Last Updated on April 14, 2022 by Fabiola L.
Is a dog with squinty eyes a bad sign? Here is a guide for noticing this concerning behavior from one of your pets!
The squinting look can remind one of pain and uncertainty. You want to get to the bottom of this strange reaction to find out if there are adverse health issues you might have missed in your dog.
What are some of the issues that could result in a dog squinting? Read on to learn more.
Dogs With Squinty Eyes: What Does It Look Like?
You may notice that one or both of your dog’s eyes is smaller than the other as if they are trying to focus their vision out of them.
Unfortunately, this is not typical behavior in dogs, and it usually means that something is affecting their eyes.
Other signs you should watch out for are the dog pawing at their eyes, red eyes, dry eyes, or watery eyes. Discharge and excess tearing can be a sign of a problem or infection.
Possible Issues For Dogs With Squinty Eyes
Why is your dog squinting? Here are some of the reasons and common issues that might affect your dog’s eyes.
Foreign Object
Is your dog squinting one eye? Like humans, they are likely to have something stuck in their vision. They may squint as a reaction to the object in their eyes, and they might make the effort of removing it as well.
Help your pet avoid scratching their eyes and make the problem even worse. Flush the eye with clean water until the body is removed and your dog is relieved.
Eye Injury Causing Dog With Squinty Eyes
Your dog could receive an injury to the eye at any time in its daily life, and that’s why you should be vigilant about their activity and behavior.
They can receive an eye injury from scratching their eyelid, trauma from accidents, or fights with other animals. Dog squinting eyes can be a reaction to this pain.
Corneal Ulcer
The cornea is the protective membrane of the eye. It is thin, transparent, and is composed of three distinct layers of cells.
A corneal ulcer occurs when the cornea is wounded and erodes on the eye. The erosion can penetrate deep into the layers of the cornea and can affect the eye as a whole.
Typically wounds, scratches, and even foreign substances affecting the cornea cause a corneal ulcer.
A corneal ulcer can also occur due to bacterial infection, but this is a less common cause.
Microphthalmia and Ocular Dysgenesis
Microphthalmia in dogs happens when small eyes have deepened into their sockets, which is a problem the dog is born with.
Ocular Dysgenesis refers to other defects that cause visual impairments and eventual loss of eyesight in the dog.
How To Keep Your Dog’s Eyes Healthy
Pet owners have to ve vigilant about their dog’s eye health because they want to avoid the possibility of the total collapse of one or both eyes.
Here are some preventative measures that you can take to make sure your pet isn’t susceptible to significant eye problems.
Clean The Eye Area During Baths
While you are cleaning your dogs during their regular bath, you can take the time to wipe the area around their eyes and ensure their cleanliness.
We don’t think about cleaning eyes often due to their self-cleaning ability. However, helping your dog get rid of any dirt near the eyes and clearing away any dried discharge is a step towards a healthier set of eyes.
This time can also serve as an inspection of your dog’s eyes. Get a good up-close look at their peepers and make sure there is nothing inside or any other issues.
Serve A Healthy Eye Diet
Another way to strengthen the eyes’ health is to feed your dog some natural foods that provide the proper nutrients and minerals.
Some of those nutrients you want to look out for are:
- Vitamin A is for clearing up the cornea – it can be found in carrots.
- Vitamin C is an antioxidant that could fight free radicals in the eyes – it can be found in pumpkin and blueberries.
- Vitamin E is also a helpful antioxidant – it can be found in various oils and greens.
- Beta-carotene is what results in the red and yellow tones of vegetables and can be converted into Vitamin A by the body – it can be found in carrots, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.
- Lutein and Zeaxanthin are carotenoids, which are also components of the eyes – Lutein can be found in eggs, and both are found in kale and spinach.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids are healthy unsaturated fat that benefits the retina and has anti-inflammatory capabilities – they can be found in fish like salmon and even sardines.
Before you serve anything to your dog, you have to make sure that your pet can digest these foods. Listed here are fruits, vegetables, eggs, and fish that dogs can eat, but there are a wide variety that can potentially poison your dog if you’re not careful.
You should also never give your dog human vitamin supplements. There are versions in pills and powders made especially for dogs, as the human counterpart can also potentially harm them.
Understand The Issues That Are Common To Your Dog’s Breed
When caring for a specific breed, you need to look up sources of information that can give you the best tips to prevent problems.
For example, some brachycephalic (flat-face) breeds like Chihuahuas, Pugs, and Mastiffs have bulging eyes that are prone to corneal exposure, heightening the risk of eye problems.
Visit The Veterinarian Regularly
The veterinarian can see the problems that your dog may have before you could even sense them.
Going to your veterinarian for a regular check-up is an excellent preventive measure for your pets. Since they are experienced in even the earliest signs of problems in your dog’s health, they can already diagnose and prescribe actions to prevent any further degradation.
Learn more about Can Chihuahuas Have Blue Eyes?
Conclusion
The eyes are a susceptible part of your dog’s body. You may need to step in help out your dog to ensure that they are safe and healthy. When it comes to dog eye problems, squinting is a typical sign of the start of an issue.
Have you experienced handling an eye problem with your pet dog? How did you get through it? Let us know your story in the comments below.
Read more about: Dog Breeds With Bulging Eyes Guide
