Pupils of Different Sizes
Some pets have pupils of slightly different sizes and this is okay. If, however, one of your pet’s pupils suddenly becomes larger or smaller than the other, it may be experiencing serious difficulties. Possible causes of this phenomenon include cancer, trauma, infection, drugs, inflammation, and old age. Take your pet to the veterinarian immediately to have it examined. He or she can run some tests to measure the pressure on the eyeball if there seems to be a problem.
Leaking Eyes
It is normal for eyes to produce tears. Therefore, it is fine if your pet’s eyes tear a little bit. If it tears profusely or if it comes on suddenly, it can be a sign of a serious problem. Objects getting wedged in the eye can cause tearing, which can then cause damage to the cornea. In addition, it is possible for the tear duct to get clogged with these foreign bodies. As a result, the normal flow is obstructed and excessive tears run down your pet’s face. Other problems, such as cancer, lacerations of the cornea, and infections can cause leaking eyes. If your pet’s eyes leak for longer than a few minutes and if they are red, you should see your veterinarian right away.
Red Eyes
A pet with red eyes most likely has an eyelid inflammation or the eye itself is inflamed. If red eyes develop quickly on your pet, it could be a sign of a serious problem requiring emergency medical treatment. Slowly developing red eyes can also be problematic, but it generally does not require emergency medical care. In fact, red eyes can sometimes be a side effect of allergies. When this happens, a thin layer of mucus forms a covering over the front of the eye and on the inside of the eyelids. Adding Omega 3 fatty acids to your pet’s diet can often relieve this condition, called conjunctiva. Your pet may also prescribe eye drops to help with the condition.
Cuts to the Eye
Cuts to the eye, or lacerations, require emergency care to numb the pain and to prevent the eye from becoming further damaged. Lacerations can occur in the inner structures of the eye, such as the retina, pupil, and iris. Or, they can take place on the outer surface, such as the sclera and cornea.
Blind Eye
Pets can go blind from a number of problems. For some, blindness develops slowly. Symptoms include of blindness or problems leading to blindness include painful eyes, cloudy corneas, swelling, and red eyes. These problems can be caused by retinal detachment, brain tumors, trauma, poorly regulated diabetes, glaucoma, loss of blood flow to the brain, high blood pressure, and cataracts. Fortunately, cataracts can be removed. Following cataract surgery, your pet will benefit from special eye drops to reduce the swelling. Special eye drops for glaucoma can also help minimize or even reverse some of the effects of the disorder.
