A Proactive Approach for Your Dog’s Optimal Eye Health
Dog owners agree that dogs are the most faithful furry friends ever. Dogs live fairly long lives when they are healthy and well taken care of. Every dog parent knows that and, therefore, spends more of everything–time, money, and love–for their dog’s wellness.
Part of this is looking after their dog’s eyes. It is common for dogs to have eye issues, whether genetic or brought on by outside factors. If you are a pet owner, you know how crucial this is. All you seek is to give your pet a long life with the best quality.
Preventive Measures
There are two ways to prevent serious issues. A proactive approach can be extremely beneficial if you wish to protect your dog from loss of sight and other eye problems. Look for the veterinarian’s support for these two steps to stay on top of your dog’s eye health.
Wellness Checkups
Your furry pal needs a regular wellness checkup once a year. However, as your dog reaches senior age, it is essential to bring it in at least twice a year. The veterinarian can examine the overall health of your pet this way, including the eyes. If any indications of problems form, the veterinarian can advise prompt medication.
Genetic Tests
Hereditary conditions are those that are handed down from parent to offspring. Several diseases and disorders that impact the eyes are hereditary. Specialty veterinary hospitals offer eye screening evaluations to see whether a dog will have vision or eye issues in the future.
Also called OFA examinations, single dogs or a puppy litter can be checked anytime. Most who benefit from this are breeders. If hereditary issues are positive, the breeders are discouraged from breeding certain dogs to stop the possible inheritance of eye concerns. To get the OFA test that you may need, you may search online for a facility near you.
Observing Symptoms
There are well-known symptoms a dog may display if eye disease is occurring. There are many things to learn on that, but you may want to be observant and watch out if your pet is experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Discharge and tearing
- Squinting
- Swelling or redness of the eyes
- Gradual or sudden loss of vision
- Cloudiness
- Constant eye rubbing
If you see any of these happening, do not think twice about taking the proper next steps.
Consultation
Call your vet for guidance, and bring your dog to the vet if needed. The veterinarian will want to examine your pet’s eyes to identify what is triggering the symptom. Aid will be provided to relieve pain or swelling.
Medical Diagnosis
The veterinarian may instruct laboratory work to be done. This will allow the veterinarian to give the appropriate medical diagnosis. The vet lab uses equipment throughout the testing to look at the outside and inner structures of the eyes. Optic nerves, blood circulation, and pressure buildup in the ocular area are some factors that are examined.
Treatment
The corresponding treatment will be given as soon as the medical diagnosis is confirmed. Some eye issues can be treated with topical ointments or solutions if the condition is caught early. In extreme cases, surgical treatment may be required to fix the issue. This is why acknowledging signs early on is important so that conditions will not worsen.
The Bottomline
Keep your dog’s vet schedule and always look out for symptoms. Being proactive when it concerns your animal’s health, including their eyes and vision, will give them a good quality of life. This will provide you the assurance that your pet will be alright for a long time.
