Keratitis in dogs and cats is one of the common diseases of the eyes. It has many causes and is quite complex. It also needs differential diagnosis with other eye diseases. Starting today, we will introduce you to some common knowledge about eye diseases in stages!< /p>

Clinical symptoms

Initial symptoms include blindness, tearing, pain, conjunctival flushing, and eyelid closure, followed by corneal opacity, ulcers, serous or purulent eye secretions, and severe visual impairment. Traumatic keratitis can show corneal damage and bleeding, and if infected, suppuration and ulceration may occur. Canine distemper often occurs in both eyes at the same time; in addition to eye symptoms, systemic symptoms are also obvious, such as depression and body temperature rising to 39.5°C to 40.0°C. Corneal opacification is the formation of opaque white clouds on the cornea surface. The opacification may be localized or diffuse. The new corneal opacification is not obvious, the surface is rough and raised, and there are inflammatory symptoms. Old corneal turbidity has no symptoms of inflammation and clear boundaries. When the deep cornea is turbid, it often appears as a light blue cloud. Corneal hyperplasia is an obvious localized thickening of the cornea. Corneal ulcers are irregular defects in the surface or deep layers of the cornea. When the cornea is perforated, the cornea ruptures, and aqueous humor and viscous exudate flow out from the rupture, and even the capillaries are exposed. Corneal pannus is an opaque gray-white scar formed in the later stages of corneal turbidity and ulceration.

Common causes

Traumatic injuries are mostly caused by dogs biting each other, accidental kicks, bruises, and scratches caused by dogs playing with each other. The cornea becomes inflamed after injury, and most of these cases are serious. Foreign body irritation is caused by sand and ash falling into the eye and irritating the cornea; abnormal eyelashes irritating the cornea; chewing gum and other sticky objects sticking to the cornea and irritating the cornea. Medication Factors Using expired eye drops or eye ointments to treat watery eyes can cause corneal inflammation. There are also cases where the conjunctiva and cornea become inflamed after using certain eye medicines due to discomfort. Bacterial and viral infections are seen in canine distemper, canine infectious hepatitis, canine herpes virus and Staphylococcus aureus infections. This situation is more common and the condition is more serious. Unknown causes may be due to allergies or corneal dystrophy.

Treatment Plan

Based on the principles of eliminating the cause of the disease, reducing inflammation and pain relief, and promoting absorption, this method combines local drug treatment with systemic treatment. Rinse your eyes with saline to remove foreign matter and secretions in your eyes.

Medical guidance tips

Be sure to wear an Elizabethan ring to prevent further scratches or licking. If ordinary cleaning, anti-inflammatory or conservative treatment is not effective, it may even worsen. You need to go to a specialist eye hospital for treatment promptly, don’t delay.