The look of dogs is somewhat irresistible. Dogs and humans use their eyes to communicate and convey what they feel. This means that any change, such as an opacity in the dog’s eye, is identified early.
As the dog grows and ages, many guardians may notice a kind of fog in the dog’s eyes that eventually becomes sharper and whiter. Although the main cause that comes to mind are cataracts, veterinary ophthalmology is much more complex and offers a wide list of possible causes of this white spot in the eyes of the dog, a degenerative process related to age, eye diseases in dogs. adults or even systemic diseases.
- Neste artigo do Animal Expert vamos explicar para você o que pode ser uma mancha branca no olho do cachorro e quando o tutor deve se preocupar.
The dog’s eye has the same functions as the human eye, although it sees in different shades of color. The eye has the following functions:
They can have the same diseases and even more than humans, so it’s so important to take good care of your pet’s eyes.
We will briefly explain the anatomy of the dogs’ eyes and explain the diseases that can cause a white spot on the dog’s eye.
The eyeball (eye) consists of
Thin-skinned folds that cover the eye and prevent it from drying and help eliminate certain foreign bodies. At the end of each eyelid (lower and upper), there are eyelashes.
Also called the third eyelid, it is next to the lower eyelids in the medial corner of each eye (next to the nose).
They produce the components of the tear and help moisturize the eye, keeping it functional and lubricated.
They connect the eye to the nose, draining the tears to the tip of the nose.
The place where the eye is inserted is the bone cavity that holds the eye and has nerves, vessels, and muscles to energize the eye.
The whole white part of the eye. It’s a very strong layer
It is a thin layer that coats the sclerotic, in front of the eye and extends into the eyelid. When the eye becomes red due to a type of allergic, infectious or systemic problem reaction, the animal is said to have conjunctivitis (inflammation of the conjunctiva). Learn more about canine conjunctivitis in this article.
It is the anterior part of the eye, in the form of a transparent dome, which covers and protects the eye, allowing the passage of light.
It is the colored part of the eye that controls the amount of light entering the eye, causing the pupil to contract or expand. When there is a lot of light, the pupil contracts and becomes very thin, almost as a risk, and in low light situations, it expands a lot, becomes too large and too round to capture as much light as possible.
The center of the iris is the black central part of the eye
Located behind the iris and pupil. It is an extremely avant-garde structure that constantly changes shape to adapt to light and create a focused and sharp image.
Located in the posterior region of the eye. It contains photoreceptors (light receivers), where the image is formed and is sharp. Each of these photoreceptors will end up in the optic nerve and then in the brain.
When we see an opacity in the eye of the dog with milky appearance, it is very common to associate the symptom with cataracts, especially when it comes to an older dog. However, there are many causes that can lead to total or partial whitening of the eye (whether the cornea, lens, pupil, or other structures).
Cataracts are not the only cause of a white-eyed dog. Below we explain everything about the white spot in the eyes of the dogs and indicate that other causes may be associated.
Cataracts occur when the crystalline fibers begin to age and become whitish, like the white skin in the dog’s eye, which eventually intensifies and becomes opaque.
This condition irreversibly compromises the animal’s vision. However, surgery is a good option to try to reverse this situation, but you should consider the animal’s existing health, age, breed and diseases.
It is often mistaken for falls. It is produced by the loss of flexibility of the glass fibers, giving a bluish clutter appearance. Unlike cataracts, this problem does not cause difficulty in seeing or makes the animal suffer.
With aging, progressive degeneration of the retina can occur. This usually begins with a difficulty seeing during the day associated with photophobia. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this situation. However, some authors claim that it may be delayed with antioxidants.
Calcium deposition can occur in three structures: the cornea, conjunctiva, and retina. It is the result of excess calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), gout or kidney failure and causes white spots on the eyes. Depending on your location, the cause and treatment may also vary.
The úvea (composed of the iris, the ciliary body and the choroid) is responsible for blood circulation. When there is inflammation of the urith (uveitis), it can be classified in anterior, posterior or intermediate, depending on the location. It can be traumatic or have a systemic cause. If not treated early, in addition to pain, it can lead to vision loss. In some cases, it may appear that the dog’s eye is whitish. Learn more about uveitis in dogs in this article.
Glaucoma occurs when there is an imbalance in the production and/or drainage of eye fluids. Whether by excessive production or insufficient drainage, this condition causes an increase in fluid pressure, which can compromise the retina and optic nerve. It can appear abruptly (acute form) or evolve over time (chronic form).
Signs of this condition include enlarged eye and mild externalization (exophthalmia), dilated pupils, eye swelling, redness, corneal discoloration, pain and blepharospasm (most common flicker). The appearance of blurred eyes or bluish halos may also be associated with this problem.
This results in a decrease or lack of tear production, which decreases the lubrication of the eye and increases the risk of inflammation of the cornea, which can lead to blindness.
One of the most common signs is the presence of diffuse mucopurulent flow (everywhere in the eye), which gives the eye a whitish appearance.
As we have seen, the white eye on a dog is not always synonymous with cataracts. Therefore, it is essential to find the cause through a good eye exam.
Veterinary ophthalmology is very complex, so it is always best to seek the advice of an expert in the field.
Some physical and complementary exams may be done
Treatment always depends on the cause and may require:
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read articles similar to the white spot on the dog’s eye: what it can be, we recommend that you go to our Eye Problems section.