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What causes the white of a dog's eye to turn red?
A dog's red eyes may be due to stimulation by foreign objects, trauma, internal heat, conjunctivitis, and other reasons. Firstly, if a dog's eyes are stimulated by dust, hair, pollen, or other foreign objects, they will become red. Secondly, if a dog accidentally hits its eye during play, it can cause the eye to turn red due to external force. Furthermore, if the food a dog usually eats is too salty, it can cause internal heat and redness of the conjunctiva. Lastly, bacterial or viral infections in the dog's eyes can also cause redness. It is recommended to seek medical attention in a timely manner.
- Foreign object stimulation
If dust, hair, or pollen enters a dog's eye accidentally, it can stimulate the eye and cause redness and increased eye secretions. At this time, the owner can use their thumb to lift the dog's upper and lower eyelids to check for foreign objects. If there are any, it is recommended to rinse the dog's eyes with eye wash or saline to remove the objects.
- Trauma
If a dog accidentally hits its eye or encounters a sharp object during play, it can cause the eye to turn red due to external force. In severe cases, it may even cause corneal ulcers and perforation. Since trauma usually causes eye pain and itching, it is advisable to protect the dog's eyes by fitting it with an Elizabeth collar and applying pet-specific eye drops to alleviate inflammation.
- Internal heat
If a dog shows symptoms of red eyes, excessive eye secretions, dry and hard stools, and dark urine besides the red eyes, it may be due to internal heat. In this case, the owner should encourage the dog to drink more water to accelerate metabolism and feed it some boiled vegetables, such as cabbage and broccoli. Also, avoid feeding the dog human food, especially those high in salt and fat. It is recommended to feed low-salt pet food and mainly rely on dog food.
- Conjunctivitis
The main symptom of canine conjunctivitis is a reddened eye or conjunctiva, accompanied by tears or production of yellow-green secretions. Because there are many causes of conjunctivitis, such as common bacterial or viral infections and internal parasite infections, it is advisable for the owner to first fit the dog with a collar and take it to a pet hospital for a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, then treat it according to the examination results.