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Summery :

1. General information
2. What is it?
3. Cause
4. Classification
5. Symptoms
6. Associated Pathologies
7. Diagnosis
8. Treatment
9. Myths to Debunk

1- General information

Conjunctivitis is an inflammatory disease that can have different causes; it can affect both eyes , or more commonly, it can affect only one eye.

Sometimes, canine conjunctivitis can be a mild, easily treatable condition; in other cases, however, it could hide the presence of much more serious eye diseases.

For this reason, even though it is a very widespread and frequent disorder, it should never be underestimated.

2- What is it?

What is Canine Conjunctivitis?

Canine conjunctivitis is an extremely common inflammatory disease among man’s best friends. More precisely, it is an inflammation that develops in the conjunctiva , that is, in the thin mucous membrane that covers the front surface of the eye and the inner eyelid.

When you notice changes in your dog’s eyes, it is of fundamental importance to immediately contact your veterinarian and avoid “do-it-yourself” diagnosis and therapy, since these questionable practices – in addition to being potentially harmful – could hide the symptoms of a possible underlying disease that is even more serious and not yet identified.

3- Cause

What are the Causes and Risk Factors of Canine Conjunctivitis?

The causes of conjunctivitis can be the most varied and can be substantially divided into infectious and non-infectious causes .

Infectious causes that can cause inflammation of the conjunctiva include bacterial infections , viral infections (such as Canine Herpesvirus-1 and Canine Adenovirus -1), and fungal infections . In some cases, canine conjunctivitis can also be caused by the presence of parasites inside the eye.

The non-infectious causes that can give rise to the disorder, however, are:

• Presence of foreign bodies inside the eye;
• Contact with irritants ( smog, dust, chemicals, etc.);
• Excessive dryness of the eyes ;
• Trauma (e.g. scratches, blows, etc.);
• Allergies of various types (for example, pollen allergy ).

As you can see, the possible causes responsible for dog conjunctivitis are really many and can have different origins and nature. Therefore, the importance of consulting with the veterinarian is clear.

As regards the potential risk factors that can predispose to the onset of conjunctival inflammation , we find:

• Tear duct obstruction;
• Particular anatomical conformations of the eye or the area adjacent to it (such as, for example, the presence of large quantities of hair around the eye, protruding eyes , etc.).

4- Classification

Classification and Types of Canine Conjunctivitis

There are different types of canine conjunctivitis that can be classified according to the triggering cause, or according to the type of symptoms and manifestations induced by them.

According to the classification based on the causes triggering the inflammation of the conjunctiva, it is possible to distinguish:

• Bacterial conjunctivitis ;
• Viral conjunctivitis ;
• Fungal conjunctivitis ;
• Parasitic conjunctivitis ;
• Irritant conjunctivitis ;
• Traumatic conjunctivitis ;
• Allergic conjunctivitis .

According to the classification based on the manifestations and symptoms induced by canine conjunctivitis, however, it is possible to distinguish:

• Purulent conjunctivitis : characterized by the production of pus , generally yellowish or greenish in color, is mainly caused by infections which, in the majority of cases, are bacterial.
• Serous conjunctivitis : characterized by the formation of a serum -like secretion – clear or colorless in color – and with a rather fluid consistency.
• Follicular conjunctivitis : characterized by the swelling of some mucous glands which, reacting to external insults, increase in size and alter the characteristics of their surface which becomes rougher, thus giving rise to rubbing on the conjunctiva with consequent irritation and inflammation.

Did you know that…

There is another type of canine conjunctivitis, called neonatal conjunctivitis because it affects puppies in the first few days of life, before the eyelids open or immediately after. This type of canine conjunctivitis is generally caused by bacteria that manage to affect the back of the eyelids during or immediately after the birth of the puppies. This conjunctivitis is characterized by the presence of eyelid swelling and/or bumps . If this occurs in puppies, it is essential to contact your veterinarian immediately. If the condition is not promptly treated, in fact, it could lead to serious consequences, such as corneal damage and blindness.

