This article outlines a presentation of the six most widespread pug eye problems that any pet parent should consider before adopting a dog within this breed. Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of eye disease will definitely help you take appropriate and immediate actions so as to ease or prevent the disease from developing further or getting worse.
Pugs are very prone to vision issues due to their bulging eyes, which seem to pop out from the sockets, hence keeping their eyes clean at all times should be part of a daily routine.
Pug Cataracts
Cataracts are a disease that can affect pugs to the same extent as we humans, and it manifests by clouding the lens of the eye. Whereas it is not fatal, it tends to worsen over time and can be conducive to blindness.
If you notice that your pug’s eye got cloudy, take him to a vet, who will most likely advise that surgery is needed. In general, developing cataracts in pug dogs is due to genetics, but there are also other factors that can cause it such as eye inflammations and infections, eye trauma and injuries, or other health problems.
Entropion – Eyelids rubbing on the cornea
This is a common pug eye condition and it is produced partly by the eyelashes that grow inward to the eyeball, putting pressure on the cornea. As pugs have much larger eyes than other dogs, it is very likely to have two rows of eyelashes, one oriented towards the inside. By way of this defect, irritations occur and the dog tends to scratch the affected areas and which leads to even worse infections and injuries.
Symptoms of this condition can be: red and itchy eyes, squinting, and discharges. Entropion can be treated by way of a small surgical intervention called medial canthoplasty which means that the size of the opening of the eye can be reduced so that the eyelids no longer put any pressure on the cornea.
Another thing that can be done is to simply take out the irritating eyelash, which is something you can do at home if you know how to without causing any harm.
Cherry Eye – Inflammation of the tear glands
Like all dogs, pugs have two tear glands in each eye. One is located on the upper eyelid, and one is on the lower one. The lower eyelid also contains the “third eyelid”, the membrane that protects and moistens the cornea.
Cherry eye is basically the inflammation of the third eyelid (also referred to as hyperplasia of the third eyelid gland), and it is not yet known exactly what causes this condition in pugs. Despite that it may seem more of a cosmetic problem than a medical one, inflammation of the tear gland can become painful if no treatment is considered immediately.
Also, if ignored, cherry eye can cause excessive eye discharge, which will require permanent treatment. In addition, the dog may always develop irritation and infection in the affected eye area. The treatment for this disease can consist of antibiotics or eye drops, but in most severe cases it can be treated by a minor operation.
Keratoconjunctivita Sica or dry eye syndrome
Dry eye syndrome means the inflammation of the cornea and eye tissue due to the lack of producing tears or enough liquid by the tear ducts. In medical terms, this condition is called Keratoconjunctivita Sica (KCS) and symptoms can include red irritated eyes, heavy blinking, a tendency to keep the eyes closed, or yellowish eye discharge, so your pug feels a lot of pain and unease.
The veterinarian is the only one able to diagnose Dry Eye Syndrome and its treatment follows the objective of stimulating the production of tears. It is also recommended that you wipe the pug’s eyes with a damp, warm towel several times a day to help him feel better and stimulate tear production.
Eye traumas and injuries
Due to their curiosity to explore the environment, pugs are inclined to stick their nose in everything and as they have large eyes and a short muzzle, they can get injured when doing that. As a consequence, objects and debris can enter their eye sockets and produce traumas and infections.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This is a pug eye problem that in most cases leads to gradual blindness and as far as it is known, there is no cure for it. It occurs in much older dogs and it is a degenerative disease that does not cause pain or any discomfort and the chances for a longer lifespan decrease as it progresses slowly.
All these pug eye problems detailed in this article are just six of the most commonly known in pugs. Most of them result from various infections due to bacteria, traumas, and injuries, but the others can be developed based on their genetics and birth defects.
The most important thing is that if they are spotted on time, they can be treated either by administering an appropriate medication or by surgical intervention, depending on their complexity. Also, if not being actioned, vision impairment and blindness can be serious consequences of all eye diseases.
