SPOTS IN THE DOG'S EYES: WHAT CAN THEY MEAN?

The spots in the dog's eyes are an indication of excessive tearing, but not only. Let's see how to solve this little problem.

Sometimes spots form in the dog's eyes, just below the lower lids, but what are they due to?

Sometimes they are brownish, almost reddish, and are mainly due to the tearing of the dog.

They are easily noticed in dogs with white coats such as the Maltese, the Poodle, or the Bichon Frise that produce more tears than other dog breeds.

This excessive tearing causes the eye contour always to remain moist, becoming a dangerous proliferation point for fungi and bacteria.

The spots in the dog's eyes are not a simple cosmetic problem, but there is a lot more to know.

Therefore it is essential to go to the vet immediately to understand the causes and proceed with the most suitable therapy.

Spots in the dog's eyes: epiphora

You have probably never heard of it, but epiphora is a fairly common condition and causes spots in the dog's eyes.

It means that the dog produces many more tears than it should because the eyes are always moistened and stains.

The dog tears so profusely because it has blocked tear ducts, which means that we are probably in the presence of a disease or inflammation.

This is why it is so important to contact the veterinarian for a specialist visit; it is the only way to know with certainty the cause of the epiphora.

Before prescribing a treatment, the doctor must do the necessary tests to identify the presence of an infection or an allergy, another cause of excessive tearing.

But it could also be a foreign body that got into Fido's eyes, causing a reaction.

For this type of health problem, the veterinarian usually prescribes a therapy based on antibiotics, but he can resort to surgery if this is not enough.

There is a particular type of operation called flushing by which it can clear the dog's tear ducts so that the secretions return to normal.

How does nutrition affect

Another possible cause of the spots in the dog's eyes is the incorrect diet or, in some cases, a change of diet that is too fast, which causes a decompensation in the dog.

L ' diet is key to the health of Fido, we will never stop repeating it, and this particular dog's reaction is proof.

In practice, if the vet excludes the epiphora, excessive tearing can be caused by a diet that is too rich in proteins.

Each case must be evaluated individually, and the vet must be good at tracing the exact cause of this dog condition.

When spots form in your dog's eyes due to the diet and the type of food we give to Fido, some precautions must be taken.

First of all, red meats could be eliminated for a period, preferring white meats or even better fish.

At the same time, we could move from the industrial diet to the home one, or in any case, to foods free of cereals.

When this problem is due to nutrition, it may take months before you see the first results, so don't despair if, after a few weeks, you still see spots in the dog's eyes.

Other factors that cause the spots in the dog's eyes

We have seen that the dog's eyes' spots can result from the obstruction of the tear ducts ( epiphora ) or an incorrect diet.

But the causes sometimes depend on other factors such as the dog's age or the breed's predisposition to profuse tearing.

In the first case, age affects both puppies and older dogs, but for different reasons.

When puppies, for example, grow permanent teeth in place of baby teeth, the tears become more acidic, and it is common for spots to form under the lower eyelid.

In older dogs, it is a bit different because, at that age, the tear ducts become clogged more quickly than in young dogs, and this is how Fido tears more and stains are created in the dog's eyes.

In addition to age, Fido's specific breed can also affect its particular characteristics and a particular conformation of the muzzle.

Just think of dogs like the Chihuahua or the Poodle, in general, all dog breeds that have vast and protruding eyes.

These specimens tear a lot because they cannot contain secretions due to the confirmation of their eyes.

They are born already predisposed to the epiphora without necessarily having the lacrimal ducts blocked or unable to drain the liquid.

That annoying hair in front of the eyes

Spots are a common problem in dog breeds that grow very long hair right on their eyes.

Just think of the Schnauzer, the Portuguese Water Dog, the Brie Shepherd, or the Lhasa Apso.

They have such long hair on their eyes that one wonders how they can see well!

Since these are particular breeds and know how much some owners care about preserving their characteristics - many have always refused to shorten this hair.

On the one hand, it is not to change the dog's typical appearance and because the false belief has spread that this hair protects the eyes from the sun's rays when it is not exactly right!

It is natural for a dog that never has eyes exposed directly to sunlight to have a more significant reaction when they are released.

Therefore, a question of "habit" is not linked to the fact that these breeds are particularly sensitive to light.

Since hair that is too long on the eyes often causes irritation and even the brownish spots mentioned above, it is best to shorten it from time to time to avoid these problems.

Spots in the dog's eyes: how to get rid of them

The spots in the dog's eyes can be easily eliminated, but it is always better to rely on the vet's advice rather than rely on DIY.

Your vet will give you several options to take care of Fido's eye hygiene and prevent irritation and other annoying (and dangerous) health problems.

Prevention is always better than cure, so if Fido is already predisposed to excessive tearing, it would be advisable to clean his eyes daily.

Just a soft and clean cloth moistened with warm water to pass very gently around the eyes (never inside!) Or a cotton pad impregnated with warm chamomile.

Chamomile has the advantage of soothing the affected area but also of preventing the proliferation of bacteria.

If we have a white-haired dog, the eyes' spots can be a bit difficult to get rid of completely.

To bring back this pure and clean hair, we can use a specific whitening shampoo suitable for this type of dog.

The important thing is to use the product at least once every two weeks and no more because, in the long run, it could dry out the hair and damage Fido's skin.

Finally, to clean the stains in the dog's eyes, we can use a cotton pad or clean gauze soaked in 3% boric water.

The boric water - which must be strictly indicated by the veterinarian - not only allows you to sanitize the eye area but also has a strong stain removal power. Hence, the hair quickly returns to its original color.

Article Source