Seeing Red?

They say that the eyes are the window to the soul, and certainly in veterinary medicine, the eyes of our patients can tell us a lot about their systemic health!  "Red" eyes are something our veterinarians see routinely and can stem from a number of causes.  Sometimes the eyes are red due to a local problem with the eye itself, other times the redness can be associated with more severe systemic illnesses ranging from immune system abnormalities to cancers.  Whenever your pet's eyes appear red or irritated, it is best to have them seen by your veterinarian right away.  Hopefully the issue may be something minor, but just in case there is a more serious problem, it is worth the time spent to have them properly examined by a veterinarian.  

In addition to a physical exam and history, the veterinarians at Wascana Animal Hospital will also perform some specific diagnostic tests to further evaluate your pet's eyes.    One test is called the Schirmer Tear Test which helps to evaluate whether or not your pet's eyes are producing enough tears to keep them lubricated.  Additionally, a fluoroscein test may be done to check the surface of the eye (cornea) for any scratches or ulcers.  Lastly, the pressure within your pet's eye may also be evaluated using a tonometer.  This helps the veterinarian to determine if the pressure is too low (called uveitis) or too high (glaucoma); both of which can contribute to redness.  At Wascana Animal Hospital, our tonometer uses cutting-edge technology to safely and comfortably evaluate the pressure (no puffs of air are blown into the eyes like humans have done!).  Check out our YouTube video to watch one of our veterinarians use our tonometer on a canine patient; it's pretty cool to see it in real and slow-motion! 

Disease conditions involving your pet's eyes can change quickly; one minute they may seem a little bit red and then the next your pet is squinting the eye closed, there is discharge and they want to rub their faces on the furniture!  When in doubt, it is always best to have your pet's eyes examined by a veterinarian early on and avoid the temptation to put any human medications in their eyes; sometimes these drops can end up causing more harm than good!