Care and attention
Eyesight is one of the most important senses for both humans and animals. Donna Ross finds out how to keep a close watch on your pet’s vision
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AS A puppy, Jess, a West Highland Terrier, was like any other dog of her age – full of fun and very inquisitive.
But playing with her brother and sister as a puppy resulted in a nasty injury that has left her blind in one eye.
Owner Jamie Ross explained: “When we went to the breeder to pick the puppy we wanted, we fell for Jess straight away. She was a real character, following her mum to the door and always wanting to be in the limelight.”
After inspecting Jess, he noticed the scratch on one of her eyes.
“The people we bought her from were honest with us and told us about her eye from the start. They gave us the number of the vet who was treating her and showed us her medication.”
They decided it was best to call the vet to find out more about the injury.
“The vet explained that she didn’t think it was serious and would clear up after a course of antibiotic cream, so we didn’t think there was anything to worry about.”
So the Ross family took their new pet home and continued her treatment, along with a lot of TLC.
“When we took her for her puppy check, our vet didn’t seem to be worried about the eye and told us to continue her treatment,” Jamie said.
But, after a few months, the eye still hadn’t improved and the Ross family’s fears were confirmed – another visit to the vet revealed that Jess had lost most of the vision in the damaged eye.
“We were really disappointed when we found out. It’s such a shame as she’s so young.”
The condition doesn’t seem to get Jess down and she still enjoys playing outside.
“She occasionally bumps into things, but it doesn’t stop her from chasing cats and playing with other dogs.
“Our worst fear is that something happens to her other eye. We have to be extra vigilant as she is only two. She will be on medication for the rest of her life.
“We wouldn’t change Jess for the world, but feel so sorry for her. I would advise people to take extra care when picking a puppy.”
Puppies and eye disorders
If you are about to acquire a new pup, be sure to become informed about common eye disorders for the breed of interest.
For example, Cocker Spaniels frequently develop dry eye and glaucoma. Bichon Frise, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles and Boston Terriers, among other breeds, often develop cataracts.
If a potential owner is aware that the breed they are interested in has inherited eye problems, they can educate themselves about what to look for.
The more you know about your preferred breed the better your chances of obtaining a healthy dog. One commonly seen condition in pups, called entropion, is readily seen on close inspection. This rolling inward of an eyelid will surely require surgery to eliminate the corrosive action of the lid hairs on the cornea, and potentially, the condition could be passed on to any future offspring.
Common ocular disorders in puppies
Entropion – inward folding of an eyelid where lid hairs contact the cornea (common in Shar Pei, Cocker Spaniel, Rottweiler, Labrador Retriever).
Cherry Eye – prolapsed gland of the third eyelid. (common in Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, Poodles).
Ectopic Cilia – an abnormal eyelash that grows through the conjunctiva and is usually very painful and almost always causes an ulcer.
Distichiasis – abnormal position of eyelashes on a lid margin that result in irritation of the eye.
Dermoid – congenital defect where haired skin is located in an abnormal place on an eye and will often irritate the cornea and can cause ulcers.
Cataracts – opacity of the lens. Inherited cataracts can often appear in young dogs. In most cases, a vet or veterinary ophthalmologist will have to make this diagnosis; owners are often unaware of small focal cataracts. There are also late-onset cataracts that may not show up until middle-age, or later.
Follicular conjunctivitis – itchy, reddened conjunctival tissues; tearing; squinting; often related to allergies.
Puppy pyoderma or puppy strangles – eyelid abscesses associated with generalised skin pustules.
Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS) – lack of, or inadequate production of, tears. Sometimes, this can be congenital, in which case, it is often very serious (common in Pug, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu).
When you visit a breeder and evaluate pups for purchase, it is best to do a careful and critical evaluation of any pup’s eyes before you make that purchase decision.
Bring a penlight along and shine it directly into and at an angle to each eye. There should be no specks in the cornea, the pupil should be dark, the iris should constrict when the light enters the eye and there should be no tiny stray eyelashes directed from the lids toward the cornea (distichiasis).
Conditions that you might think are trivial may, in fact, be the early stages of something more serious.
Often, dogs are stoic and do not exhibit blatant signs of pain. So don’t be fooled by subtle eye problems – they may not be so innocent after all.
Do a thorough inspection of any new pup’s eyes and associated structures before you decide to make it a part of your family. And in any dog, if ordinary first aid provides no improvement in eye discomfort within 12 hours, be sure to obtain a vet’s evaluation.