Depending on how serious the problem is, the therapeutic approach also changes.
READ MORE ON HEALTH AND CARE

5- Symptoms

Manifestations and Symptoms Caused by Canine Conjunctivitis

The typical symptoms of canine conjunctivitis are:

• Eye redness ;
• Swelling;
• Itching;
• Excessive tearing ;
• Production of a secretion whose characteristics can vary depending on the type of conjunctivitis that has affected the dog.

Dog conjunctivitis can rarely cause pain , however, the itching can be so intense that the dog will scratch itself insistently, thus increasing the risk of causing lesions and favoring the possible appearance of superinfections. Furthermore, due to the itching and discomfort caused by the inflammation, the dog may be led to keep the eye partially or completely closed and may show some discomfort in conditions of high brightness.

6- Associated Pathologies

Sometimes, canine conjunctivitis can be the manifestation or the consequence of other eye diseases of a different nature which, in some cases, can also be very serious.

For example, canine conjunctivitis may be secondary to ocular diseases such as keratitis , corneal lesions , uveitis , and glaucoma .

More rarely, canine conjunctivitis may result from an underlying systemic condition (for example, canine distemper , a particular type of disease caused by a viral infection ) or from the presence of tumors.

7- Diagnosis

How to Diagnose Canine Conjunctivitis

The diagnosis of canine conjunctivitis is based on the analysis of the eye or eyes affected by the disorder. First, the veterinarian will have to determine which area of ​​the eye is actually inflamed and, at the same time, will have to evaluate the presence of any foreign bodies, scratches, ulcers, etc. In this way, it is possible to understand if the eye disorder really involves the conjunctiva and if it was caused by trauma or foreign bodies.

Once the inflammation has been localized at the conjunctival level and the presence of trauma or foreign bodies has been excluded – in order to determine the cause of the disorder – the veterinarian may decide to analyze any secreted material (pus, serous secretion, etc.) and/or may resort to performing some tests (such as, for example, staining with fluorescein). If an allergy is suspected, specific tests can be performed to determine it. In some cases, furthermore, in order to make a correct and complete diagnosis, the veterinarian may decide to perform a biopsy .

8- Treatment

Care and Treatment of Dog Conjunctivitis

The treatment of canine conjunctivitis is strictly connected to the cause that triggered it.

In case of ongoing infections, treatment must be aimed at eliminating the pathogenic microorganism , therefore the veterinarian may prescribe antibiotic , antifungal, antiviral or antiparasitic drugs.

Similarly, allergic conjunctivitis can be treated with antihistamine drugs .

The above mentioned drugs may be available in the form of eye drops and/or in pharmaceutical forms suitable for oral administration . Naturally, the active ingredient to be used, the type of pharmaceutical formulation and the dosage must be established by the doctor.

To reduce the inflammatory state, the veterinarian can resort to the administration of cortisone drugs . In addition, it is also possible to perform eye washes with specific cleansing solutions that, of course, must be prescribed by the veterinarian.

In cases where canine conjunctivitis is secondary to other ocular and/or systemic pathologies, it is necessary to treat the primary condition that caused the inflammation in question.

9- Myths to Debunk

Dog Conjunctivitis and Myths to Debunk

There are many beliefs and myths to dispel regarding the treatment of canine conjunctivitis, some of which are reported below.

Another myth to dispel is the belief that the same medicines used to treat conjunctivitis in humans can be used to treat canine conjunctivitis. This opinion is unfortunately very common, as well as being wrong, and can be potentially dangerous for dogs. In fact, medicines for human use have a qualitative (active ingredients and excipients) and quantitative (concentration of active ingredients) formulation suitable for treating diseases that only affect humans and – unless otherwise prescribed by a veterinarian – must NEVER be used to treat canine conjunctivitis.

Often, owners of animals affected by canine conjunctivitis tend to identify the cause of the disease in a “draught”. According to many veterinarians, this myth must be dispelled, since – as stated in the dedicated chapter – the causes triggering the inflammation of conjunctivitis are quite different.

Another myth to dispel concerns the use of hot chamomile compresses to combat conjunctivitis. The popular belief that this remedy would be infallible in combating inflammation of the dog’s conjunctiva does not take into account the potential adverse reactions that could occur in the animal. In fact, chamomile could cause allergic reactions that would further worsen the clinical picture; while the use of hot compresses – therefore, heat – could be contraindicated in the presence of certain pathologies.