Q: My dog recently developed a red eye. What causes this? Should I try putting human eye drops in his eye?
A: A red eye can result from any number of diseases, some of which threaten vision if not addressed quickly. So, when you see a red eye, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.
Glaucoma, increased pressure within the eyeball, is a common cause of red eye. In pets, the pressure can rise quickly and, if untreated, cause irreversible blindness.
The white of the eye turns red when the eye’s blood vessels become engorged; sometimes the pupil is dilated, too. Glaucoma is painful in pets — yet another reason to get your dog to the veterinarian immediately….