Learn how to care for your pet’s eye health

Learn how to care for your pet's eye health
Learn how to care for your pet’s eye health (Photo: Simon Hesthaven/Unsplash)

Various diseases can affect the eye health of pets. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the main problems and know how to prevent them.

“Maintaining your pet’s eye health is crucial for their well-being, especially if they are predisposed to other illnesses,” explains veterinarian Marcella Vilhena, marketing manager at Syntec.

Some breeds are more vulnerable to eye problems due to their prominent eyes, which makes them more susceptible to dryness and trauma. Additionally, factors such as age, size, and lifestyle of the animal can also contribute to the development of such diseases.

“Be attentive to symptoms like tearing, eye discharge, itching around the eyes, sensitivity to light, dilated pupils, and redness,” warns the Syntec specialist.

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common eye conditions and involves inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane covering the white part of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids.

“In pets, conjunctivitis can be caused by bacterial infections, viral infections (more common in cats), and allergies. Treatment includes antibiotic eye drops that may also be combined with anti-inflammatories, depending on the cause,” Marcella explains.

Another condition is dry keratoconjunctivitis, which occurs when there is inadequate or no tear production, resulting in dryness and inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva.

“Dogs and cats with dry eyes may have thicker eye discharge, red eyes, and itching around the eyes. Treatment generally involves the use of artificial tears/lubricating eye drops and medications to stimulate tear production and prevent complications.”

Owners should be alert to signs and consult a veterinarian whenever necessary. The professional will perform exams and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

“Remember to clean around the eyes daily with a saline solution and gauze, keep the hair around the eyes trimmed, and use eye drops only under the veterinarian’s guidance,” concludes the Syntec veterinarian.

To assist pet owners, Syntec offers Tobrasyn, a veterinary eye drop based on Tobramycin sulfate at a concentration of 0.3%. It is effective for treating eye infections in dogs and cats caused by microorganisms sensitive to Tobramycin.

This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.

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