Can you see right into your dog’s eyes?

August 27th, 2020

Can you see right into your dog’s eyes or do they appear cloudy?

A cataract is a common reason for clouding of the eye, the dog will have difficulty seeing especially at night. Eye drops containing N-acetlycarnosine (NAC) can dissolve cataracts in a dog’s eyes and owners notice improved visual behaviour within a month of treatment. Many dog owners also use these eye drops as a preventative measure for dogs whose breed are susceptible to cataracts or dry eye syndrome.

The cloudiness caused by cataracts normally starts in the black dot of the eye. There are four stages of a cataract, incipient, immature, mature and hyper mature. A hyper mature cataract has a risk of rupturing that can result in blindness but early action could save your dog from having surgery.

Is your dog too small or too old for cataract surgery?

Eye drops containing N-acetlycarnosine can be a blessing for dogs that are too old or too small for cataract surgery. The eye drops are the most successful non-surgery treatment for dogs and other animals such as horses, cats and rabbits.

Dry eyes and no tears…

The drops can also help ‘dry eyes’ in animals, this is where the eyes don’t produce tears and they become painful. It is caused by a fault in the dog’s immune system where tear glands are attacked and destroyed.

What dogs are most prone to cataract problems?

Our four-legged friends seem almost human at times and like us, their eyes water, they get encrustations and infections. Those complaints should be looked at by a vet. It’s no walk in the park when your dog has health problems so keep your eyes open and look for signs.

Breeds most prone to cataract problems are:

English Springer Spaniels
Siberian Huskies
Poodles
Collies
Boston Terriers
Great Danes
German Shepherds.

Can-C K9

Can-C K9 are eye drops specifically for dogs. The ocular lubricants contain natural ingredients including N-acetlycarnosine. They are a progression from the popular Can-C eye drops that have achieved desired results, there are customer success stories and great reviews on Amazon.

How do eye drops work?

Eye drops are taken up by the tissue under the eyelids and interact with the tears in the eyes, on closing the eyelid the drops spread across the surface of the eye.

Putting eye drops in your dog’s eyes

This can be a very stressful time for the dog and the owner, equally, a dog may get stressed when visiting a vet to have the eye drops put in. The simple fact is if your dog has eye problems it is a process that needs to be done that in the long term could prevent your dog from going blind.

When applying eye drops, it’s a matter of finding what works for you and your dog, different experts have different suggestions.

Position the dog in the corner of the room and approach the dog face on with the drops
Stand behind the dog and position his butt next to your belly reaching over the dog to insert the drops
Straddle larger dogs to apply drops
Use a relaxed approach from the front with someone comforting the dog from behind

Dogs and eye conditions

There are obvious signs that your precious walking companion has eye problems. Keep your eye out for the following:

Squinting and scratching around the eyes
Excessive discharge sometimes green in colour
Redness and cloudiness
Sludge accumulating in the corner of the eye
A decrease in tear production
Unequal pupil size
Eyes sinking into the socket
Bumping into furniture
Not being able to find the water bowl
Lethargy
Loss of appetite

Our K9 best friends

Dogs as pets know when we are sad and come to comfort us, they give their paw to please us and they become a big part of the family. Sadly they aren’t immortal although we wish they were, they get ill just like we do so it’s our job as dog owners to give them the best chance of a long and healthy life. Providing for them and protecting them in a clean living environment. Making sure that there is always fresh water available and feeding them a quality diet and preventing obesity. Giving plenty of opportunities to exercise and spending time with your dog to build your relationship.

The dog lovers good health apps

Being a good dog owner involves keeping vaccinations up to date, making sure they have any medication they need for health issues and treatments for flea or tick control. This can be made easier by using relevant apps and here are four that have been recommended by Jim Dobies DVM veterinarian and president of UrgentVet in Charlotte, North Carolina and Tampa, California.

Pet First Aid – an American Red Cross app for dog owners with illustrations and videos about dog emergencies such as falls, burns and seizures.
Animal Poison Control Center – a searchable database to determine whether something that has been consumed is cause for concern.
Fitbark – the app is connected to a fitness monitor which tracks your dog’s fitness and activity.
Vitusvet – it can access an entire medical history for your dog and give a reminder when your dog is due to have any medications.

Having a dog in your life is a wonderful thing, they can bring so much joy. Keep your eye out for eye problems and with early diagnosis and good pet care you can enjoy the company of your four-legged friend for years.

Find out more about the wonders of Can-C here: