Have you noticed your Cane Corso’s eyes turning red and found yourself puzzled about the possible causes? Worry not, because you are in the right place to find out more about this common problem!
It’s natural to feel concerned when you see eye color changes in your pup, fearing that it might indicate something serious.
Cane Corsos are known for their large attractive eyes that captivate and charm us all. Maintaining their good health is crucial.
It’s important to address the small problems that can arise in the first place and find out more about their underlying causes.
By understanding the possible reasons behind red eyes in your Cane Corso, you’ll be better equipped to determine the best course of action, including necessary veterinary tests, to ensure your furry friend’s well-being.
6 Causes Of Cane Corso Red Eyes
Red eyes of Cane Corso dogs might seem like a normal and usual trait of this breed. Their eyes look kind of droopy, revealing the gentle, pinkish conjunctiva. Such diamond eyes are often seen in other breeds such as the Neapolitan Mastiffs.and Saint Bernards.
Seeing red, inflamed eyes and/or eyelids in these dogs is not a good sign.
From common irritants, dust, foreign objects, to pesky bacteria – there can be a lot of culprits for this issue.
Caring for a Cane Corso puppy means keeping a close eye on their immune system and staying clear of known irritants.
It’s also key to spot any early sign of inflammation to prevent them from escalating into more serious issues.
Proper nutrition, regular grooming, physical activity, and visits to the veterinarian are crucial to achieving this.
Redness in the eyes is one of the more common problems that Cane Corso can experience.
Here are the most common reasons why your dog can have bloodshot eyes.
1. Injury Or Foreign Objects In The Eye
Dogs injure themselves often. That is a fact that we all know.
Since dogs interact with the world through their sense of smell, they often stick their head in the wrong place. They often get poked by random objects in the eye, hence causing this redness and discharge.
Naturally, the first thing that you want and need to do when you notice those adorable blue eyes turning red, is to see if they have a foreign object stuck in their eye.
Common small objects like grass, dirt, or small gravel will cause serious injuries.
As a result, the increased blood flow to the area makes Cane’s eye red and teary, creating a look of frightening eyes.
What Can You Do About It?
First off, take a careful look at your Cane’s eyes for any signs of swelling. Pay attention to how often your dog scratches his eyes.
If it’s happening with such frequency that it raises suspicion, especially if he’s focusing on one eye, there’s a good chance something has poked him in the eye or something is stuck there.
Since dealing with the eyes is a very delicate job, you should take your dog to the vet immediately.
Until then, wash your puppy’s eyes with saline solution or specialized eye drops made for dogs.
Whatever you do, do not try to get the piece out by yourself without the vet’s presence.
2. Allergies
Just like people struggle with common allergies to food and allergies that come in spring and summer, dogs can be affected by these same allergies.
The dogs will, in most cases, have the same reaction as us humans in the sense that they will have a runny nose, itching, and red eyes that we will notice first.
But the good news is that these following symptoms can be managed with standard practice veterinary medicine for allergies.
What Can You Do About It?
The key thing in managing a dog’s allergies is to find out the actual cause of the symptoms that we mentioned before.
Other than the seasonal pollen, dogs can be allergic to a wide range of irritants.
These include: chemicals in cleaning solutions, perfumes, fleas, mites, bugs, and ingredients in dog food that they consume.
By removing these allergens from their environment, you will most likely remove the presence of allergies.
If this cannot be done, you can also try with Claritin and Benadryl medication.
Also, consult with your vet to have your dog undergo an allergy test and get the result of the actual allergen that is causing all this.
3. Glaucoma
This breed-specific condition can affect one or both of their eyes. Unfortunately, it is not among the rare cases. Old Cane Corso dogs often fall victim to developing glaucoma.
Canine glaucoma is caused by high blood pressure and hypertension that damages the blood vessels in the eye. As a result, they can’t compensate for changes in blood flow when the intraocular pressure increases to a frightening size.
Drainage in the eyes becomes clogged, and the eyesight starts fading away.
Bear in mind that this is a very serious medical condition that can cause blindness or, in the worst cases, an eye loss.
What Can You Do About It?
Because of the urgency of the condition, glaucoma must be dealt with as soon as it’s noticed.
This type of illness must be treated by a veterinarian, and there is nothing owners can do by themselves.
