to a pet
If your Yorkie's eyes are running, what to do to relieve discomfort and pain at home:
- To remove accumulated liquid, treat the eye area with a cotton pad soaked in warm boiled water. Next, the eye must be rinsed with a solution of boric acid, furatsilin or regular lens solution.
- In case of suppuration, treat with chlorhexidine solution (0.05%). If the pus has dried, it is first soaked with a cotton pad soaked in the solution, and then carefully removed from the surface.
- To relieve pain from conjunctivitis, you can use special ointments (“Ditetracycline”, “Floxal”) and drops for the eyes of animals (“Iris”, “Dixamethasone”, “Levomycetin”). Only a veterinarian can tell you exactly how to treat conjunctivitis in a Yorkie.
- If allergic reactions are suspected, Yorkies can be given antihistamines.
It is difficult for owners to decide what to do if their Yorkie puppy's eyes are running. Providing first aid at home is complicated by the fact that it is difficult to calculate the dosage of medications. You can relieve pain and inflammation with an infusion of eyebright. The herbal infusion will not cause allergies or adverse reactions in a small pet.
Attention! After providing first aid, your little Yorkie must be shown to a veterinarian; you cannot treat it yourself. During treatment, you need to make tampons to absorb the secreted fluid and mucus.
After providing first aid to your pet, it is important to find out what caused the watery eyes. The dog must be protected from the source of the painful reaction:
- cut off the hair that grows around the eyes and irritates the mucous membranes;
- remove the source of the allergy;
- review the Yorkie's diet, return the previous food or remove allergenic foods from the diet.
Even if the dog feels better after first aid, it is important to see a specialist. Tearfulness may be a symptom of another inflammatory process in the pet's body.
When to contact a veterinarian
Neglected eye diseases quickly develop into serious complications. If you don't contact a specialist in a timely manner, your dog's vision can be lost forever. Therefore, you should go to the vet in any case, especially if:
- eyes water for more than three days in a row;
- mucous membrane is red;
- swelling has formed on the eyelids;
- follicles appeared;
- the secreted liquid began to smell unpleasant;
- pus and cloudy white or brown mucus are discharged from the eyes.
Emergency help from a specialist is needed if, against the background of lacrimation, your Yorkie:
- vomiting and stomach upset;
- increased body temperature;
- chills, trembling;
- apathy and refusal to eat;
- restless state;
- attempts to scratch the eye area with a paw.
If the dog is irritated by the fur and the mucous membrane is slightly inflamed, the doctor will treat the eyes and prescribe special drops that will restore the microflora of the mucous membrane.
If it is a seasonal allergy, the veterinarian will recommend medications that can be used during the period of allergic reactions (pollen, fluff, etc.).
With conjunctivitis, you will not be able to eliminate the cause and remove the inflammation on your own. And it is not possible to make a diagnosis at home - you need to do a smear of the mucous membrane of the eye for analysis.
After relieving your Yorkie's pain, you should immediately go to the veterinarian, who will prescribe medication and give recommendations on how to care for your pet during treatment.
For example, with viral conjunctivitis, taking antibiotics will be useless, so self-medicating your pet is dangerous.
A veterinarian can make a correct diagnosis, provide medical care and give recommendations for care and disease prevention.
Preventive actions
To keep your Yorkshire Terrier's eyes healthy, you should follow some recommendations:
- Maintain hygiene and if the mucous membrane carries dust and debris into the corners of the eyes, they should be removed with a cotton pad and warm boiled water or chamomile decoction.
- Control the length of your pet's bangs. If cutting the hair is not possible, the tail should be treated with an antiseptic daily and kept clean.
- Regularly remove hair that grows around the eyes and gets on the mucous membrane.
- Protect your pet from hypothermia and drafts, especially after bathing.
- After a walk, examine your pet's eyes.
- Minimize contact with allergens.
- Monitor your pet’s diet, do not give sugar and chocolate, monitor the quality of products, purchase premium food, such as Royal Canin or Proplan.
- Monitor your dog’s health, vaccinate promptly, and undergo examinations by a veterinarian.
Eye health is supported by the intake of vitamins A and E. In their natural form, they predominate in carrots, pumpkin, egg yolks, spinach, and vegetable oil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTAlQv5122s
The pet's eye area should be trimmed every month during a hygienic haircut.
