March 6, 2012
Posted in How to, Pet Health, Pet Meds

It is common for dogs to suffer irritation to their corneas – wind, sticks or branches, dust particles, the dog's own fur as well as bacteria and viruses can irritate this outer layer of your pet's eye. Most irritations require treatment so they don't progress to something more serious.

The cornea is the outermost part of your dog's eyeball, and is the first thing you see when you look in Fido's eyes. It is only about five to seven cells thick, and has nerve fibers, making it sensitive. Because of the cornea's position and construction, it is the part of the eye almost always affected by disease.

The good news is that corneal irritations can heal within a week, since corneal cells grow rapidly and are replaced rapidly. The bad news is that almost anything can scratch them. Often times a dog's blinking reflex will prevent irritations, or tears will come to flush out any foreign objects that get caught under the eyelid.

Other times, your dog will need some help from you and certain pet products to prevent the irritation from turning into a corneal ulcer. This condition, also known as ulcerative keratitis, occurs when a nonhealing sore develops in the cornea. Often it starts as plain old corneal irritation, which is why it is important to know what is going on in your pooch's peepers.

If your dog is suffering from a scratch or other irritation on its cornea, it might help to drop some pet products like LiquiTears into its eyes to flush any foreign objects out, especially if it tends to make fewer tears than normal. However, if you have a white pet and it has the opposite problem – that is, it makes too many tears, you may be noticing that the tears are turning its snow-white coat rusty brown on its face. You can treat these unsightly spots with Angels' Eyes for Dogs and Cats.

If irritation turns into infection, treat it right away with pet drugs like Neo Poly Dex Ophthalmic prescription eye drops. B.N.P. Triple Antibiotic Ophthalmic Ointment is another option your vet might prescribe to soothe your pet's eyes and treat any infection. Reward your pooch with treats like Greenies for Dogs after you administer this medication as it can be a slightly uncomfortable process. 

Related posts:

1. How to heal dry eyes in dogs
2. Cataracts and other eye problems in dogs
3. Angel Eyes for Dogs: Frequently Asked Questions
4. How Does Angel Eyes for Dogs Work?
5. Glow-in-the-dark dog eyes