A dog’s eyes are very important, unfortunately, there are many conditions or injuries that can affect your Pomeranian’s eyesight. In this article, I dive into the 11 most common Pomeranian eye problems along with their causes and treatments.
Pomeranians are vulnerable to a variety of eye conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, and watery eyes. In some cases, a dog’s vision may be threatened if it doesn’t receive immediate treatment. Fortunately, there are many treatment options to help improve your dog’s eyesight.
What Are The Most Common Pomeranian Eye Problems
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Watery Eyes
- Conjunctivitis
- Allergies
- Blocked Tear Ducts
- Entropion
- Distichiasis
- Corneal Injuries
- Infections
- Dry Eyes
Cataracts
Many dogs develop cataracts as they age.
Our eyes and our dog’s eyes are made of proteins and water. The proteins will sometimes start to clump together and create cataracts.
What Are The Symptoms Of Cataracts In Dogs
- Cloudiness in the eye, especially within the pupil. It can affect just one or both eyes and can appear suddenly or develop slowly over time.
- Odd changes in the appearance of the pupil
- Swelling of the eye
- Eye redness
- Inflammation of the eye
- Your dog may start bumping into things
- Your dog may start to hesitate before they walk
- Your dog may bark at people they know and act like they don’t recognize them
- Walking with a high step
- Difficulty seeing at night
Cataracts can impair your dogs vision and possibly cause blindness.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the building up of pressure in the eye.
As noted above our eyes are mostly proteins and water. If that water has a problem draining for any reason pressure will start to build in the eye.
The pressure can become so intense that the optic nerve can become damaged and result in blindness.
Glaucoma can be hereditary and usually occurs as you dog ages.
What Are Some Causes Of Glaucoma In Dogs
- Cataracts – if your dog has developed cataracts they can cause pressure within the eye
- Chronic Inflammation- If your dog has been experiencing inflammation of the eyes it may lead to glaucoma
- Trauma- any type of eye trauma can cause a build-up of pressure
- Tumors- tumors can affect the health and natural flow of fluids in the eyes possibly causing glaucoma
- Lens Luxation- if the lens becomes dislocated is can block the fluid movement inside the eye and cause pressure
What Are The Symptoms Of Glaucoma In Dogs
- Cloudiness of the eyes
- Redness in the eyes
- The eye or eyes may look enlarged
- Watery eyes
- Dilated pupils
- Pain in the eyes
- Squinty eyes
- Sensitivity of the eyes
- Vomiting
- Difficulty walking or bumping into things
Watery Eyes
Your Pomeranian may have watery eyes and it’s completely normal. Every dog’s eyes will water as a natural part of their eye health.
Pomeranians are also known to have tear stains in a reddish-brown color that develop under the eyes. This is also very normal and is due to the tears containing a chemical called porphyrin that changes color when it’s exposed to air.
There are other times when a dog may have watery eyes due to reasons that could become problematic.
- Foreign objects in the eye
- Eye irritants
- Physical abnormalities
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is often referred to as “pink eye”.
The conjunctivitis tissues within the eye become swollen, red and inflamed.
The majority of the time conjunctivitis is a minor condition and irritation that can easily be treated without long-term effects.
What Causes Conjunctivitis In Dogs
- Trauma to the eye
- Eye abnormalities
- Viral Infections
- Obstructed tear ducts
- Allergies
- Foreign Objects
- Parasites
- Dry eyes
What Are The Symptoms Of Conjunctivitis
- Discharge from the eyes
- Red eyes
- Swollen eyes
- Squinting
- Excessive blinking
- Pawing or scratching at their eyes
- Eyelids sticking together
Allergies
Dogs can have an allergic response triggered for many reasons that may affect their eyes.
What Causes Allergies In Dogs
- Fleas – some dogs are allergic to fleas and will have excessive itching and irritated skin which can extend to their eye area.
- Pollen allergies- just like humans dogs can become allergic to seasonal pollens.
- Irritant allergy- dogs can have an allergic response to chemicals, toxins, and irritants that are in our homes.
- Food allergy- many dogs are allergic to ingredients that are in their foods.
