Canine Follicular Conjunctivitis

In follicular conjunctivitis, the mucus gland of the eye reacts with the eye irritant such as pollen and dust or infection makes the eye surface rough.



The rough surface causes irritation and induces the mucus gland to release a lot of mucus which is also called as tears. Because of the persistent rough surface the conjunctiva becomes red and swollen and thus causes a continuous pain in eyes.



Conjunctivitis in dogs is common and certain breeds are highly prone to the infection or allergy.

Dog follicular conjunctivitis usually happens in both the eyes.



Here are the symptoms related to follicular conjunctivitis:

• Redness to the conjunctiva due to dryness and rough surface of eyes.
• Tearing due to irritation caused by the follicle formation.
• Itching and rubbing of the eyes caused by rough and dry eyes.
• Squinting or spasmodic blinking (blephora) due to dryness and irritation. Dogs keep blinking their eyes or they keep their eyes half open.
• Eyes closed due to continuous flow of mucus and continuous irritation.
• Swelling of the eye causes the formation of fluid build-up of the moist tissue which covers the eyeball and is known as a follicle.
• Other related symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, lethargy, fever, and decreased appetite.

Treating Dog Follicular Conjunctivitis

Your veterinarian will always start diagnosis of dog follicular conjunctivitis by doing a physical examination of the dog’s eye. However, dog owners should always look for the above mentioned symptoms to avoid delay in treatment. Dog follicular conjunctivitis is the most common among all the different types of eye infections and is comparatively easy to treat if diagnosed and treated in the early stages.

Once the dog gets infected, early treatment is required to avoid further damage to the eye. Dogs rub their eyes very badly and chances are that they will end up causing more damage to the eye. The treatment of dog follicular conjunctivitis includes careful washing and flushing of the eye using sterile water or eye treatments. That is followed by antibacterial eye drops and medications to reduce the inflammation. In case of severe swelling, the use of steroids is very common in order to immediately decrease the swelling and itching and provide quick relief to the dog.  A proper investigation is required to know the cause of the problem and also to avoid any further infection. A complete course of medication is required to avoid any chronic eye problem due to dog follicular conjunctivitis.