If you have ever had a stye then you know that it can be rather sensitive and at times quite painful. Styes occur quite commonly in dogs too.
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Can Dogs Get Styes in Their Eyes
Styes are far more common occurrences in dogs than we think, my own dog had a stye that needed to be removed surgically as it kept recurring and would not heal with medical treatment alone. The stye does not occur in the eye itself, but in the glands of the eyelid which protect the globe of the eye. Styes can usually be identified with an ocular examination by a veterinarian.
In the book The Essentials of Veterinary Ophthalmology it states: “An external hordeolum or stye is due to suppurative infection of the Zeis or Moll glands, and manifests itself as either a single or multiple abscess formation along the anterior aspect of the eyelid margin.”
How Do Dogs Get Styes
A stye occurs when an oil gland at the base of an eyelash on a dog's upper or lower eyelid becomes blocked, or bacteria enters the gland which then causes an infection. It looks like a small red bump on the eyelid that can be rather painful for the dog. Dogs have meibomian glands at the base of their eyelashes which are there to secrete a liquid to lubricate the eye. These are the glands that can often become blocked, or infected and cause what we refer to as a stye.
A stye can appear as a red, pink or pale in colour bump on the edge of your dog’s eyelid. Symptoms to look out for when noticing an abnormal bump on your dog’s eyelid:
- Rubbing or scratching at the eye which can cause further damage.
- Discharge from the eye.
- Holding the eye closed or squinting.
At times like this it is recommended to have a camera installed at home so that you can monitor your pooch when you are not there. If the stye is bothering your dog you will see him scratching at it and even giving a yelp when the bump is touched. This indicates that it is painful, and it’s best to get him to the vet sooner rather than later. Styes can hang around for a long period of time and even cause an infection in the eye itself.
“External hordeolum or stye is a suppurative adenitis of the adnexal glands of Zeis or Moll. Internal hordeolum is suppurative inflammation of the meibomian gland.” as stated in the book Pathology of Domestic Animals Volume One, Fourth Edition.
Do Dog Styes Go Away
Sometimes a stye can go away on its own without medical treatment, but most often veterinary care is required. Treatment can involve draining the stye, warm compresses, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Styes can be a few millimetres in size. It is not recommended to attempt to pop or treat it at home without consulting a veterinarian. It is always a good idea to invest in Pet Emergency Fund for your furry friend so that you have access to veterinary care when you most need it. Styes can be very painful, sensitive to the touch and require veterinary attention. A stye can be confused with a few other common disorders such as:
- Chalazion
- Cherry eye
- Eyelid tumour
- Swollen eyelid
Dr. F Stades said: “Eyelid disease are traditionally divided into congenital-developmental and hereditary, trauma, inflammatory, immune-mediated and other, and neoplastic disorders. Clinical management of most of the eyelid diseases, except for the inflammatory, immune-mediated, and neoplastic types, is surgical.”
Conclusion
Some styes do go away on their own, but it is always recommended to seek veterinary advice if your dog seems to be in any discomfort or pain. Styes can be very painful, and your dog may not want you coming anywhere near the affected area.
Dr. S Kim & colleagues said in their research that: “Medical treatment must be considered when treating atypical eyelid masses, and the use of appropriate antibiotics through antibiotic susceptibility testing is important.”