Dog Community

Red eyes

Posted : 8/16/2006 6:10:11 AM

Sorry I have another question in this category.

My five month old Basset Hound's eyes get red as if she has allergies. I saw this every other basset hound I have ever seen, is this an allergy they are all susceptible to or just a common thing for them?

Thank you for any help you can provide.

marlania

Posted : 8/16/2006 7:47:17 PM

My lab, Brown, has seasonal airborn allergies...every spring and fall, although I caught it early this spring so it wasn't as bad. It usually starts with him scratching his eyes, then they get red and being to swell. As soon as I catch it, I start giving him Benedryl and put Artificial Tears (eye drops) in his eyes. While this helps, it usually doesn't get him through the season, so I bring him to the vet for a Cortisone-based shot. This, of course, makes him drink and pee a ton since it's a steriod, but it lasts six weeks, so he gets better after that.

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/16/2006 10:36:26 PM

Dogs can get allergy eyes -- talk to your vet about it. However you might also want to try the Similisan eye drops -- and I've had the BEST luck with the 'Pink Eye' formula (what really happens is the allergies cause conjunctivities -- it's just usually not a contagious form). But it sooths a LOT and is very very mild (it's a homeopathic -- I use it for both me and the dogs -- but it's widely available at both health stores and a lot of regular store pharmacies. If you are in the South Publix carries it regularly. There are several varieties but the Pink ones really seem to help this particular problem.

jessies_mom

Posted : 8/17/2006 6:20:06 PM

Jessie's eyes will get red and irritated after she's been running through tall grass and the Similisan " Pink Eye" drops really help. Marlania, when you say your dog's eyes are swollen, do you mean the lids? Before Jessie started immunotherapy her eyes watered and the lids swelled; Terramycin Eye Ointment, ( made by Pfizer), helped. You can order it from some pet supply catalogs or get it at a farm supply store. Just be careful not to touch the end of the tube to the eye when you apply it to the inside of the lid.

denise_m

Posted : 8/17/2006 7:06:11 PM

Ditto Jessie! I use polysporum (eye formula) I have to ask at the counter for it. I really like it 1. It works 2. It's an ointment so I can easily dab it on from my figure and rub it in. Works within hours. Totally cleared in less than 2 days.

marlania

Posted : 8/17/2006 8:13:54 PM

ORIGINAL: jessies_mom

Marlania, when you say your dog's eyes are swollen, do you mean the lids? Before Jessie started immunotherapy her eyes watered and the lids swelled; Terramycin Eye Ointment, ( made by Pfizer), helped. You can order it from some pet supply catalogs or get it at a farm supply store.

Yeah, Brown's eye lids swell, mostly because he paws at them and rubs his head across the carpet. I spend more time getting him to stop doing that than I do trying to put the drops in his eyes.[

] I've also used Terramycin before, as well as another ointment the vet prescribed. I can't remember the name of it though.

marty_ga

Posted : 8/17/2006 8:20:41 PM

It could be an allergy, but as a Basset owner...yeah, their eyes do look red...especially after some exercise like walking. LOL!