Conjunctivitis - Pink Eye in Dogs

What is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye, occurs when the conjunctiva of the eye (the moist tissue that covers the front part of the eyeball and lines the eyelids) becomes inflamed. Breeds which tend to have allergies tend to most commonly experience conjunctivitis. Dogs who are allergic to environmental factors are primarily affected.

Dog Breeds Prone to Developing Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is found to occur in all breeds but is most commonly seen in dogs who experience allergies including:

• Pug
• Shar-Pei
• Labrador Retriever
• Scottish Terrier
• Shih Tzu
• West Highland White Terrier
• Dalmatian
• Boxer
• Boston Terrier
• Lhasa Apso

Symptoms of Conjunctivitis

• Frequent squinting
• Redness of the eye
• Discharge from the eye
• Swelling of the eye

Causes of Conjunctivitis

There are several causes of ‘pinkeye’ or conjunctivitis.

• Bacterial causes: Bacteria may enter the eyelids of young puppies prior to their eyes opening resulting in conjunctivitis
• Reduced immune systems: allergies, inflammation of the eye due to plasma cells; lowered immune responses
• Viral: Canine distemper virus
• Diseases of the eyelid
• Diseases of the eyelash
• Irritation from dust particles
• Glaucoma

Treating Conjunctivitis in Dogs

Your veterinarian will conduct an eye examination. Your veterinarian will often first want to rule out another condition, ulcerative keratitis. Your veterinarian will also ensure there are not any foreign materials in the eye causing the irritation. A test for glaucoma will be conducted by determining the pressure in the eye. If there is any discharge appearing, the discharge may be tested.

There are many causes of this condition and the treatment will be based on the cause. Most commonly, it is simply a bacterial infection which your veterinarian will prescribe antibiotics for. If your veterinarian suspect allergies may be causing the irritation, a specialized diet will be recommended. In the cases where an obstruction is suspected, surgery may be required to remove the obstruction.

If you think your dog's eye is infected, but are mot convinced it's Conjunctivitis, consider checking out our guide to dog eye infections.

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