Home › Animalia › Animal health › Animal diseases › Conjunctivitis in dogs

other disease Dog

Conjunctivitis in dogs

The conjunctiva is the thin pink membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and the edge of the globe. Conjunctivitis is its inflammation. This is the most common reason for eye consultation in dogs. It is most often benign, but it is al...

Find a veterinarian All dog diseases

Definition Signs Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Complications When to see a vet Prognosis FAQ Sources Affected species

What is it?

The conjunctiva is the thin pink membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and the edge of the globe. Conjunctivitis is its inflammation.

This is the most common reason for eye consultation in dogs. It is most often benign, but it is also the warning sign of much more serious eye diseases.

A red eye is therefore not always simple conjunctivitis: it is the veterinarian who rules out serious causes, in particular corneal ulcer and glaucoma.

Commonly observed signs

These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.

Related signs — each one links to its page:

Red eyes Discharge from the eyes Itching Swelling

Whites of the eye and inside of the eyelids red, sometimes swollen.

Clear and liquid discharge in allergic or irritative forms, thick and yellowish when bacteria get involved.

Eyelids glued together when waking up.

Dog rubbing its eye with its paw or against furniture.

More frequent blinking, slight squinting of the eyelids.

One or two eyes affected: damage on both sides is more likely to indicate an allergy or a general illness, only one side to a local cause such as a foreign body.

When to consult without delay

This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.

Causes and risk factors

Allergies to pollen, dust mites or environmental substances, often associated with itchy skin.

Irritants: dust, sand, smoke, household products, shampoos, air conditioning blown directly on the face.

Foreign bodies: spikelets, grains of sand, blades of grass, often stuck under the third eyelid.

Bacterial infections, most often secondary to another irritation.

Diseases of the eye itself: lack of tears, entropion, poorly implanted eyelashes that rub the cornea.

General or viral illnesses, particularly in unvaccinated puppies.

Conjunctivitis is therefore rarely an isolated disease: investigating why it appeared is part of the treatment.

Dogs with protruding eyes and flat faces, whose eyelids protect the surface of the eye less well.

Dogs with allergies or chronic dermatitis.

Dogs running in tall grass are exposed to spikelets, particularly in spring and summer.

Community life among puppies, where infectious diseases circulate.

An undiagnosed dry eye, a common cause of conjunctivitis that keeps recurring.

Diagnosis and care

Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.

The veterinarian examines both eyes, turns the eyelids and the third eyelid in search of a foreign body, and inspects the eyelash implantation.

He applies a dye to the cornea: this simple test can rule out an ulcer, the treatment of which is very different.

It measures tear production, especially if episodes are repeated, and checks eye pressure in front of any red, painful eyes.

A sample for analysis is reserved for cases that are resistant to treatment.

The relief should be clear within a few days; otherwise, the eye should be reevaluated.

Treatment

Treatment depends entirely on the cause, which is why the same eye drops are not suitable for all red eyes.

The removal of a foreign body, when it exists, is often enough to resolve everything; it is carried out by the veterinarian, possibly under local anesthesia.

Gentle cleaning with physiological serum, with a different clean compress for each eye, accompanies all treatments.

Antibiotic eye drops are prescribed in case of bacterial infection, anti-inflammatory or anti-allergic treatment in allergic forms.

Never put eye drops prescribed for another problem or for another animal into the eye, especially eye drops containing corticosteroids: if the cornea is ulcerated, it can aggravate the lesion to the point of perforation.

The collar prevents the dog from making the situation worse by rubbing.

Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.

Prevention

Don't let your dog stick his head out of the car window: dusty wind is a classic cause of irritation.

Inspect the face and eyes after walking in tall grass during spikelet season.

Protect eyes when shampooing and grooming.

Clip long hair that falls over the eyes in affected breeds.

Faced with repeated conjunctivitis, ask for a measurement of tear production and an examination of the eyelids: the cause is often there.

Possible complications

Transition to chronicity, with a permanently red eye and daily discharge.

Damage to the cornea by friction or by a foreign body remaining in place, with risk of ulcer.

Delay in diagnosis of a more serious illness, glaucoma or ulcer, mistaken for simple conjunctivitis.

When to see a veterinarian

The eye is red for more than a day or two, or the discharge becomes thick.

Your dog keeps his eye closed, blinks a lot or refuses to have his head touched: it is not simple conjunctivitis, consult the same day.

The pupil is dilated, the eye appears cloudy or larger than the other: immediate emergency.

Only one eye is affected after a walk in tall grass: a spikelet is possible.

Your dog has recurrent conjunctivitis.

His vision seems diminished, he bumps or hesitates in the dark.

Prognosis

The vast majority of conjunctivitis heals within a few days with treatment adapted to its cause.

Frequent recurrences almost always indicate an untreated underlying cause: dry eye, eyelid defect, allergy.

The prognosis remains excellent as long as the cornea is not affected, which justifies having any red and painful eye checked rather than treating blindly.

Frequently asked questions

Is my dog's conjunctivitis contagious to me?

The most common causes in dogs, allergies, irritants and foreign bodies, are not transmitted to humans. As a precaution, wash your hands after treatment.

Can I use human eye drops?

No, except the physiological serum rinse. Many eye drops contain corticosteroids, which are dangerous if the cornea is damaged, and you do not have the means to check this at home.

My dog has a red eye after a walk: what should I do?

Rinse thoroughly with physiological serum and check if the discomfort persists beyond a few hours. A spikelet stuck under the eyelid does not wash out and must be removed by a veterinarian.

Why does conjunctivitis keep coming back?

Because the cause has not been treated. A lack of tears, a rolled eyelid or a chronic allergy maintain the inflammation. A complete eye assessment allows you to get out of the loop.