Know the reason behind red eyes in Huskies
In this article, We’ll talk about husky red eyes. Huskies are known to have distinctive eyes. This is why it is very noticeable when something goes wrong with their eye color. There could be several reasons behind your Husky’s red eyes. The most common causes include conditions like dry eye, cataracts, conjunctivitis, entropion, crystalline corneal dystrophy, and glaucoma.
There could be several causes behind husky red eyes
Certain problems are known to affect the color of Husky eyes.
Dry eye
Dry eye is a condition of the eye that is also known as Keratoconjunctivitis. In this condition, the cornea of the eye develops dryness and becomes inflamed. This typically occurs when there is a deficiency in the fluid content made by the lacrimal gland.
Tears are essential in maintaining the immunity of the eyes. In the absence of tears, several infectious agents can build up and result in further issues. Many dogs go through this problem around middle age.
Certain medications are known to increase the incidence of dry eyes in Huskies. This includes the medication for hypothyroidism that is used to treat the inadequacy of the thyroid gland. Other common causes include feline herpes and the distemper virus.
Dry eye is a painful condition and can cause immense discomfort to your Husky. In this case, the dog would blink more times than normal and try to give rest to the painful eye. This condition can also result in a yellow discharge from the eye.
The dry eye should be treated by a veterinarian
If you notice these signs in your Husky, take them to a veterinarian immediately. This condition is typically diagnosed with the help of a Schirmer tear test. Dry eyes can be treated by stimulating the production of tears and replacing the tear film.
The treatment may also require the use of certain anti-inflammatory agents and antibiotics. Drugs like cyclosporine and tacrolimus are commonly employed to treat dry eyes.
Note that dry eye is not a rare condition and it can be treated successfully.
Crystalline Corneal Dystrophy
This condition renders an opaque and milky appearance to your dog’s cornea. This is a genetic condition and is passed on as a recessive trait. This is usually noticed when the dog is young.
Note that your Husky wouldn’t encounter any problems with vision and there is no associated pain. However, this condition can get uncomfortable if the crystals segregate and result in a corneal ulcer. A corneal ulcer is especially painful and requires immediate attention.
Crystalline corneal dystrophy does not typically require treatment
Crystalline corneal dystrophy only requires treatment when there is a formation of painful corneal ulcers. In such cases, it may even require surgery. Although, all it really needs is good management.
Veterinarians generally suggest a diet with low-fat content and high fiber content for dogs with this condition. This is because the occurrence of this condition is related to the processing of fat within your dog’s body.
Oftentimes, topical treatments are suggested for this condition. A topical acid treatment would relieve your Husky of discomfort and reduce the occurrence of ulcers.
Entropion
This condition is typically noticed when your Husky is still young. It is a painful condition and requires attention. In entropion, the lower eyelid tends to roll inside and rub against the cornea of your Husky’s eye. This can cause corneal scarring and several long-term problems with sight. The hair on the lower eyelid is responsible for the scarring. The dog will try to keep the affected eye closed. Note that this is a genetic condition.
Entropion typically requires surgery
If this condition is aptly diagnosed by your veterinarian, it will probably require surgery. For the correction of this condition, a portion of skin from the affected eyelid is removed. This reduces the contact of this portion with the cornea and there is no pain.
More than one surgery may be required to fully correct this condition. Surgery is only recommended in dogs older than six months.
It is important that you get this issue corrected as soon as possible because the amount of pain borne by your Husky is immense. You must consult your veterinarian at the earliest. Most Huskies do not face any issues after this problem has been aptly corrected with the requisite surgeries.
It is important to correct this issue at the earliest. Most dogs don’t encounter any pain after corrective surgeries. In the absence of any corrective surgery, corneal scarring can develop. This could result in irreversible damage to their sight.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis refers to an infection of the conjunctiva of the eye. Conjunctiva is a membrane that protects the eyeball against infectious agents by acting as a line of defense. The infection of this membrane can cause a ‘pink eye’.
The affected eyes can appear swollen and this may be accompanied by a green discharge. Conjunctivitis is an irritating and uncomfortable condition and it requires immediate attention. Lack of care can also result in irreversible damage to the eyes.
There are different treatment options according to the cause
The treatment of conjunctivitis will differ according to the reason this condition developed in the first place. If the cause is ruled out to be a bacterial infection, antibiotics will serve as the line of treatment. If the conjunctivitis is related to allergies, antihistamines will be prescribed.
This issue often occurs because of a foreign body which then must be removed. At times, the veterinarian suggests surgery for this purpose. Your Husky may be recommended to wear a special collar so that they don’t scratch their eyes further after the surgery.
Cataract
Note that several other issues should be suspected first before judging the presence of a cataract. But it is a possibility. Generally, the appearance of the eye is opaque and somewhat cloudy. A more severe cataract can seriously impair the vision of your dog.
Huskies can develop cataracts in old age or because of some injury. But it can also be an inherited disorder.
The treatment of cataract depends upon their severity
The treatment option for your Husky’s cataract will be based on the seriousness of their problem. Simple and effective treatments include oral medications and eye drops. Serious cases may even require surgery.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a serious condition that develops because of the inadequate drainage of fluid from the eye. It is very important to seek treatment for this condition at the earliest because it can also result in blindness.
This rare condition is known for severely damaging the optic nerve. Not many dogs fully recover from this condition and many become blind despite treatment. The typical symptoms of this condition include redness, cloudiness of the eyeball, receding of the position of the eyeball, increase in the frequency of blinking, and loss of vision.
Glaucoma does not generally have a good prognosis
Glaucoma is a serious condition and it doesn’t generally have a good prognosis. You should report to your veterinarian at the earliest. The initial line of treatment will include drugs that will reduce the pressure within the eye. The key is to limit the amount of damage.
Most treatments aim at lowering the pressure and reducing the damage to the optic nerve. In severe cases, the eye has to be removed.
Notify your veterinarian at the earliest
It is important that you report any abnormality with your dog’s health to your veterinarian as a priority. You should never wait for the problem to get worse. In most cases, it is not safe to assume that any problem will correct itself.
Once the problem has been identified, report to your veterinarian and aptly describe the signs and symptoms. You can also send them photos or videos of the problem in emergencies. Quick and early diagnosis is essential for the timely treatment of many issues.
While your Husky’s red eyes will not always have serious reasons behind them, it is always better to be safe. Huskies are a healthy breed of dog and they do not typically succumb to minor problems.
Conclusion
It is not right to ignore your Husky’s red-eye. It is essential that you seek the appropriate treatment from the start. There can be many reasons behind your Husky’s red-eye. Depending on the accompanying symptoms, your veterinarian should be able to diagnose the culprit. It is especially important to visit the veterinarian if the redness of your Husky’s eye persists for more than a day.
Timely treatment can prevent severe complications. Your dog may be in pain and it is your duty to relieve their discomfort. The cause behind the red eye may be a simple allergy or serious glaucoma. Apart from the condition we have mentioned above, there are several generalized conditions that can also lead to red eyes in Huskies.
Only your veterinarian will be able to correctly diagnose the issue and provide the appropriate solution. Early treatment can prevent complications and increase the chances of full recovery.