Researchers have identified 29 gene mutations in dog eyes that can potentially lead to eye disease. If your dog has one of these genetic issues, you may not be able to prevent issues from developing, but it's not time to panic. There are a few simple steps you can take to prevent or mitigate long-term damage. Many forms of eye disease in dogs are inherited, including scary sounding things like cone-rod dystrophy, rod-cone degeneration, dwarfism with retinal dysplasia, and canine multifocal retinopathy. Yikes! But as I mentioned above, there are things we can do as pet owners to prevent or minimize the damage if your dog develops an eye condition. Get Regular Exams I'm going to sound like a broken record, but here goes: visit your vet regularly. I know, I know ... It's expensive from both a time and money perspective. You have to call to schedule the appointment, travel to the vet, sit for the appointment, pay for the visit and any medications prescribed, and then drive home. And if you have a dog like Omar who screeches like a wounded cat the entire time, it can be stressful, too. But bringing a dog into your home is a full-time commitment. You have agreed to be an advocate for a creature that cannot advocate for itself. It's your responsibility to invest the time and money. Your vet is not there to lecture or judge you. And if they do, it's time to find a new vet. Your vet will perform an eye exam to look for signs of genetic conditions commonly found in your dog's breed as well as any other hidden problems. Unfortunately, many health issues are hard to detect until they're already too hard to treat, but an exam could potentially help catch an issue early and give your pet a better chance at a full recovery. Groom Your Dog Regularly Human beards contain more pathogens than a dog's fur — gross! But even the prettiest pet with the shiniest coat can develop eye problems due to dirty fur. Grooming and bathing can wash away irritants, chemicals, and dirt. Long-haired breeds can also benefit from having fur around the eyes trimmed to an appropriate length. How frequently you bathe your pet varies based upon the breed, their lifestyle, length of coat, and how much homework (think brushing and other coat maintenance) you do as an owner. You might think that having a short-haired or hairless dog means bathing less often, right? I mean, I did. But hairless breeds like the Chinese Crested or Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eats-QUEENT-lee), which I swear is going to be the next dog we get, require weekly baths. Medium- to long-coated breeds only require a bath every week to every six weeks, depending on how well you brush and maintain your pet's coat in between baths. Dogs with thick or double coats probably only need a seasonal bath because their bodies produce an oil that keeps their skin healthy, and bathing too frequently can strip it from the skin, causing irritation. Products like these bath wipes can help in between home or professional grooming sessions. They contain aloe vera and vitamins A and E to nourish the skin and coat, and they're safe enough to use every day. If you have any questions about how often your pet should get a scrubbing, ask a groomer in your area. Four Products to Protect Your Dog's Eyes More than half of all dog owners say that having a dog is more expensive than they'd anticipated. Hashtag Truth. I mean, I just dropped more than $200 on food and chew bones that will last a few weeks and $40 on an adorable raincoat for Pike. Before you judge, it's reversible and has sharks on it. So, yeah, totally necessary. And, no, you're not required to buy supplies to keep them warm or dry or entertained (unless your vet recommends them), but spending a small amount of money on some protective products now could save you money later on down the road. I want to point out here that I am in no way connected with any of these products. I don't get any kind of payment for purchases you might make. This is for informational purposes only. Doggles. These are exactly what they sound like: goggles for your dog's eyes. If you take your dog out on wooded runs and hikes, or on motorcycle rides, these eye coverings provide crucial protection from thorns or bugs. Plus, you'll get loads of attention because everyone loves a dog in goggles. Eye wash. If you've taken your pup for a walk or hike in the woods, a quick rinse with an appropriate solution may help remove irritants before they have a chance to scrape or scratch your dog's eyes. Make sure whatever product you use is safe for use on dogs. Tear Stain Cleaner. Tear stains appear when eye fluids mix with surface dirt on your dog's skin. Not only are they gross-looking, they can also be dangerous because the stained fur can become stiff enough to scrape your pup's eye. An appropriate tear stain cleaner keeps the fur soft and looking good. "Looking good, Billy Ray!" "Feeling good, Louis!" Eye Supplements. A healthy, appropriate diet gives your dog everything it needs to keep its eyes healthy, but sometimes you may want to add a supplement for an added boost. Versions formulated specifically for vision might be something to consider. And that, my friends, concludes our three-part series on canine eye health. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it. And if you learned something along the way well, then, I have done my job! Once again, a very special thank you to Josuee, the National Outreach Specialist from NVISION, who inspired this series, and who provided some helpful resource information. You can find it on our Resources page or by visiting this link. Until next time, WOOF! Associated song: 99 Problems by Jay-Z
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