Why Does My Dog Have a Blue Ring Around Its Eye? (Explained!)
Have you noticed that your dog has a blue ring around one eye? You’re not alone. This is a common condition that can occur in any breed of dog. However, it’s important to know what causes this condition and how to treat it.
In this blog post, we will discuss the causes of a blue ring around the eye of a dog and how to get rid of it!
Why Does My Dog Have a Blue Ring Around Its Eye?

The blue ring around the dog’s eye is called a corneal ulcer. It is a common condition that can be caused by many things, including injury, infection, and allergies. Treatment typically involves antibiotics and/or surgery. In severe cases, the ulcer can lead to blindness.
If your dog has been in a fight or has hit its eye, the surface of the eye becomes injured, and the blood vessels in the area break and leak. The condition only gets worse when your dog starts to scratch the injured eye.
There are many different infections that can cause a blue ring around the dog eye, but the most common is called conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the tissue that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye.
It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergies, or irritants. If your dog has conjunctivitis, you may notice that his eyes are red and irritated, and he may have discharge from his eyes. Treatment for conjunctivitis depends on the underlying cause, but it typically involves antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications.
If your dog has allergies, it may develop a condition called “blue eye.” This is when the blood vessels in the eye become dilated and appear bluish-purple in color. While this may sound serious, it is usually not a cause for concern.
Blue eye is often caused by environmental allergies such as pollen or dust mites. Try to keep them away from whatever is triggering their allergies. This may mean keeping them indoors more or using an air purifier. If you can identify the allergen, there are also specific treatments you can give your dog to help them deal with their allergies.
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What Causes a Ring Around a Dog’s Eye?

There are a few different causes of what is commonly called a “ring around the eye” in dogs. One cause is pigmentary keratitis, which is when there is too much pigment in the tissue around the eye. This can be caused by genetics, trauma, or inflammation. Another cause is pannus, which is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to produce too much pigment. Pannus can also be caused by allergies or infections.
Pigmentary keratitis is a condition that results in the darkening of the dog’s eye. The condition is caused by the accumulation of pigment in the cornea, which leads to the darkening of the eye. Pigmentary keratitis is a chronic condition that can be difficult to treat. Treatment options include surgery, topical medications, and systemic medications.
Surgery is often used to remove the excess pigment from the cornea. Topical medications can be used to lighten the eye and improve vision. Systemic medications can be used to help reduce inflammation and improve vision. Pigmentary keratitis is a serious condition that can lead to blindness if left untreated.
Pannus, also known as chronic superficial keratitis, is an inflammatory disease that affects a dog’s cornea. The disease is characterized by the formation of pinkish-red tissue on the surface of the eye. Pannus can eventually lead to blindness if left untreated. Treatment typically involves the use of topical steroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs.
While the exact cause of pannus is unknown, it is thought to be an immune-mediated disease. Pannus usually affects young to middle-aged dogs and certain breeds are more susceptible than others. German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Shar Peis are some of the most commonly affected breeds.
Does a Blue Eye Mean a Dog Is Blind?
No, a blue eye doesn’t mean a dog is blind. A blue eye in a dog can be caused by albinism or merle coat patterning. Albinism is a lack of pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. It’s caused by an inherited gene mutation and is relatively rare. You’ll often see blue eyes in albino animals because there’s no pigment to absorb light, so all the light reflects back out as blue.
Albinism can also cause a dog to have blue eyes. This is because the lack of pigment in the iris allows more light to pass through, giving the eye a blue appearance. Albinism is a genetic condition that is passed down from parents to offspring. It is not caused by anything the parents did or didn’t do. Albinism occurs when there is a mutation in the genes that control pigment production.
There are two types of albinism that can affect dogs: Ocular albinism and generalized albinism. Ocular albinism only affects the eyes and leaves the coat unchanged. Generalized albinism will affect both the eyes and coat, often causing it to be pale or white. Albinism is not a health condition and does not cause any pain or suffering. Dogs with albinism can live long and happy lives.
If you have a dog with albinism, you may want to take some extra precautions to protect its eyes from the sun. Wearing sunglasses or using an eye sunscreen can help reduce the risk of damage to the eyes.
Alternatively, if your dog has a merle coat pattern (which is also caused by an inherited gene mutation), their eye color can range from brown to green to blue. The amount of blue present often depends on how much melanin their body produces overall.
How Can You Tell If Your Dog is Going Blind?
If your dog is going blind, it will not act in its normal self. There are some signs that you can look for and determine if your dog is actually going blind:
One of the first signs that a dog is going blind is if they start to bump into things or stumble more often. This is because they are losing their vision and depth perception, and so they aren’t able to gauge distances as well anymore.
Another sign is if your dog’s eyes look cloudy or milky instead of clear.
A third sign is if your dog has trouble finding their food or toys that they normally would be able to see easily. Fourth, a dog who is going blind may stop wanting to go on walks or play fetch because it’s too difficult for them to see where the ball goes. Finally, many dogs will become withdrawn and seem depressed when they start to lose their vision.
At What Age Do Dogs Get Nuclear Sclerosis?
Nuclear sclerosis is a normal, age-related change that occurs in the lenses of dogs’ eyes. It is characterized by a thickening and hardening of the lens, which can eventually cause blindness. The condition is most common in senior dogs, but it can occur in younger dogs as well.
There are two types of nuclear sclerosis: primary and secondary. Primary nuclear sclerosis is an irreversible process that happens as a result of aging. Secondary nuclear sclerosis is caused by other underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or cataracts.
Nuclear sclerosis typically doesn’t affect a dog’s vision until later in life. In the early stages of the disease, dogs may not show any signs at all. As the disease progresses, dogs may start to experience cloudy vision, trouble seeing at night, and difficulty with bright lights.
There is no treatment for primary nuclear sclerosis. However, if your dog has secondary nuclear sclerosis, treating the underlying condition may help improve their vision. If your dog is diagnosed with nuclear sclerosis, be sure to have their eyes checked regularly by a veterinarian to monitor the progression of the disease.
While there’s no cure for nuclear sclerosis, you can help your dog cope with the condition by making some simple changes at home. For example, keep your dog’s sleeping area well-lit and free of obstacles so they can move around easily.
You might also want to try using eye drops or ointments to help lubricate your dog’s eyes and keep them comfortable. Finally, make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to help keep their mind sharp.
With a little bit of extra care, your dog can still enjoy a good quality of life despite nuclear sclerosis.