Infections
Bacterial infections, viral or fungal infections, are common causes of conjunctivitis in dogs. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus spp. or Streptococcus spp., viruses such as canine adenovirus, and fungi such as Aspergillus spp. can lead to conjunctivitis.
Allergies
Allergens such as pollen, mites, mold, or certain foods can trigger allergic conjunctivitis in dogs.
Irritants
Exposure to irritants such as smoke, chemicals, or foreign bodies (such as dust, sand, or debris) can cause eye irritation and inflammation.
Eye diseases and other pathological changes in the body
Conjunctivitis can also be a symptom of eye diseases, such as dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), eyelid abnormalities, or autoimmune diseases.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis
- discharge (whitish, greenish)
- squinting
- eye swelling
- dilated blood vessels on the white of the eye
- itching, eye closure
Treatment of conjunctivitis usually involves the application of antibiotic creams and corticosteroids, as well as the use of antiallergic medications and immunosuppressive drugs for allergic conjunctivitis.
However, for mild inflammation, we can also apply homeopathic preparations that are completely natural and can gently resolve the inflammation. Homeopathy does not affect symptoms but rather the overall energy of the body, which displays a set of symptoms based on which an adequate preparation is selected.
The basic principle of action is “like cures like,” which has been known since the time of Hippocrates, who first noticed that if a substance is taken that causes certain symptoms in a healthy body, that same substance can treat a disease that has similar and identical symptoms.
Homeopathic preparations that may help include
- Apis mellifera (for eye irritation and redness)
- Argentum nitricum (closed eye and thick discharge)
Pellets can be applied at a dose of 4 pellets (potency C30) every 6 hours for the first two days; monitoring the symptoms, you can reduce the application to 4 pellets in the morning and in the evening, under the tongue or on the mucous membrane under the lip. The animal must not eat anything half an hour before and after application of the preparation.
Be sure to visit a veterinarian if there has been an eye injury, if the eye is not in its socket, or if you suspect a foreign body.
