Wednesday, September 19, 2007

When To Worry About Eyes

There is a problem with your pet’s eyes if


- there are excess tears – this may indicate pain or irritation of the eye due to something rubbing on the eye, glaucoma or conjunctivitis, or a problem with tear drainage
- the eye is closed or half closed - this indicates pain or irritation of the eye
- the third eyelid is covering some or all of the eye – this may indicate a problem with the third eyelid, a problem behind the eyeball, pain, or if both third eyelids are obvious, general illness
- the eye is being rubbed – this indicates pain or irritation of the eye or surrounding skin
- there is a yellow or green discharge from the eye – this can indicate an eye infection, dry eye or a tear duct infection
- the eye or the surrounding membranes appear red – this may indicate conjunctivitis, glaucoma, bleeding inside the eye, or inflammation in the eye
- the eye seems cloudy or blue – this could be caused by certain infections, damage to the normally transparent cornea which covers the front of the eye, cataracts, or old age change
- the eyeball is swollen or protruding more than normal – this may indicate glaucoma
- the pupil appears more white or grey than the usual black colour – this can indicate cataracts or old age change
- the animal suddenly appears to go blind – this can be caused by glaucoma, inflammation in the eye, bleeding in the eye, diabetes or trauma to the eye



The eyes are very sensitive, and any sign of a problem should be taken seriously. If the animal shows any sign of eye problems, he should be examined by a vet as soon as possible. If caught early enough, most eye problems are curable or controllable, but if left without treatment, the eye can become permanently damaged and the pet can even go blind.

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