What is strabismus in dogs?

When taking a dog home we have to do what we can to make it a good life; That is to say, that it is an animal that, in addition to being happy, receives all the attention it needs over the years, one of the main ones being the veterinarian.

Therefore, if we detect that the eyes are not well positioned, we must go to a professional to tell us what to do, since one of the most frequent "problems" is strabismus. Let's see what strabismus is in dogs and how it affects them.

What is it?

Strabismus is an eye disorder that affects humans, but also dogs, characterized by the fact that the eyes are not directed simultaneously towards the same goal. There are of several types:

• Divergent squint: the eyes deviate outwards.
• Convergent squint: the eyes deviate inwards.
• Dorsal strabismus: the eyes drift upwards.
• Ventral strabismus: eyes drift downward.

In the first two types, both eyes are affected; On the other hand, in the last two it can affect a single eyeball or both.

What are the causes of strabismus in dogs?

There are above all two causes, which are:

• Congenital causes: that is, when the dog is already born with the disorder as a result of an alteration produced in the extraocular muscles.
• Acquired causes: when the dog has the disorder due to trauma, tumors, eye diseases.

Is it a serious disorder?

Strabismus it is usually more of an aesthetic problem than a health problem. The dog's normal vision is not affected in most cases. But if, for example, you have suffered an accident then you could have some eye problems; Hence, it is so necessary to go to a specialist in veterinary ophthalmology as soon as possible.

How is it detected?

It is relatively easy to detect strabismus, as you only have to look at whether the dog's two eyes are on the same target, or if on the contrary there is one, or both, that deviate. If the latter happens, we can be almost sure that the furry has a squint.

But also, if this disorder was caused by a disease, we could observe apathy, loss of appetite, or lethargy, among others.

Which is the treatment?

Treatment will depend on the cause and the severity of the case. When it is congenital, it is not usually treated, since strabismus does not affect the vision of the animal. Only in the event that a serious alteration has occurred or when it has been acquired, it may be necessary to intervene surgically.

Of course, if there are other symptoms, the vet will tell us what we have to do so that the dog can return to a normal life.

What breeds of dogs are the most affected?

Although it can affect any breed or cross, congenital strabismus is especially common in pugs. Why? The massive rearing of puppies of this breed is believed to be responsible. Therefore, it is very important to make sure that the breeder is really serious and professional and that he takes good care of the animals in his charge, since otherwise it would not be surprising that sooner or later we would have to take him to the vet for health problems.

In any case, we insist, any dog ​​at any time in his life can end up with this eye disorder.

As we have seen, strabismus in dogs is a disorder that can be detected and treated by a professional. If you notice that your dog's eyes are not able to fixate well, he may have this disorder.