6 Causes of Dry Eye in Dogs

If you have a dog, you might have already been through the experience of dealing with dry eye. However, some dogs are more prone to this condition than others, and it may not affect every dog. With that said, dry eye in dogs is a common ailment and it’s something you should learn how to recognize in your own pet.

What are Some Common Causes of Dry Eye in Dogs?

In this article, we’ll explore six of the most common causes of dry eye in dogs. You can use this information to figure out whether or not your dog’s eye condition could be dry eye, and when to go to the veterinarian for more information.

However, if you’re ever unsure about whether your dog may need veterinary attention or not, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Even if the cause of this condition isn’t something that’s dangerous, your vet will be able to provide care in order to help ease your pet’s discomfort.

6 common causes of dry eye in dogs include, but aren’t limited to:

Disease

Many diseases can cause dry eye in dogs. Some of these are less severe, such as mild respiratory infections, while others are more serious.

Distemper

One of the most serious causes of dry eye in dogs is distemper, which is an often fatal disease for puppies and older dogs.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is another chronic disease that can frequently cause dry eye in dogs. If your dog is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, you’ll need to pay close attention to her eye health to determine whether or not dry eye becomes a problem for her.

Medication

Some types of medication can cause dry eye in dogs. If your dog’s dry eye has just started shortly after she’s been taking medication for an acute or chronic problem, this is probably the cause. This type of dry eye isn’t anything too serious, but it still needs to be treated with the help of medicated eye drops.

If your dog’s dry eye is caused by a short-term medication, you can just wait until she finishes the medicine, give her eye drops for a little while, and she should be fine. If the medication is for a chronic health condition, however, your vet will work with you to figure out the best solution to balance all of your dog’s health needs.

Immune System Issues

Sometimes, dry eye is caused by an immune system issue. There are several potential immune system problems that can affect dogs, and some are more serious than others. Regardless of severity, all of these issues will require maintenance and treatment through the help of your vet.

If your dog’s immune system issues get out of hand, they can cause the immune system to start attacking the wrong parts of the body. This problem can quickly lead to dry eye as the dog’s eyes develop pain and inflammation associated with the underlying immune system problem.

Breed

Many breeds of dogs are more prone to develop dry eye than others. If your dog is a breed that is known for dry eye issues, this may be the only cause. She may not have any illnesses, conditions, or other contributing factors, and she may only have dry eye because she is genetically predisposed to it.

Some of the most common breeds affected by dry eye include “bug-eyed” dogs like pugs, Pekignese, and Boston terriers. Others include cocker spaniels, bulldogs, King Charles spaniels, and shih-tzu. Even mixed breed dogs who have one of these breeds in their bloodline may be prone to dry eye.

Allergies

Allergies usually aren’t the first cause of dry eye. Instead, they are a trigger that can cause the condition to flare up, especially in dogs with a long history of issues related to dry eye. If your dog has dry eye as well as allergies, she may need to be on preventative eye drops during allergy season.

Your vet can give you more information about dry eye flare-ups related to your dog’s allergies. You may need to give your dog allergy medication to prevent severe allergic reactions, and you might need to be more proactive about her eye health when she has allergies as well.

Injury

Sometimes, your dog may have an eye injury that isn’t serious enough to completely damage the eye, but is bad enough to cause problems. If your dog has a scratch on the eye, for example, this could lead to dry eye if the problem isn’t treated right away.

Talk with your vet for more information if your dog has suffered an eye injury. She may need to be on antibiotics to prevent infection and eye drops to prevent dry eye as well.

Call The Village Vets if You Have More Questions about Dry Eye in Dogs

As you can see, there are a few different causes of dry eye that can affect your dog. If you think your dog is suffering with any of these causes or if you know she has a history of dry eye with one or more of these triggers, speak with your vet for more information about how to treat the condition.

If your dog’s dry eye is chronic, your vet may work with you to figure out the best eye drops to give her regularly to prevent the problem or maintain her good eye health.

While some causes of dry eye in dogs aren’t a cause for immediate concern, it’s still important to make sure you’re staying on top of this condition and doing what you can to help your pet. Our team at The Village Vets cares about your dog’s comfort and wellbeing, so we’ll help get to the bottom of what’s causing this condition in your pet. So don’t wait, bring your pet in to be treated by our team today!