Protecting Your Pet’s Vision: A Guide to Pet Eye Health
by PetsDrugMart

Your pet’s vision plays a vital role in how they experience the world around them, from chasing a favourite toy to recognizing your face when you walk through the door. Healthy eyes are not just about clear sight—they’re a window into your pet’s overall well-being. Ensuring their eyes are clean and healthy is essential for their happiness and vitality. Clear, bright, and discharge-free eyes are indicators of good health, but common eye issues can still arise. The good news? Many of these conditions can be prevented or managed with the right care, including proper vitamins, supplements, and treatments.

Paying close attention to your pet’s health and acknowledging symptoms as soon as they appear are crucial to keeping your furry friend in optimum wellness. We’ve put together a guide of common eye problems in pets and how to best navigate treating these conditions and protect your pet’s eye health. We’ll also recommend some gentle, proven solutions that are available to you right here at Pets Drug Mart!

Tear Stains

A common occurrence in many breeds, pet tear stains are a result of excessive tear production. Tear stains are caused by tear residue and debris settling into the fur around the eyes. The chemicals found in the tears or debris can cause the fur to stain brown, light pink or red.

Pets can develop tear stains for a variety of reasons, some of which can include ingrown hairs or eyelashes, allergies, shallow eye sockets and blocked tear drainage holes. In most cases, tear stains are common and very manageable. A tear stain cleanser can help clear the residue around the eye area, while getting rid of discolouration on your pet’s beautiful face. Products such as the Dechra CleanOcular Tear Stain Remover are a helpful product for routine cleansing and debris removal, while helping to maintain your pet’s pH balance in the process. Daisy’s All Natural Tear Stain Defense also helps to supplement your pet’s diet to keep their eye health in great condition and lighten/reduce tear stains over time.

Aging & Vision Loss

It’s normal and common for a pet’s eye structure to change as they age, just like humans. Cataracts is a common age-related eye condition that occurs in pets and appears as a cloudy, hazy layer in the eyes. Pet cataracts can cause progressive vision loss over time and may eventually lead to total blindness. Although your pet’s eye conditions naturally change as they age, age-related vision impairments such as cataracts can be prevented and treated over time with the proper supplements. We recommend Ocu-Glo’s 12-antioxidant formula, available in a gel cap or powder format for cats and dogs, to protect vital cells in the eye at the DNA and protein levels from oxidative damage.

Dryness in Eyes

Dry eyes are another common issue that can affect pets of all breeds and can be easily addressed. This condition occurs when the tear glands don’t produce enough tears, leading to sore, itchy, red, and inflamed eyes. If left untreated, dry eyes can cause long-term vision damage, making early detection and prevention crucial. HYLO Lube Eye Drops help to provide instant relief, protect your pet’s eyes from dryness and irritation, and help ensure their eyes stay comfortable and healthy.

While many pet eye conditions are easily treated and managed with care and supplements, it is important to monitor for symptoms early on to prevent serious eye damage and long-term adverse effects. PetsDrugmart carries a variety of supplements, products and treatments to keep your pet’s eyes healthy and their overall health in great shape!

If your pet has an eye condition that we didn’t address here, or you’re not sure which approaches to try first, please reach out to our pet care experts by email, chat, or phone to get personalized advice.