Conjunctivitis in Animals

Inflammation of the conjunctival mucous membrane is called conjunctivitis. In dog, it is called red eye.  According to the development of lesions it is of many types which include vesicular conjunctivitis, catarrhal, follicular, diathetic, granular and purulent type of conjunctivitis. This may be caused by virus, bacteria, fungus, parasites, trauma, chemicals and allergies.

1. Bacterial conjunctivitis could be due to Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species.
2. Mycoplasma conjunctivitis is due to Mycoplasma species.
3. Viral conjunctivitis is due to systemic infection of virus origin (e.g. CD, LCH in canines).
4. Mycotic conjunctivitis is due to Candida and Aspergillus sp.
5. Parasitic conjunctivitis Owing to eye worm infesation like Thelazia species, Oxyuris species, filarial worms etc.
6. Traumaic conjunctivitis Owing to trauma, laceration, dusts, dirt’s, blow, injury, smokes, foreign body, self inflicted trauma etc. Lice and ticks infestation on eye lid, eye lashes.
7. Chemical conjunctivitis Owing to accidental access to corrosive agents like acid, alkali, irritant chemicals like soda, phenol, turpentine oil.
8. Allergic conjunctivitis is due to various allergens, drugs and foreign proteins may cause sensitization of ophthalmic mucosa leading to allergic conjunctivitis.

Symptoms

Redness and swelling of mucous membrane of eyes, tears (excess lacrimation) and tendency of animal to keep its eyelid closed.

Treatment

Affected eyes should be washed first with 1 per cent warm boric acid solution.

Then broad spectrum antibiotic eye ointment or eye drops to be applied. Ointment like Neosporin eye ointment, Soframycin ophthalmic ointment, Nebasulf eye ointment. Eye drops e.g. Genticyn eye drop, Gencyl eye drop (Gentamycin eye drop), Ciplox (Ciprofloxacin eye drop), Ranicol eye drop, Chloramphenicol eye drop etc. 1-KUL eye drops (Intas) 10 ml – non-antibiotic preparation containing phenylephrine HCl, Naphazoline HCl, Menthol and camphor ophthalmic solution can also be used. In severe cases some topical antibiotic eye preparations with steroids can also be used e.g. Dexacol eye drop, optidex eye drop, Dexacort-N eye drop, Sofracort eye drop, Ranidex eye drop etc.

Systemic antibiotics should also be recommended in acute cases e.g. Inj. Gentamycin, Inj.

Oxytetracycline, Inj. Ciprofloxacin, Inj. Enrofloxacin (See antibiotics in the Drug Index).

In allergic conjunctivitis steroids e.g. Inj. Dexamethasone, Inj. Prednisolone and antihistaminic preparations e.g. Inj. Avil, Inj. Antilar, Inj. Anistamin etc. (See antihistamines in the Drug Index) are indicated.

In parasitic conjunctivitis parenteral Inj. Ivermectin SC, Inj. Livamisole HCl and topical

application of Piperazine compound in normal saline solution may be tried with eye instillation and

mechanical removal of worm with forceps can be attempted.