To witness a black or brown spot in your dog’s eye can be alarming to some dog parents. There are many reasons why a spot may appear in your dog’s eye. Some reasons could be severe, while others are normal. If you are witnessing a spot in your dog’s eye for the first time, it is best to see a vet immediately.
However, some dogs are born with a spot on their eye, and it is to remain there for the rest of their lives. It is widely known as natural pigmentation, which can be regarded as an outcome of their inherited genes. In some cases, the existing spot tends to expand or create trouble later on. Therefore, it is advisable to seek medical help before it is too late immediately. Your dog’s eyes are precious, and while they cannot do much about taking care of their own eyes, they’d try to tell you about their discomfort through their behavior. Any change in their behavior that points to something wrong with their eyes is not to be neglected. It would help if you watched out for any change in the color of their eyes; apart from the brown spot, the color of their eye could turn red. Also, sometimes the size of the eye could alter. It could either increase or shrink depending upon the condition.
We have listed some essential tips to help you take care of the bright eyes of your pet. We have also covered five top reasons you should be worried about if you find a brown spot on your dog’s eye. There are some ways in which you can treat your dog’s eye condition. We will be exploring the possible ways in which you can treat the brown spot on your dog’s eye.
Should You be Worried if You Find a Brown Spot on Your Dog’s Eye?
In short, yes. Although a brown spot in your dog’s eye may not be something to be alarmed about, especially if your dog is born with a brown spot on its eye, in some cases, it may be a sign of serious illness. It can be anything, from a minor infection to serious ulcers and tumors. Let’s look at the probable reasons first.
1. It Maybe an Infection or Allergy
A brown spot on your dog’s brown eye may indicate infection or allergy. Infections may happen due to many reasons ranging from parasites to heartworms that your dog may have contracted from various sources. Moreover, as dog parents, we often think that only food items can cause allergies to your dogs. But you should also be aware that dogs can also suffer from pollen to dust particles. Therefore, a brown spot on your dog’s eye may be indicative of infection or allergy.
2. It Can be Due to a Foreign Particle or Scratched Cornea in the Eye
There can also be a foreign particle in your dog’s eye, which can cause a brown spot in your dog’s eye. Besides, it can also be an indication that your dog has accidentally scratched its cornea. It is a very painful condition, and if not treated properly, it can lead to serious health issues in the long run.
3. Your Dog May have Developed Horner’s Syndrome
Horner’s syndrome is a well-known disease that can affect humans and animals. Dogs are no exception, and they may suffer from this condition. In simple words, Horner’s syndrome is a neurological disorder that can affect the muscles of the eyes and the face of dogs. In addition to drooping or sunken upper eyelids, there are not many ways through which Horner’s syndrome can affect your dog. In most cases, this condition gets resolved automatically, but Horner’s syndrome may indicate some other serious underlying disease, which needs to be addressed in time.
4. There Might be Inflammation or Glaucoma in Your Dog’s Eye
Your dog may also be suffering from inflammation in your eye. This condition is also known as uveitis, and your dog’s eye may be red or swollen. Remember that even if it is not a serious condition at present, if the problem is not treated on time, it can lead to blindness in the long run. Besides, your dog may be affected by other problems like glaucoma. Please note if your dog’s eye seems to be bulging along with brown spots in your dog’s eye, there is a good chance that your dog is suffering from the same.
5. Your Dog May have Succumbed to a Corneal Ulcer or Conjunctival Tumor
An ulcer is basically an open sore, and corneal ulcers are extremely painful and occur on the surface of the eye. This is a serious issue, and if you find that your dog’s eyes have turned red and there are white or yellow-colored discharges from its eyes, there is a possibility that your dog is suffering from a corneal ulcer. Apart from an ulcer, your dog may also have succumbed to tumors that are forming in its eyes, which look like brown spots. In this case, your dog’s eyes will appear to be bigger. Both these health issues are serious and should not be taken lightly. It would help if you immediately took your dog to a vet. Without timely and proper treatment, it can eventually lead to blindness.
Bonus Read: Dog Eye Infection Home Remedies: A Guide to Symptoms and Treatments
How Should You Treat a Black or a Brown Spot if it Appears in Your Dog’s Eye?
Even before thinking about the treatment of the brown or black spot which may have appeared on your dog’s eyes, it is important to diagnose the cause of the same. It is important to remember that each cause has its diagnosis and treatment. If the problem is addressed at the right time, there should be no long-term issues your dog may face.
As it has been discussed earlier, in most the cases, it is not an alarming situation, and yet it might be indicative of extremely serious health conditions, which can adversely affect your dog in the long run and even lead to conditions like terminal blindness, which shall wreck your beloved pet’s life. It is always advised to consult your vet if you find a colored spot all of a sudden and let them determine the cause.
If the cause turns out to be mere pigmentation or allergy, it is easy to deal with. All your dog needs to do is stay away from certain foods or the agent causing the allergic reaction. Besides, even Horner’s syndrome is quite harmless, and even if your dog is suffering from the same, there is no reason to be alarmed! But every other possibility that has been discussed in the above-mentioned section indicates the seriousness of your dog’s physical health, and if your vet diagnoses that it is actually a tumor or glaucoma, which is resulting in the formation of brown spots, there are proper medical solutions to deal with the same. For instance, while glaucoma can be treated easily with proper medication and surgery, in addition to surgery, tumors require chemotherapy as well.
Conclusion
If your dog has been experiencing dry eyes, the vet will most likely put them on some medication for relief. We all know the importance of lubrication for the eyes, especially if you live in regions with cold or dry weather conditions. You need to understand that as long as your dog can comfortably use their eyes for sighting, it is completely okay for the brown spot to appear. There is a high chance that the spot might never fade away completely. As long as their eyes are safe and the eye doctor doesn’t find the condition to be dire, it should be fine.
[wpdatatable id=68]Dr. Lillian is a D.V.M. passionate about promoting awareness of dogs. She shares her expertise through her blogs on canineweekly.com and provides animal care services, including internal medicine, dermatology, and emergency care. Dr. Lillian is committed to contributing to animal welfare.