If you have a senior dog (we have 3), sometimes they will develop a blue film on their eyes. That's water build up and retention in the eyes,
and it's called Corneal Endothelial Degeneration (CED). It can lead to serious complications and pain. Here's how to recognize it, and one way to treat it before the dog gets blisters (one a blister pops, go to the vet, ASAP).
WHAT HAPPENS IF UNCHECKED? If unchecked it can accumulate and develop into blisters that pop and become painful as the skin of the eye sticks to the inside of the eyelid, and your dog will be in pain all the time. Our 15 year old Weimaraner, Dolly, developed it when she was 13 years old.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE? If your dog is squinting a lot, and if you notice that there appears to be a blue film on their eyes.
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| Tyler (left) and Dolly (right) who has Corneal Endothelial Degeneration (CED) |
WHAT IS THE CORNEA? The cornea is the clear window at the front of the eye. It is a very delicate structure which is less than a millimeter thick. Endothelial cells are located at the most inner layer of the cornea and contain tiny “pumps” that are responsible for maintaining a proper fluid balance in the corneal tissues. This function is critical to ensuring that the cornea remains transparent for vision.
FOGGY BLUE EYES - When these endothelial cells become sick and deteriorate and are no longer functional, the normally clear cornea becomes water-logged, swollen, and opaque. This condition is termed corneal edema. Typically eyes with corneal edema have a foggy or blue appearance to the normally clear tissues at the front of the eye.
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| Hypertonic Saline Solution 5%. |
IF BLISTER DEVELOPS ON EYE AND BURSTS- Immediately go to the vet. They will stain the eye and confirm the blister. They will apply a healing drop and insert a contact lense so the eye will heal. It took about 2 weeks for our dog's eye to heal
WHAT CAN YOU GIVE YOUR DOG? One drop that you can instill in your dog's eyes 2 times a day, without any issue is very inexpensive. It reduces the water build up in the eye and helps prevent these corneal ulcers. It's called Hypertonic Saline Solution 5%. You can order the GENERIC brand at your local pharmacy and it's under $10.
MORE INFORMATION from the College of Veterinary Opthalmologists:
http://www.acvo.org/common-conditions-1/2018/2/23/corneal-endothelial-degeneration
