Abnormalities of the Eyes, Ears, Nose and Mouth

Eyes

Normally, a dogs eyes are clear and shiny and free from discharge. Irritations to the eye can cause red, watery eyes and can be caused by:

• allergies
• foreign objects
• infections
• decreased tear production

Painful eyes may cause a dog to keep the eyelids partially closed and avoid light. The pain may be due to the following:

• ulcers of the cornea
• inflammation
• increased pressure within the eye
• eyelashes growing toward the surface of the eye

Vision loss is often only noticed when the dog moves to an unfamiliar environment. The dog may bump into objects or be reluctant to walk about in the new area. Vision loss can be caused by:

• cataracts
• bleeding within the eye
• diseases of the vision system within the brain

Ears

There are two major diseases of the ears: skin disease and problems with balance or hearing. Skin diseases may be caused by:

• parasites
• fungi
• bacteria

Problems with balance or hearing involve the inner ear and the brain. These problems can be caused by:

• infections
• foreign bodies penetrating from external ear canal
• cancer
• bleeding
• inflammation

Nose

A dogs nose is normally smooth and shiny without any discharge. A sudden onset of sneezing that is persistent is often the result of inhalation of plant matter. Nasal discharges may contain blood or other secretions. These are typically caused by:

• allergies
• fungal infections
• cancer

Mouth

There are a number of diseases of the mouth. Typically, you will notice one or more of the following signs:

• bad breath
• reluctance to chew hard objects
• allowing food to fall out of the mouth

Causes of these signs include:

• dental disease
• ulcers of tongue or membranes lining the mouth
• foreign objects embedded in the mouth
• oral cancer