To make your pet happy and happy, you need to monitor its health. It is important to detect eye problems in time and show your pet to a specialist.
Source: https://glorypets.ru/sobaki/zabolevaniya-sobak/u-jorka-tekut-glaza-chto-delat-pri-slezlivosti-poyavlenii-gnoya
Temperature change
Fever is a warning sign that both people and dogs are feeling unwell. The normal temperature for Yorkies is 38.5-39 degrees.
NOTE!
On hot days and during heat, a Yorkie's temperature can rise by 3 degrees, and before giving birth it can drop by 0.5-2 degrees.
The cause of high temperature can be tick-borne piroplasmosis, viral enteritis, poisoning and postpartum eclampsia.
If your pet has a fever and chills, wet the ears and paw pads with cool water, place the pet in a cool room, and give him fresh water. You need to inject about 50 ml of saline solution into the withers using a syringe or mix Nosh-pu, analgin and diphenhydramine in a syringe and inject it intramuscularly.
If the temperature drops below normal, warm your dog by wrapping him in a warm blanket with heating pads or a hot water bottle.
Providing first aid to a pet
Before contacting a veterinarian, the owner can help the pet to alleviate its condition:
- The eyes are washed with a cotton pad moistened with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, furacillin or chamomile decoction.
- Purulent crusts are removed with a tampon with Vaseline oil.
- The drugs Maxidin, Iris or ConjunctiveVET are instilled into the eyes.
- For obvious purulent discharge, Tsiprovet, Bars, Anandin are dripped. For gas conjunctivitis, dogs are washed with a chamomile decoction, a solution of manganese or furatsilin.
If it is not possible to visit a doctor, treatment according to this regimen should be carried out for 4-7 days. Procedures are carried out three times a day. Improvement should occur after 2-3 days of such treatment. If treatment does not help, you should definitely visit a canine ophthalmologist.
Causes of conjunctivitis in the Yorkshire Terrier and methods of treatment
Many dog breeders are confused and don’t know what to do if their Yorkie’s eyes are festering. Before starting treatment with medications or traditional methods, it is necessary to provide the dog with first aid correctly and efficiently. This can be done at home without the involvement of veterinarians.
Types of conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the organs of vision. This disease affects the mucous membranes that cover the eyeballs and eyelids. Most often, the reason when a Yorkie's eyes fester is reduced immunity or some kind of chronic disease.
There are 4 types of conjunctivitis:
- catarrhal;
- purulent;
- allergic;
- follicular.
Catarrhal - appears when the Yorkie's eyeball is injured or infected.
This type is accompanied by:
- hyperemia;
- redness;
- swelling of the eyelids;
- purulent and lacrimal discharge.
Purulent - can develop if bacteria or pathogens get on the membrane of the Yorkie's eyes. Typically, this type of conjunctivitis spreads very quickly. The disease has a complicated form.
Yorkie symptoms:
- swelling of the eyelids;
- general increase in body temperature;
- hot nose;
- fear of light;
- vomit.
In severe complications, corneal clouding may occur.
If you ignore treatment for conjunctivitis, your dog may lose its vision.
Allergic - this type often manifests itself in animals with weak immunity. For such a disease to occur, it is enough that any allergen gets on the conjunctiva or mucous membrane of the animal.
Symptoms:
- eyelids and corneas turn red;
- eyes are streaming.
Follicular - can occur if dust, dirt or foreign body particles get on the membrane of the Yorkie's eye. The eyelid and its lymphatic follicle are affected. This disease is accompanied by:
- severe redness;
- copious purulent discharge;
- Lymphatic follicles accumulate on the surface of the eyelids.
In case of complications, the follicular appearance becomes catarrhal.
All types of disease have forms: acute and chronic. The first is curable, and the second either subsides or progresses.
Reasons for appearance
Conjunctivitis in the Yorkshire Terrier can be caused by pathogens. They enter from the external environment onto the surface of the eyeball, protected by the conjunctiva, and penetrate the conjunctival sac. If a dog’s immune system is weakened, an inflammatory process occurs, after which it develops into a complicated disease.
Reasons for the development of conjunctivitis in Yorkies:
- eye damage;
- irritation;
- inflammation of the eyelid and cornea;
- contact with the conjunctiva of dust, fluff, wool, dirt;
- infection;
- burn, frostbite;
- lack of vitamins A, their deficiency;
- the puppy is prone to allergies;
- viruses, fungi;
- Yorkie metabolic disorder;
- arbitrary ingrowth of eyelashes into the eyelid.
