Eye conditions in dogs range from hereditary diseases to acquired injuries. Early detection and appropriate treatment prevent pain and preserve vision that is central to quality of life.
Eye pain in dogs causes acute suffering that is often inadequately recognized. Dry eye causes a burning, gritty sensation continuously — dogs with untreated KCS blink excessively, produce mucopurulent discharge, and develop corneal scarring that progressively impairs vision. Glaucoma causes pressure within the eyeball that has been described as a constant headache — dogs with glaucoma are frequently misinterpreted as being quiet or withdrawn rather than in pain. Brachycephalic breeds who sustain corneal ulcers from prominent eyes face a welfare crisis that is a direct consequence of breed conformation. Hereditary eye disease screening before breeding prevents these conditions being passed to future generations.