The pathogen of canine eyeworm

Canine eyeworm (conjunctival sucking nematode) is a small milky white nematode that lives in the conjunctival sac and sub-nictitating membrane of the eye. Male worms are 7 to 13 mm long, and female worms are 12 to 17 mm long. Flies serve as intermediate hosts to spread the disease. The disease is prevalent seasonally (the optimum temperature is around 28°C).

Symptoms of eyeworm disease in dogs

Initial conjunctival congestion, moist eyeballs, fear of light and tears, followed by viscous secretions, dense cysts under the conjunctival sac and nictitating membrane Granular vesicles. The sick dog scratches its eyes and face with its toes from time to time, and rubs its cheek and forehead repeatedly, causing unbearable pain and itching. The upper and lower eyelids frequently open and close, the eyeballs are obviously sunken, the cornea is opaque, the eyelids will stick together in the later stage, the vision will decrease, and even ulcers will form (no death has been reported).

Treatment of eyeworm disease in dogs

For sick dogs in Baoding, use a syringe with the needle removed to draw 1 to 2 ml of 5% levopyrimidine hydrochloride injection, and slowly drip it into the eye from the canthus of the sick dog’s eye. Gently rub it with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes, open the upper and lower eyelids, use tweezers to hold sterilized wet gauze or cotton balls and gently wipe
the attached insects until all are removed, then rinse slowly and repeatedly with physiological saline Dry the affected eye with cotton wool and apply tetracycline or erythromycin eye ointment.