Pomeranian (Detailed introduction)

Conjunctivitis is a common ophthalmic disease and is generally not considered serious, so many pet owners do not pay enough attention to it. However, the issue is not as trivial as it seems. If left untreated for a long time, the condition can worsen and may affect the dog’s vision. In the most severe cases, it can even lead to blindness. Therefore, once symptoms appear, timely examination and care are necessary, and daily eye care should be emphasized.

The conjunctiva is a loose mucous membrane covering the eyeball, playing an essential role in maintaining the integrity and health of the eye surface. In fact, one of its most important functions is to ensure normal eye lubrication through tears. Conjunctivitis in dogs is mainly caused by viral or bacterial infections. Depending on the cause, there are various types of conjunctivitis in dogs, each causing different degrees of damage to the eye surface. Once inflammation occurs in the conjunctiva, its normal physiological functions are impaired. This means many cells involved in forming the tear film cannot secrete tears properly, leading to dryness or itching of the eye surface. With the loss of proper lubrication, blinking can become painful, and in severe conjunctivitis cases, blinking may even damage the eye surface.

Although conjunctivitis is a common eye disease, if not treated promptly and effectively, it often threatens the dog’s vision. If a dog has a weakened immune system or other illnesses, conjunctivitis can be more severe and last longer. Some conjunctivitis cases can even affect the cornea, leading to corneal perforation. Inflammation of the conjunctiva may also spread to the entire eyeball, impairing the dog’s vision. Severe cases can cause blindness.

Additionally, conjunctivitis can sometimes cause scar tissue formation on the conjunctival surface. Such scar tissue can cause eyelashes to turn inward, irritating the cornea and resulting in chronic corneal pain and corneal ulcers.

Chloramphenicol Eye Drops

Therefore, besides timely treatment, proper daily care is also essential.

1. Frequent wiping: Dogs with conjunctivitis produce more eye discharge, so it’s necessary to wipe it away promptly to prevent buildup that can cause bacterial infections.

2. Eye drops: In addition to cleaning with water, you can use special ophthalmic eye cleansing solutions to remove discharge. The same type is sold in pet hospitals or human pharmacies; simply follow the instructions carefully to use safely.

3. Warm towel compress: A slightly warm, damp gauze can be placed over the affected dog’s eyes for five minutes. This method can make the dog’s eyes feel comfortable and relieve some itching symptoms.

4. Hair trimming: Some long-haired dogs have fur around their eyes that can rub against the eyes, potentially causing conjunctivitis. It’s best to trim the hair around the dog’s eyes to prevent fur from entering and irritating the eyes, which can cause inflammation.

5. Chloramphenicol eye drops: A must-have medicine for eye treatment, it can treat conjunctivitis and keratitis. Due to its low cost, it can also be used to rinse eyes to maintain cleanliness even when there is no eye disease. It is especially effective for breeds with large, protruding eyes like Pekingese and Pugs.

Erythromycin Eye Ointment

6. Erythromycin eye ointment: Works similarly to chloramphenicol eye drops. Applying the ointment on the eyeball provides longer-lasting effects.

Proper care can accelerate the recovery of conjunctivitis. Therefore, besides early treatment, mastering correct nursing methods is also very important. Regularly cleaning your dog’s eyes can effectively reduce the chances of them developing conjunctivitis.