What Are The Symptoms Of Allergies In Dogs
- Watery eyes
- Itching
- Sneezing
- Red skin
- Inflammed skin
- Swelling around the face
- Hives
- Licking
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Blocked Tear Ducts
Dogs have tear ducts within their eyelids that allow for liquid to flow out of the eyes. If one of the tear ducts gets blocked it can cause watery eyes.
What Causes A Dogs Tear Duct To Get Blocked
- Tear duct infection
- Foreign object in the eye
- Eye development abnormality
- Inflammation of the eye
- Irritation of the eye
What Are The Symptoms Of Blocked Tear Ducts In Dogs
- Watery eyes
- Red eyes
- Swollen eyes
- Fur stained around the eyes
- Scratching at eyes and face
- Odor around the eyes and face if an infection is present
Entropion
Entropion is an inherited eyelid abnormality, where the eyelid rolls inward.
This condition can become very painful causing hair to turn in and scratch the cornea.
What Are The Symptoms OF Entropion
- Watery eyes
- Scratching at their eyes
- Keeping the eye shut
- Rubbing their face on the floor
- Red eyes
- Recurring conjunctivitis
- Eye Infections
- Ulcers
Distichiasis
Distichiasis is when extra eyelashes form in areas of the eyelid where they do not belong.
The extra eyelash can cause pain, irritation and damage to the eyes.
What Causes Distichiasis
Distichiasis is a very common condition that is considered to be hereditary.
What Are The Symptoms Of Distichiasis
- Watery eyes
- Red Eyes
- Squinting
- Scratching at their eyes
- Excessive blinking
Injuries To The Cornea
Dogs can experience a wide variety of injuries to their corneas.
Causes Of Cornea Injuries In Dogs
- Scratches
- Trauma
- Infections
- Foreign Objects
- Chemicals or irritants
What Are The Symptoms Of A Corneal Injury In Dogs
- Watery eyes
- Redness of the eyes
- Keeping the eye closed
- Avoiding bright lights
- Rubbing at the eye
- Eye swelling
- Eye closing
Eye Infections
What Are The Causes Of Eye Infections In Dogs
- Bacteria- a bacterial infection can occur when there has been an injury to the eye or foreign matter has entered the eye.
- Viral- an infection of the eye can be caused by the canine distemper virus.
- Irritants
- Trauma
- Foreign matters
What Are The Symptoms Of An Eye Infection In Dogs
- Watery eyes
- Undesirable looking eye discharge
- Scratching at eyes
- Rubbing their face on the floor
- Red eyes
- Squinting
- Keeping the eye closed
- Excessive blinking
Dry Eyes
Dry eyes can occur when your dogs eyes stop producing the amount of tears and liquid that they require to be healthy.
What Are The Causes Of Dry Eyes In Dogs
- Trauma
- Infections
- Conjunctivitis
- Medications
- Auto-immune diseases
What Are The Symptoms Of Dry Eyes In Dogs
- Excessive Blinking
- Redness of the eyes
- Squinting
- Holding their eyes shut
- Swollen eyes
- Discolored surface of the eyes
How to Care For Pomeranian Eye Problems
Cataract Care
If left untreated cataracts can have life altering affects to you dog including going blind.
Your veterinarian will look at your dogs eyes and preform blood work in order to accurately diagnose the condition.
If your dog has cataracts it may be treatable with surgery. Unfortunately, surgery is the only treatment option for cataracts.
Glaucoma Care
Glaucoma is also very serious and needs to be treated in order to prevent a loss of sight.
Your Veterinarian will conduct a variety of test that can include.
- Physical exam
- Blood work
- Tonometry- Recording the measurements of the eye often to evaluate the amount of pressure
- Gonioscopy- Evaluation of the drainage abilities of the eyes
- Ultrasound of the eyes
Depending on the diagnosis of your dog there are a variety of treatment possibilities. The main goal is to reduce the amount of pressure inside of your dog’s eye and to protect and preserve your dog’s vision.
- Ointments or eyes drops
- Medications in the form of pills
- Injections
- Cryotherapy (freezing sections of the eye)
- Laser therapy
- Surgery
Watery Eye Care
Treatment for watery eyes will depend of what’s causing the eyes to water.
