Pet Health And Care >> Dog Health >> Dog Uveitis

Dog Uveitis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment For Dog Uveitis Infection

Dog uveitis, also known as canine uveitis, is a common canine condition in which the particular part of the dog’s eye, which is associated with blood supply to the organ, becomes damaged.

Known as uvea, this part of the dog’s eye may get injured and inflamed due to a variety of reasons. Dog uveitis may cause the proteins from the eyes to leak out and cloud the eyes.

This can be seen as a hazy film on the dog’s eyes. The cloudiness causes vision loss for the dog, and in extreme cases, the dog may go completely blind as well.

Dog Uveitis Causes

There are two kinds of dog uveitis that your dog may suffer from.

The first is the anterior uveitis and the second is the posterior uveitis. The condition is classified as one of these two, based on the exact location of the inflammation in the eyes. Dog uveitis causes include physical injury or trauma to the eye, eye infections, cataracts, ehrlichi, tumors in the eye, glaucoma, uterus infections in female dogs, and any other systemic fungal infections that may reach the eyes. Untreated dog uveitis may cause formation of scar tissues inside the eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, and diseases of the retina.

Symptoms of Dog Uveitis

Dog uveitis symptoms include squinting, redness, cloudiness in the eyes, occasional bleeding from the eye, tearing and systemic vision loss. The haziness in the eyes, caused due to the leaking protein, can subsequently lead to the change in the color of the irises of the dog. There may be pus in the eyes and the dog may be in a lot of pain.

Dog Uveitis Infection and Treatment

Since dog uveitis and glaucoma are closely associated, it is important to get the condition diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. The veterinarian may use an ophthalmoscope to diagnose the eyes closely. If, in the diagnosis, the doctor finds a reduced flow of blood to the eyes, decreased intraocular pressure, abnormal amounts of fluids in the retina, thickening or scarring of the irises, hyphema, or the presence of blood right in front of the eye, precipitates in the corneal membrane and an acute constriction or inflammation in the eye muscles, it is an indication of the presence of dog uveitis.

Whether dog uveitis infection has been caused due to injury or natural causes, treatment should be given as soon as possible. The inflammation should be reduced to avoid complications and the onset of glaucoma. Dog uveitis treatment is usually geared on removing the cause of the condition so that the dog’s condition can heal quickly.

Submitted on November 4, 2011