Yorkshire terriers are among the dogs at risk for conjunctivitis. It is recommended to carefully monitor the animal’s eyes, check them periodically, perform preventive measures and treat them with special means.
Signs and symptoms
For all types of conjunctivitis, the symptoms are similar:
- redness of the mucous membrane of the eye;
- excessive tearing;
- loss of hair around the eyelids and eyelashes;
- swelling;
- the appearance of purulent or mucous discharge.
When the disease occurs, your Yorkie experiences discomfort and a strong burning sensation (in the eye area). Behaves nervously or passively, often scratches your eyelids with your paw and squints your eyes.
First aid
If it is not possible to take your Yorkshire Terrier to a veterinarian, you must immediately provide him with first aid. To do this, you can resort to treatment methods with folk remedies.
Operating principle:
- Wipe the affected area, remove the pus that has accumulated in the corners of the Yorkie's eye or under it. To do this, you need to take a piece of cotton wool, soak it in tea leaves or strong tea and wipe off the exudate.
- After 10-20 minutes, apply ointment (tetracycline or penicillin) to the inner corner of the Yorkie's eyelid.
The course must be carried out 3-4 times a day for two to three weeks. The dosage and medications are prescribed directly by veterinarians.
Severe irritation can be easily relieved with almond oil, which can be injected into the Yorkie's eye, one drop from a pipette.
Thanks to such actions, the owner will relieve his pet from sharp, painful pain. If you don’t have any medications on hand, you can buy the herb “eyebright” at the pharmacy. Infuse the plant for three hours (1 glass of hot water per 10 g). Wash your eyes with the resulting solution and make lotions (compresses).
Even after first aid, your Yorkie must be taken to a specialist for an examination and then treated for the eyes under the supervision of a veterinarian.
We should not forget that the animal is a carrier of the disease, which can also infect humans. It would be a good idea for the owner of the Yorkie to get checked at the clinic.
Treatment methods
There are several ways to treat conjunctivitis in animals. It all depends on the type, form, neglect and complications of the disease. The procedures can be carried out in natural home conditions, but under the supervision of a doctor.
Drug therapy
To rid your pet of conjunctivitis, treatment is prescribed.
The veterinarian may prescribe for a Yorkie:
- ointments that relieve inflammation;
- antibiotics;
- eye drops;
- medicines for oral use, tablets, mixture.
- vitamins that strengthen the immune system.
Traditional methods
These methods are mainly used by experienced breeders and dog handlers. It is necessary to wipe the Yorkie's eye area and apply lotions on them. You can use one of the solutions for this: tea, calendula, chamomile, eyebright, furatsilin or potassium permanganate. It would be a good idea to inject a few drops of iris oil into your pet's eyes.
When should I get my first vaccination?
They begin to vaccinate Yorkie puppies at the age of 1.5-2 months, then at 3 months, at six months and the last time at a year.
You need to remember that before the first vaccination, your Yorkie puppy needs to be dewormed and cleared of parasites. Vaccination for a puppy is mandatory.
IMPORTANT!
Only healthy dogs can be vaccinated. In a sick dog, after vaccination, the condition may worsen significantly or result in death.
After vaccination, the puppy's ears may droop - there is no need to worry, they will rise again over time.
Preventive actions
Prevention of the disease is carried out in several ways, the main one of which is to maintain dog eye hygiene. It is important to carefully monitor the dog and avoid the risk of infection.
The animal's sleeping place should not be dirty or wet; it should be changed or cleaned at least once a week. An excellent solution would be to wash the organs of vision using decoctions of various herbs or using regular tea leaves.
Don't ignore your pet's diet. Compose it in such a way that all the necessary vitamins are included in it. If other animals in the house or people have this eye disease, protect your pet from contact with them. On the street, do not allow the dog to frolic with its muzzle in the dust or sand, as it risks introducing infection into the eyes and the process of conjunctivitis will inevitably begin.
Conjunctivitis in dogs is a fairly serious disease not only for people, but also for animals; it can affect the eyes quite deeply and lead to consequences that can even lead to loss of vision.
