German Shepherds are mostly considered as guard dogs, they are used by military and police. They have all the necessary traits to be naturally protective and affectionate.
For the work they do, they need to be physically fit. All the body parts should work properly but unfortunately, German Shepherds are prone to some disease which makes German Shepherd owners concern about their health.
Let’s look at the German Shepherd eye problems and some preventive measures.
Do German Shepherd have eye problems?
German Shepherds are mostly infected by a chronic superficial keratitis also known as pannus. It is an immune-mediated condition affecting the clear part of the eye. Pannus occurs mainly among middle aged German Shepherds, though other breeds are also affected by this condition. If not treated, your dog may become blind.
Chronic superficial keratitis is a hereditary condition that develops as the dog gets older. Pannus is caused when your immune system attack the healthy cells by mistake. This is known as autoimmune disease.
Pannus can progress depending on many factors such as excessive sun exposure and genetics. Pannus is, most of the times, caused by genetics, so it is difficult to prevent the disease but treatment may help a bit.
Symptoms of pannus in a German Shepherd
Some clinical signs of pannus are:
- A non-painful pink mass which appears on the corner or the outside part of the eye.
- Both eyes get affected by this but one eye may seem more serious than the other.
- The eyelid appears to be thicker and inflamed.
- As pannus progresses, the lesion will spread out and become pigmented, the scarring will spread over the corner.
- A mucoid discharge can also be seen.
- If this condition gets serious, it can cause virtual impairment.
Causes of pannus in a German Shepherd
There is no specific cause of pannus, but according to doctors, these can be the cause of pannus among German Shepherds:
- It can be hereditary.
- Exposure to ultraviolet light.
- High altitude.
- Too much smoke going into the eyes.
- Underlying eye conditions.
- Immune-mediated inflammation.
- Eyelashes that turns inward.
Treatment of pannus in German Shepherd
The treatment for chronic superficial keratitis involve:
- If you notice any of these symptoms, visit the veterinarian immediately.
- Topical corticosteroids.
- Immune modulating drugs like cyclosporine.
- Antibiotics.
- Blood test may be recommended for better understanding.
- Chronic superficial keratitis mostly requires lifelong treatment but early treatment has high chances of curing the disease.
- Dogs with pannus require ongoing treatment to prevent the eye lesions from returning.
- Regular check-ups are mandatory to see if pannus is under control.
Other eye infections
There are other eye infections seen among German Shepherds which are not as serious as pannus.
- Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye or red eye, involves a thin mucous membrane covering the front of the eye and lining the inner surface of the eyelid.
- Inflammation of the cornea.
- Uveitis affects interior part of the eye.
- Abnormalities in the eyelids and glands.
Cause of other eye infection
These are some common causes seen among dogs with eye infection:
- Viruses like distemper and herpes.
- Bacterial problems.
- Fungus inside the eyes.
- Too much smock exposure.
- Shampoo going into the eyes can irritate the eyes.
- Dirt, dust, grasses unwanted material going inside the eyes.
- Parasites.
- Tumor in the eye.
- Dry eye.
- Glaucoma.
- Vitamin deficiency.
Symptoms
- Redness and swelling around the eyes
- Watery eyes.
- Too much blinking.
- Light sensitivity.
- Itchy eyes.
Home remedies to treat eye infection in dogs
These type of eye infections are not serious and can be treated at home.
- Wash your dogs eye with lukewarm water with a little bit of salt.
- Take a warm cloth and apply with light pressure to your dog’s eye for about 5-10 minutes to reduce the swelling.
- Eye infection creams does half of the work of treating eye infection.
- Eye drops.
Preventive measures
- Trim the hair around the eyes.
- Protect the eyes with goggles designed for dogs so that they are safe from dust and flies.
- Avoid trauma to the eye.
- Protect them from excessive sun exposure.
Conclusion
Not many things affect German Shepherds health but they can inherit or develop a number of diseases. Chronic superficial keratitis is one of them.
Read: How to maintain good health of your German Shepherd
Some eye problems can be extremely painful and make your dog blind, if not treated.
Eye infections are very normal among dogs as they are always playing outside and there is high probability of getting dust, dirt, grass or insect going in to their eyes. These infections can be taken care of at home. But in case the eye infections seem serious, do not hesitate to visit a vet.