Pet Eye Health: Caring For Your Dog’s Eyes
Caring for your dog’s eyes must not be taken for granted. So many people tend to overlook the necessity of caring for their pet eye health but when your dog ages, he becomes prone to so many health disorders, including blindness. Knowing how to properly care for your dog’s eyes is essential in order to prevent or delay the onset of blindness.
One of the first things you need to do every morning is to clean the eyes of your dog using warm water, a soft cloth, and of course your gentlest touch. Take away the morning crusts that develop overnight. If these are left unchecked, the crusts can build up, and they can be very painful and irritating.
If your dog has long hair, trim the area around his eyes. There are certain breeds of dogs that have natural long hair, but then, if the hair gets too long to the point that it rubs against the inside of the eyeball, you need to cut the hair around that area. You may not like how your dog will look, but you cannot compromise the health of his eyes just because he doesn’t look cute.
Also, you must avoid squirting shampoo or flea treatments over the top of your dog’s head. These solutions contain chemicals or toxic ingredients that can get into your dog’s eye and cause irritation. The best way to apply shampoo is to pour a small amount in your hand and then massage it gently over your dog’s scalp and surrounding face areas.
It is important to safeguard your dog’s eyes from injury. Since play is a part of any dog’s wellness program, choose games that will not put your dog’s eyes at risk. Playing fetch using a stick and wrestling with your dog are to be avoided in this case. You also need to avoid kicking a ball when your dog is around. Taking your dog to long leisure walks is also a good idea. Gazing at the beautiful scenery is actually good exercise for his eyes.
Do you drive around with your dog? If so, you must enjoy watching him enjoying himself as he lets his head hang out of the car window. However, that can be very risky because a small pebble can get into his eyes, blinding him.
The moment you make a dog as your pet, you embrace the responsibility of taking care of him, and this responsibility encompasses many things. It’s not enough that you feed your dog and bathe him. You must also ensure that he is getting the right amount of nutrients in his diet for his well being. You have to be very particular about his eye health because you certainly wouldn’t wish for him to go blind prematurely. It’s advisable to take him to the veterinarian as often as every six months or at least once a year so he can undergo regular and special tests to ensure that he is well, healthy and happy.
Sep 16, 2009 | 0 | Dog Care, Pet Health