Attentive care of your pet and prevention will prevent the disease from growing, and its timely treatment will make the pathology invisible to both the owner and the dog. At the slightest suspicion of conjunctivitis, immediately make an appointment with a veterinarian.
Squinting one eye
Sometimes dogs squint or close only one eye. The reason for this behavior is simple: an insect bite or injury. If a thorough examination does not reveal any visible damage, look for the bite area around the eye.
An inflamed or protruding eyeball may be a symptom of a disease of the internal organs - liver or kidneys. In this case, monitor the dog’s activity and appetite. If these indicators noticeably decrease, you need to seek help from a specialist.
What not to do if you have watery eyes
Having discovered severe tearing, every owner wants to help their pet. But you have to be careful not to harm him.
If there is a strong secretion of tear fluid, it is not recommended:
- Touch the sore spot with dirty hands. You can get an infection.
- Apply tea and alcohol-based solution onto the cornea. The drugs irritate it, causing inflammation.
- Use cotton wool. The fibers stick to the mucous membrane and cause discomfort. Smooth cotton pads are suitable for the procedures.
- Apply cosmetics in the form of sprays and aerosols around the dog. Tobacco smoke also irritates the peephole.
- Try to identify the disease and treat the animal yourself. You need to contact your veterinarian for help.
Consultation with a veterinarian to identify the disease
By following these rules, the owner will not harm the health of his dog.
When to contact a veterinarian
When your Yorkie's eyes are running, the first thing to do after providing first aid is to contact a veterinarian. You cannot help your pet on your own ; advanced pathology threatens severe complications and loss of vision.
You need to act immediately if:
- symptoms last longer than 3 days;
- mucous membranes turn red;
- the eyelids are swollen;
- lymphatic follicles are swollen;
- the secreted secretion smells unpleasant;
- a purulent, whitish or brown substance flows;
- fever, chills, vomiting, indigestion are observed;
- The terrier is apathetic, does not want to eat, behaves restlessly, and rubs the affected area with its paws.
The veterinarian will take a smear for diagnostic analysis, and based on the results of the study, will prescribe drops, antibiotics or antihistamines, and set the dosage and course of use.
Yorkies often have watery eyes, which is due to improper care, maintenance and feeding. The main thing is to show the dog to a veterinarian in a timely manner to prevent complications. Prevention consists of observing sanitary and hygienic standards and careful handling of the animal.
SIMILAR ARTICLES
BEST FOOD FOR YORKSHIRE TERRIER
How to choose the best food for your Yorkshire Terrier based on a comparison of products from leading manufacturers. Examples of wet...
HOW TO TRAIN A YORKSHIRE TERRIER TO NAPPY
Diaper training a Yorkshire Terrier is very helpful for people with busy daily routines, so as not to...
HOW TO CUT YOUR YORKSHIRE TERRIER
There are many types of Yorkie haircuts. In this article we will figure out which haircuts are suitable for Yorkies...
COMBES FOR YORKIES. WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?
It's time to figure out what combs for Yorkies you need to have. Success in grooming on...
YORKSHIRE TERRIER – COMPANION DOG
In terms of popularity, the Yorkshire Terrier breed has not been losing ground for many years. They are willingly turned on...
CARRY FOR YORKSHIRE TERRIER
Every happy Yorkie owner wants to spend as much time as possible with his furry dog. where would you...
YORKSHIRE TERRIER: DESCRIPTION OF THE BREED, STANDARDS, HOW LONG DO YORKIES LIVE
Yorkshire Terrier: description of the breed according to the standard, character and developmental characteristics of dogs, life expectancy, advantages and...
NICKNAMES FOR YORKSHIRE BOYS AND GIRLS - WHAT TO NAME A YORKSHIRE TERRIER
Popular nicknames for Yorkie boys and girls by temperament, origin, pedigree, color, what are the names of Yorkies...
IS IT ALLERGY TO YORKSHIRE TERRIERS?
Many breeders believe that the Yorkshire Terrier is a hypoallergenic dog that can be safely owned by a person…
CLOTHING FOR DOGS. HOW TO DRESS A YORKIE
Every owner of a Yorkshire Terrier understands that his little friend is also a member of the family and...
HOUSE FOR YORKSHIRE TERRIER
A house for a Yorkie? What are you talking about! This is a super sociable, curious dog who strives...