Your vet will make use of a device known as a tonometer to gently assess the pressure inside your pet’s eyes.
Glaucoma can be solved with special medications or surgery in the worst cases, which is determined by your dog’s vet.
4. Pink eye
Pink eye is a common name for Conjunctivitis, which is an official medical term. It isn’t just a fancy term but a real pain in the…eye, for both dogs and humans.
The basic description includes inflammation of the conjunctiva.
The symptoms include painful, reddened, and swollen eyes with constant drainage.
Conjunctivitis in dogs often pops up after other eye issues, coming from things like irritation, infections, or allergies.
What Can You Do About It?
Saline eye flush or antibiotic eye medications are what you need to cure this often unbearable issue.
And, of course, you should take your dog to his vet for an examination as soon as possible.
The veterinarian will find out the possible cause and decide on the best approach to the treatment. If it is not of contagious kind, ointments will help combat this.
The most common kind of pink eye is caused by bacteria, so antibiotics will be most likely prescribed. Your Cane Corso’s situation will get resolved in no time!
5. Cherry eye
Cherry eye is a condition that affects many dogs, particularly due to their unique anatomical feature: a third eyelid, also known as the nictitating membrane.
This third eyelid houses the nictitans gland, responsible for producing a significant portion of the tear film that keeps the eye moist and protected.
When this gland swells, it becomes visible, leading to this condition, which is also marked by the nictitans gland prolapses.
It primarily affects breeds with a genetic predisposition, making the courageous Mastiff dogs (our Cane Corso), along with Bulldogs, Great Danes, Cocker Spaniels, and Lhasa Apsos, more susceptible to developing this condition.
In fact, research has shown that purebred dogs are 1.4 times more likely to develop cherry eyes compared to their crossbred counterparts.
What Can You Do About It?
Spotting cherry eye is pretty straightforward; just look for the pinkish lump that pops up on the lower eyelid near the corner.
If your furry pal ends up with this, starting them on a mix of eye ointment, drops, and oral meds can really help keep things in check.
But don’t forget, a trip to the vet for an eye check-up is a must.
To stop this issue from getting any worse, cherry eye surgery might be the next step.
6. Dry eye
This is the most common issue that causes red eyes. Dry eyes, or commonly known as Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, occur when the dog’s tear gland cannot produce enough tears to lubricate his eyes.
You can easily identify this by thick liquid in the form of mucus in the corners of the eyes and fast-paced blinking.
Beyond inadequate tear generation, causes include autoimmune diseases, certain medications, chronic infections, genetic predisposition, blocked tear ducts, previous surgeries, or injuries.
This condition is more than just an occasional annoyance; it affects approximately 0.3% to 1.52% of dogs in North America each year, and it’s also a common issue for our four-legged friends in Europe.
What Can You Do About It?
To keep your dog’s eyes moist, you can use a saline eye wash or medicated drops as prescribed by your vet.
Additionally, making sure your dog stays well-hydrated is crucial, as dehydration can hinder their ability to produce enough tears.
Conclusion
So you know that Cane Corso’s name stands for being a strong guardian and protector, right? But hey, what good is all that if our furry friend isn’t feeling their best?
Red eyes could signal many health issues, some of which are quite severe.
If you spot any color changes, make sure to chat with your vet about it. This will help them figure out the best plan for your furry friend’s health.
If you stumbled upon this article because your beloved Corso is showing red eyes or other related symptoms, I hope it has shed some light on what might be going on.
Wishing you the best of luck in addressing these issues, and may you and your pup continue to enjoy a healthy, loving bond!Also if you want to find reasons behind unusual canine smells, you can check out this article on bad smells of American Bullies, because most of the advice also applies to Cane Corso too.
Meet Iram, a devoted veterinarian, passionate dog lover, and current Ph.D. candidate at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Seamlessly blending her roles as a vet and content writer, Iram channels her love for dogs into heartfelt narratives.
Since childhood, Iram nurtured a dream of becoming a vet, a passion that runs deep in her family. Having now fulfilled that dream, she’s eager to share her acquired knowledge. In her writing, Iram not only explores the emotional bond between humans and their canine friends but also integrates her veterinary expertise, offering readers a holistic understanding of their beloved pets.