Foreign Objects In The Eye
If there is a foreign object in you dogs eye you must seek veterinary care.
Irritants In The Eye
There are many irritants that could cause your dog’s eyes to water. Anything from catching some hair spray in the eyes, heavy usage of room sprays, or smoke.
You will need to observe and evaluate the situation. It may be a minor temporary reaction or one that requires veterinary care.
Physical Abnormalities Of The Eyes
There are a wide variety of abnormalities that can happen to a dog’s eyes including ingrown hairs and rolling back of the eyelids.
Your treatment options will depend your dogs diagnosis.
Conjunctivitis Care
If you begin to notice any of the symptoms of conjunctivitis make an appointment with your vet.
Your vet will examine your dog and confirm if they have conjunctivitis and try to get to the root cause in order to treat it correctly.
The treatment for conjunctivitis will depend on the cure.
Treatments For Conjunctivitis In Dogs
- Eye drops or ointments
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Antibiotics
- Surgery
Caring For Allergies
If your dog has an allergy it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact thing that is triggering the allergic response.
How Do Veterinarians Test For Allergies In Dogs
- Eliminations diet- if a food allergy is suspected
- Skin testing- your dog’s skin is tested with allergens and the vet observes it for an allergic response.
- RAST Testing- A simple blood test to test for allergies.
How Are Dogs Treated For Allergies
- Eliminating and avoiding the known allergin
- Antihistamines
- Ointments or drops
- Steroids
- Supplements
- Antibiotics
- Immunotherapy
Treatment For Blocked Tear Ducts
Your vet will examine your dog to diagnose a blocked tear duct and offer the best treatment plan.
How Are Blocked Tear Ducts Treated
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Antibiotics
- Tear duct flush
- Surgery
How Is Entropion Treated
If a dog with entropion goes untreated they are at risk for a lot of pain and discomfort along with the possibility of losing their sight.
How Do Veterinarians Treat Entropion
- Surgery
- Antibiotics
- Ointments
- Eye Drops
In most cases, surgery is the only way to correct entropion followed by a course of antibiotics and ointments or eye drops. Luckily the surgery can be very successful and drastically improve your dog’s life.
Distichiasis Care
The treatment for distichiasis will depend on the severity of the condition once it’s been evaluated by your Veterinarian.
What Are The Treatments For Distichiasis
- Watching closely- if the eyelashes are very fine and they aren’t causing any discomfort they will be left alone.
- Ontiments and eye drops
- Electrolysis
- Cryotherapy
If the case is severe enough to require removal of the eyelash the hair follicle will be killed so there is no chance that a specific eyelash will grow back. Just plucking the eyelash encourages it to grow back longer and thicker.
Treatment Of Eye Injuries
A damaged cornea can be very serious and always requires the expert care of a veterinarian.
The type of care required will depend on your dogs specific injury.
How Are Injured Corneas Treated In Dogs
- Antibiotics
- Ointments
- Eye drops
- Eye patches
- Elizabethan collars
- Surgery
How To Treat Eye Infections
If you suspect that your dog may have an eye infection it’s best to bring them to your vet.
How Are Eye Infections In Dogs Treated
- Eyewashes
- Ointments
- Eye drops
- Antibiotics
How To Treat Dry Eyes In Dogs
Your veterinarian will choose a treatment plan that best suits your dogs condition.
- Medications
- Ointments
- Eye drops
- Surgery (rare cases if there are other conditions present)
How Can I Care For My Dogs Eyes
Keeping an eye on your dogs eyes and performing routine care are good practices to have.
- Become familiar with your dog’s eyes and look for any changes in its appearance
- Bring your dog to the vet for their normal check-ups
- Clean your dogs tear stains as needed
- Feed your dog high-quality food
Final Thoughts
It’s important to observe your dog’s eyes for any changes. Unfortunately, there are many eye conditions that can have lifelong effects and even cause blindness.
We are lucky today that there are many treatments to cure and prevent the tragic outcomes that are possible if care is given in a timely fashion.
You are always your dogs biggest ally when it comes to their health and care.
