Eye Disorders

• As explained on peteducation.com, the three most common eye disorders in dogs are conjunctivitis, blue eye and glaucoma. Conjunctivitis, also referred to as "pink eye," is an infection of the tissue lining the eyelids and eyeballs. Blue eye, on the other hand, results from the hepatitis virus and causes dogs to have cloudy eyes and a sick liver. Glaucoma is another common disease that affects humans as well and results from high pressure in the eyeball. Glaucoma is particularly distressing because it can irreparably damage the optic nerve and cause your dog to become blind if left untreated.
  
  

Skin Disorders

• According to doggiesparadise.com, most dog skin disorders are caused by a defective immune system. In demodectic mange, for example, a microscopic mite called demodex canis, a normal inhabitant of the dog skin, multiplies excessively because of the dog's weakened immune system. Eczema, an inflammation of the skin, is another common dog skin disorder resulting from a defective immune system. Yeast infections and scabies mites may also cause your dog to develop skin problems.
  
  

Symptoms

• Symptoms of dog eye and skin disorders vary depending on the cause. In the case of your dog's eyes, redness or discharge may indicate conjunctivitis, while blue or hazy corneas and teary eyes may point to blue eye. Early signs of glaucoma include pain, cloudiness and one eye protruding more than the other.
  
  Dog skin disorders typically cause skin rashes, hair loss and redness combined with scabs and dry skin. Your dog may also lose its appetite and exhibit strange behavior such as scratching excessively or biting his own skin. In some cases, you may also observe weight loss and lethargy.
  
  

Treatment

• According to doggiesparadise.com, boosting your dog's immune system may help with both eye and skin disorders. The immune system is responsible for protecting your dog's body from bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, so increasing your pet's defenses will allow him to fight and kill microorganisms. In order to boost your dog's immune system, a nutritious diet with high levels of vitamins and minerals is critical. Your veterinarian may also administer specific treatments to your pet such as eye drops for eye disorders, antibiotics and antifungal creams for yeast infections.
  
  

Prevention

• Good hygiene and nutrition are essential to your dog's eye and skin health. As listed on doggiesparadise.com, inspecting your pet's eyes and skin regularly is the key to prevent the onset of eye or skin disorders. You may want to groom your dog regularly to recognize skin disorders and avoid bathing it too often to avoid irritating his eyes and drying out the natural oils in its coat. Also, avoid exposing your dog to environmental irritants such as detergent, pesticide or perfume that may irritate your pet's eyes or skin.