Pannus in dogs, also called chronic superficial keratitis, is an immune-mediated inflammation of the cornea: a pink, fleshy film of blood vessels spreads across the clear front of the eye, usually from the outer edge, and dark pigment follows behind it. It can't be cured, but daily prescription eye medication controls it in most dogs, and dogs diagnosed early usually keep useful sight for life. In the UK, German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds (Tervueren), Border Collies and retired racing Greyhounds are the dogs to watch. To put those observations in context, see Glaucoma in Dogs in the UK for related questions about eye care and changes to watch for.
You can use Cherry Eye in Dogs, Bacterial Eye Infection in a Dog and Can Dogs See Color? What Blue, Yellow, Red and Green Look Like to look up the details that apply to your dog. If you want to look at the options in more detail, start with Blocked Tear Duct in Dogs.
What pannus looks like, and where it starts
Pannus almost always affects both eyes, although one is often worse. The first sign is a reddish-pink, slightly raised haze at the outer (ear-side) edge of the cornea, most often in the lower-outer corner. Over months it spreads towards the centre, and brown or black pigment settles into the inflamed area, turning the eye "muddy" or dark. For a closer look at signs and observations relevant to eye care and changes to watch for, see Subconjunctival Haemorrhage in Dogs.
If you want to look at the options in more detail, start with Dog Pink Eye. For more detail on eye care and changes to look out for, start with Dog Eye Twitching, Dog Eye Allergy or Infection? Why an Examination Matters and The Origins of Veterinary Clinical Nutrition.
Check the third eyelid as well. In a study of 308 German Shepherds with pannus, 63–69% also had a thickened, depigmented third-eyelid margin (Drahovska et al., 2014). This form, sometimes called atypical pannus or plasmoma, can appear before the cornea changes. If you've spotted a pink, puffy membrane in the inner corner, compare it with our guide to dog third eyelid showing. For an older dog whose nutrition plan also includes eye support, review eye supplements and what canine research supports before adding another antioxidant formula with overlapping ingredients. For how eyelid position can affect comfort, see inward-rolling eyelids and irritation.
Our guide How to Get Something Out of My Dog's Eye covers a related part of eye care and changes to look out for. You can use Best Tear Stain Remover for Dogs, How to Clean Around a Dog's Eyes and Pekingese Dog Care to look up the details that apply to your dog.
Most dogs with pannus aren't in obvious pain, which is why it is often missed until pigment covers much of the cornea. Left untreated, it can lead to blindness (Jokinen et al., 2011). For the wider pain-care discussion, dog pain-relief options and precautions separates the options by the type of problem.
Our guide Ectropion in Dogs covers a related part of eye care and changes to look out for. If you want to look at the options in more detail, start with Dog Blinking: Eyelids, Tears and Everyday Eye Comfort.
Which dogs get pannus in the UK?
The key risk study drew on 16 US veterinary teaching hospitals and 595 affected dogs (Chavkin et al., 1994):
- Breed: Belgian Tervueren, German Shepherds, Border Collies, Greyhounds, Siberian Huskies and Australian Shepherds were over-represented. All are popular in Britain, and thousands of Greyhounds are rehomed after racing every year.
- Age: dogs aged 4–7 were 2.36 times more likely to develop lesions than dogs under 4.
- Altitude: dogs living above roughly 2,100 metres (7,000 feet) were 7.75 times more likely to be affected than dogs living at 900–1,500 metres. Nowhere in the UK comes close, so for British dogs breed and genetics are the risk factors that matter.
- Genes: pannus in German Shepherds has an inherited side. One immune-system (MHC class II) haplotype was linked to the disease, and dogs carrying two copies had roughly 8.5 times the odds (Jokinen et al., 2011).
Do dogs in Britain need goggles?
Ultraviolet light is widely believed to aggravate pannus. The evidence is thinner than the marketing: in the US study, disease rates tracked altitude but not average sunshine, and UV-blocking contact lenses worn on one eye of 26 dogs for six months, alongside ciclosporin, showed no provable benefit (Denk et al., 2011). Shade on a bright day or goggles on a snowy Highland walk are fine as extras, never as a substitute for the prescription. For time outdoors, the flea and tick treatment comparison helps you compare coverage and application choices when planning the dog’s parasite routine.
