Understand the Structure of the French Bulldog's Eyes
Owners often do not pay special attention to a French Bulldog's eyes, but in fact, if the eyes become uncomfortable or diseased, the result may range from reduced quality of life to blindness. That is why the owner should protect the dog's eyes almost as carefully as life itself.
Problems with the eyes are usually not difficult to notice. Careless owners, however, often make the mistake of assuming that as long as the dog eats well and does not show trouble walking, it is not sick. This attitude often causes early warning signs to be missed, allowing a small problem to grow into a major illness.
Warning Sign 1: Abnormal Tears
Tears help keep the eye moist. When dust enters the eye, tears also help wash away the foreign material. Therefore, if you see a French Bulldog constantly tearing or if the tears become cloudy, it usually means the eyes have a problem.
Warning Sign 2: Eye Discharge Buildup
When the eye is inflamed, tears may mix with purulent discharge. This makes the tear fluid cloudy and sticky. As a result, it cannot flow properly through the tear ducts and begins to accumulate in the corners of the eyes, sometimes forming a noticeable crust or mass.
A healthy French Bulldog may have a little eye discharge after waking up, but it should not be excessive. Heavy eye discharge may indicate an eye problem, but it may also appear with illnesses such as canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, or fever. In those cases, other symptoms such as elevated temperature are usually present as well.
Warning Sign 3: Swollen Eyelids
If a French Bulldog's eyes are inflamed, the eyelids may become congested, red, and clearly swollen. If the two eyes suddenly look different in size, and one eye appears smaller, it may actually be because that eyelid is swollen.
Warning Sign 4: Red Eyes
Whether the redness appears at the eye corner, eyelid, or white of the eye, it usually indicates a problem. Often this points to keratitis or conjunctivitis. If the dog has poor circulation, the conjunctiva may also appear congested. A simple clue is that eyelid problems often affect only one side, while redness of both eyes at the same time may suggest a broader underlying issue.
Warning Sign 5: Rubbing or Scratching the Eyes
If a French Bulldog rubs its eyes against walls or scratches them with its paws, it usually means there is itching or pain around the eye. Another possibility is reduced vision or even blindness. Eye inflammation, retinal disease, bleeding in the back of the eye, cataracts, or glaucoma can all cause eye rubbing. A foreign body such as dust can also make the dog rub its eyes.
Warning Sign 6: Bulging or Whiteness
Bulging of the eyeball is a sign of increased eye pressure and may indicate glaucoma. When a French Bulldog has glaucoma, its vision may decline and the dog may also feel intense pain. If the dark pupil area develops a white cloudy appearance, vision may also decrease, which is a sign of cataracts. Age-related cataracts often appear after six years of age, though puppies may also suffer from congenital cataracts.
Common Eye Diseases in the French Bulldog
Keratitis
Cause: the cornea lies at the front of the eyeball and is a transparent membrane. Inflammation can be caused by eyelashes, dust, other debris, trauma, or bacterial infection.
Symptoms: the dog's eyes may become red, tear excessively, or itch, causing it to scratch with the paw.
Treatment: if symptoms of keratitis appear, it is best to take the French Bulldog to a pet hospital for examination. Veterinarians will often trim the hair around the eye first and then prescribe antibiotic eye drops. If the dog keeps scratching, it may need to wear an Elizabethan collar.
Prevention: if your French Bulldog is a flat-faced type, prevention becomes even more important. Anti-inflammatory eye drops can be used routinely, and before every bath, protective drops can be applied before rinsing. Any redness or rubbing of the eyes should be checked immediately.
Conjunctivitis
Cause: the conjunctiva lines the inside of the eyelids and extends around the cornea. It is a thin, semi-transparent mucous membrane rich in capillaries, nerve endings, and immune cells, which makes it very sensitive.
Symptoms: sensitivity to light, tearing, redness and congestion, and discharge ranging from watery to purulent. Eye discharge increases significantly.
Treatment: take the French Bulldog to a veterinary hospital. The veterinarian may rinse the eyes with anti-inflammatory solutions and prescribe eye drops or ointments to be used several times a day. Even after visible symptoms disappear, treatment should often continue for a while.
Prevention: conjunctivitis is also common in flat-faced French Bulldogs. Dry winter air increases the risk, so a humidifier may help. Eye drops with anti-inflammatory properties can also be useful for prevention.
Cataracts
As French Bulldogs enter old age, vision often begins to decline. One possible reason is age-related cataracts, which are also common in breeds such as Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, and Huskies.
Cause: as organs age, the proteins in the lens gradually degenerate and the lens becomes cloudy, which impairs vision.
Symptoms: vision clearly worsens, the dog may walk clumsily, and the lens loses its transparency. As cloudiness develops, the pupil may appear bluish white or gray.
Treatment: if cataracts are detected early and the dog is brought to a specialized veterinary hospital in time, oral medicine, eye drops, or even phacoemulsification surgery may help slow or treat the condition.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease caused by increased eye pressure, and it may be congenital or acquired. Congenital glaucoma is linked to heredity, and breeds such as Cocker Spaniels, Boston Terriers, and Beagles are especially prone, while acquired glaucoma can affect any French Bulldog.
Cause: obstruction of the drainage of aqueous humor between the cornea and the lens leads to increased pressure inside the eye. This pressure damages the optic nerve and gradually weakens vision.
Symptoms: reduced vision, enlargement of the eyeball, and outward bulging of the cornea.
Treatment: there is still no truly ideal cure, so if glaucoma is suspected, the French Bulldog should be taken regularly to a specialized veterinary hospital for eye pressure checks.