Dogs can end up with red eyes all the time. There are a lot of causes here and we need to explain each one. Why are my dog’s eyes red? Basically, there is a problem and you need to work on it and find a solution as soon as you can. Certain issues can cause a huge pain, discomfort and so much more. Now, we will reveal all of the causes and what you should do about it.
6 Reasons Your Dog’s Eyes Are Red
1. Foreign Object
Certain dogs are extremely active and they will run around all day long. This means that they will sniff all day long. The problem here is that the eyes are close to the ground, grass, and foreign objects. Why are my dog’s eyes red?
There might be a foreign object inside the eye. A piece of sand can cause all of that. Keep in mind that if this is the case, your dog will have just one eye red. His eye will also be swollen and he will use his paw to scratch it and have a hard time keeping it open. Excessive tearing is always present.
- Treatment: The solution is to use saline to flush out any foreign object inside the eye. In some cases, you may have to use an e-collar to keep your dog away from rubbing the eye.
2. Allergy
Allergies will cause red eyes and this is one of the most common causes. Your pet will have excessive tearing, swollen eyes, be in discomfort, and also have itchy eyes. All sorts of things can cause allergies. Food ingredients, pollen and so much more.
- Treatment: You will need to take him to a vet and he will start treatment. You don’t have to treat red eyes but rather the cause of an allergy. Once the allergy goes away, so will red eyes.
3. Glaucoma
Glaucoma happens when the pressure inside the eye gets too high. The fluid amount will increase as well. If you don’t treat this, he can end up blind! You will also notice sensitivity to light, cloudy eyes, swelling, redness, tearing, and pupils of different size, and your pet will rub his eye all the time. Blindness is one of the symptoms as well!
- Treatment: A vet will start with medications. These usually help and the treatment is not severe. But, some dogs may need surgery to correct the issue. Your pet will be free from glaucoma!
4. Pink Eye
Pink eye or conjunctivitis happens when the tissue that coats the eye becomes red. It can happen to one eye or both. You will also see swelling and your dog will blink much faster and more. Watery discharge can be present as well. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses can cause this. Certain allergens can cause conjunctivitis as well.
- Treatment: The treatment is something your vet should prescribe. He may tell you to start with eyewashes that are made for this purpose. In certain cases a more severe approach is mandatory.
5. Uveitis
Uveitis happens when the tissue in front of the eye ends up in inflammation. Your dog will be in pain and redness is one of the symptoms. Others include discharge, cloudy eye, eye color change, swelling, and dull eye.
- Treatment: The treatment starts with medications and eye drops. These usually work well and your pet will be fine in no time. Sadly, there are severe cases of uveitis when the eye must be removed!
6. Corneal Ulcers
As you may know, this happens due to injury, most of the time. The thin membrane that is in front of the eye will wear out and the eye will end up damaged. You can see your pet having drainage from the eye, he will be sensitive to the light and he will rub the eye all the time.
- Treatment: Here we can see simple and complicated parts of the treatment. If the corneal ulcers are not severe, you will need to start with antibiotic eye drops. If this does not work or the issue is severe, a dog may need surgery. He may also need a corneal transplant. We would advise you to start as soon as you notice the issue in order to get the improvement in no time and help your dog as soon as you can.
Certain Dog Breeds Are At A Higher Risk Of Eye Issues
We must add that certain dogs are at a higher risk of developing this or some other eye issue. This applies to dogs who have flat faces, older dogs, and also dogs who have long hair around their eyes or on their faces. As you can assume, all of these dogs have their eyes more exposed or they can end up with an allergy easier. Some are more prone to eye diseases as well.
Last but not least, other issues can cause red eyes in dogs as well. For instance, this can be a symptom of diabetes, cancer, or hyperthyroidism. All of these are severe problems and you will need to take your pet to a vet as soon as you notice red eyes. We always hope for the best but in some cases, causes can be very severe and you don’t want them to become even more complicated.
The Final Word
If you notice red eyes in your dog you will ask this question. Why are my dog’s eyes red? This is something that can happen to any dog of any age and there are not a lot of things you can do to prevent the issues and protect your pet 100%.
The best thing you should do is to take him to a vet as soon as you can. If it is a simple cause, your dog will be fine sooner. If it is a more severe cause, your dog will need more time to solve the issue and recover. But, you cannot deduce precisely which cause of these is present without help from a vet.