Can my dog's conjunctivitis spread and cause skin issues?

Do not give any or apply anything into Oliver's eyes without the advice of your veterinarian. Contact your vet about giving an antihistamine in addition to Apoquel to Oliver for relief. There are OTC antihistamines that can be used in dogs as well as several prescription options. Discuss dosing with your vet as, legally, we are unable to recommend medications and dosing in the absence of a patient-vet-client relationship and a physical exam.

Yes, it could be an allergic reaction, it could also be an eye infection. those reactions tend to resolve within 48 hours without treatment. if the swelling becomes too large or if your dog is lethargic, take him to the vet in order to get an antihistamine injection.

Generally, no - the causes of conjunctivitis in dogs are not contagious to humans. I would use good personal hygeine (wash hands after touching or medicating your pet's infected eye, etc.) to be on the safe side, but this is not likely to be an issue.

Pinkeye, or infectious conjunctivitis, is contagious and is usually spread through direct contact with another dog. It looks identical to other types of conjunctivitis including allergic conjunctivitis, and there is not a good test to differentiate between them. It is possible that Hercules has allergic conjunctivitis if he is having recurrent signs. It is also within the realm of possibility that Herc's friend is an asymptomatic carrier, although this is not common and I cannot find reference to any specific cases. Regardless, it sounds like Herc should see the vet for a work up and to discuss ongoing treatment!

By definition, conjunctivitis is simply an inflammation of the conjunctival membranes in the eye. Usually this appears as redness and swelling of these associated tissues. Often, conjunctivitis is paired with scleritis and corneal ulceration. While anyone can simply look at the eye and plainly see that it is red and inflamed, the most important thing is to make sure that the corneal is not ulcerated. A staining solution has to be placed on the surface of the eye, and then a cobalt blue light is utilized to determine if there are any scratches. The reason we do this prior to treating is because the choice of medication differs considerably if there is versus isn't an ulcer present. The eye medication can not include a steroid if there is an ulcer or it will make things worse or delay the healing process considerably. Hope this helps.

Based on the redness, crustiness and loss of pigment on the nose and eyelids, I would worry about him possibly having an auto-immune disease such as lupus or pemphigus. These diseases commonly affect the eyelids and nose in this way. Only a skin biopsy can definitively diagnose these conditions. It is also possible that there is a secondary infection. I would recommend having a skin cytology and a culture and sensitivity done. This means that the vet will take a superficial sample of those areas and look for bacteria. It will then be cultured to see what kind of bacteria is it and the sensitivity shows you what kind of antibiotic it is sensitive to. If there is an infection, it is best to clear that up prior to doing a biopsy as infection can make it hard to see the primary cause. Even though he doesn't seem to be responding to Apoquel, it could still be allergies. Most dogs I have treated with Apoquel have done very well, but there have been some dogs who don't improve in their allergy symptoms. I hope this helps and that he gets better soon!

Infectious conjunctivitis is not common in dogs and unless she is going to doggie day care or is in contact with many dogs it is unlikely that she has contracted an infection twice. More likely would be allergic conjunctivitis or another eye disease like anterior uveitis. I would recommend rechecking with your veterinarian first. If they see anything unusual they may recommend referral to an ophthalmologist.