Dry Eye Syndrome In French Bulldogs

Dry eye syndrome in French bulldogs occurs due to a deficiency of tear film over the eyeball. This type of condition can be excruciating and usually affects breeds with protruding eyes. And of course, French bulldogs are one of them. This kind of condition is otherwise called keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and some studies claim that females are on a higher tendency to suffer from this issue.

What are the symptoms of dry eye syndrome in French bulldogs?

• yellow discharge coming from the eye
• Frequent blinking
• Swollen conjunctival blood vessels
• A dog is unable to open the eyes
• The third eyelid developing
• Redness and irritation of the eye tissue
• Noticeable disorder
• Dull-looking, ’foggy’ eyes
• Dog tries to rub the eye onto the floor or carpet
• Sensitivity to light

What are the causes of the French bulldog’s dry eye?

• Impaired Immune system that leads to this type of issue
• It may be triggered by the disease of the central nervous system
• Breed-related predispositions. Brachycephalic breeds are on a tendency to suffer from this occurrence (pugs, French bulldogs, English bulldogs, Boston terriers)
• Drug influence
• Chlamydia conjunctivitis

Diagnosis and treatment of dry eye syndrome in French bulldogs

Besides observing all the previously mentioned symptoms, your vet will perform a so-called Schirmer tear test. It serves to measure the amount of wetness of the eye. Since the tear ducts serve to collect the amount of tears for keeping the eye wet, your vet will check the level of moisture.

Depending on the case and the cause, you’ll need to provide your little gremlin with adequate lubrication and antibiotic teardrops. Topical steroid eye creams and drops are also required since they’ll ease the symptoms of redness and irritation. However, they shouldn’t be used for an extended period because they can lead to increased eye pressure.

As one of the best solutions to prevent dry eye syndrome in French bulldogs is to buy the hypoallergenic eye rinse solution. I advise you to check with your vet which one to choose.

In case your pooch has dark tear stains below his eyes, you can use the following Tear Stain remover. It is antibacterial and safe to use on dogs with sensitive skin. Wipe the area around your Frenchie’s eyes three times a week, and in 2 or 3 weeks, you’ll see the improvement.

Other eye issues that can occur in the French bulldog breed

Besides dry eye syndrome, cherry eye and corneal ulcers are also common in this breed. A corneal ulcer is a harrowing condition that occurs due to an untreated dry eye. It may also be triggered by the type of trauma, such as using inappropriate dog shampoo. It is followed by a dog’s nervousness and his constant rubbing of the eye. The treatment includes using antibiotic drops and topical drops for easing irritation and pains.

On the other hand, the cherry eye issue occurs due to a weakened prolapsed gland of the eyelid. Unlike dry eye syndrome in French bulldogs that are followed by a deficiency of tears, this condition is followed by discharge and watery eyes.

Wrapping up

Most of us will agree that we can’t predict certain health issues in our canines. Therefore, we need to know to spot any strange behavior in our pooches. Any type of issue in your Frenchie can be easily healed if you start with treatment on time.