Pannus stages: what you'll see at home
Vets don't all use the same grading chart, so treat this as an owner's guide rather than an official scale.
| Stage | What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Pink haze or fine vessels at the outer edge; third-eyelid margin losing its dark rim | Best moment to start treatment; clarity usually fully preserved |
| Moderate | Fleshy pink tissue over part of the cornea; brown pigment at its leading edge | Inflammation responds well; some pigment may remain |
| Advanced | Dark pigment across much of the cornea; bumping into things in dim light | Sight already reduced; referral options may be discussed |
| Controlled | Pale, quiet eye; old pigment stable, no new pink tissue | The goal. Maintenance drops continue for life |
Pannus or something else?
- Cloudiness from inside the eye: a bluish-grey centre is usually lens ageing or a cataract, not a surface problem. See dog cloudy eye.
- Dry eye (KCS): sticky discharge and a dull cornea that can also pigment. The two can coexist, so your vet will measure tear production. See dry eye in dogs.
- Pigmentary keratitis: in Pugs and Shih Tzus, pigment comes from friction and exposure, a different cause.
- Corneal ulcer: painful, with squinting and tearing. Steroid drops used for pannus can make an ulcer worse, which is why your vet stains the eye first.
If you're not sure whether you're looking at inflammation or infection, our guide to the warning signs of a dog eye infection sets out the differences. For the wider care plan as a dog ages, the senior-dog immune-support checklist helps you review nutrition, existing supplements and veterinary follow-up together.
Our guide Cataracts in Dogs UK covers a related part of eye care and changes to look out for.
How UK vets diagnose and treat pannus
Diagnosis is mostly clinical: breed, age and the typical outer-edge pattern in both eyes, plus a fluorescein stain to rule out an ulcer and a Schirmer tear test. Complicated cases are often referred to an RCVS-recognised specialist or ECVO diplomate in ophthalmology. For interpreting what you see around the eye, see normal eye discharge and warning colors.
To compare the signs and questions to take into account, see Dog Corneal Ulcer and Dog Eye Stye. If you’re comparing approaches to eye care and changes to look out for, see Swollen Eye in a Dog and Dog Squinting One Eye.
Treatment combines a topical corticosteroid with an immunomodulator such as ciclosporin or tacrolimus, given several times a day at first and then tapered to the lowest dose that keeps the eye quiet. In a clinical study of 41 dogs, five weeks of dexamethasone plus ciclosporin drops cut the average number of corneal quarters invaded by vessels from about 2.6 to between 0.2 and 0.6, and roughly halved the inflamed corneal area (Balicki et al., 2021). Include changes in drinking and bathroom habits in the notes you take to your vet. If a bladder-support supplement is also on the list, compare bladder-support ingredients and product labels before adding another formula.
Read Dog Ear and Eye Cleaners for more detail on eye care and changes to look out for. If you want to look at the options in more detail, start with Uveitis in Dogs UK.
What treatment can and can't change
In the same study, pigment still increased in 27 of 77 corneas while inflammation settled. Redness and vessels clear within weeks; pigment and scarring already present may stay. Start early and you keep more clear cornea. Stopping the drops once the eye looks better is a classic reason pannus returns.
If you’re comparing approaches to eye care and changes to look out for, see Over-the-Counter Eye Drops for Dogs and Dog Eye Wipes.
A UK insurance point: pannus needs medication for life. Check whether your policy is lifetime cover rather than time-limited or per-condition, and remember that anything noted in the clinical history before cover started may be treated as pre-existing.
For more on eye care and changes to look out for, see Dog Cataract Surgery Cost UK.
A daily routine that makes lifelong drops easier
- Clean first. Gently rinse away crust and discharge so the prescription reaches the cornea.
- Wait about five minutes, then apply the prescribed drop or ointment. Space two medications the same way.
- Take a monthly photo of each eye in the same light and at the same angle.
- Keep every recheck, especially in the first three months.
For step one, we made our gentle daily dog eye drops for eyes that are already sensitive. A dog with pannus is medicated two or three times a day for years, so the cleaning step has to be sting-free: To make these care steps easier to repeat, see cooperative care and gentle handling.
| Feature | Typical tear-stain cleaner | Pure Majesty Pets eye drops |
|---|---|---|
| pH | Often unstated | 7.0–7.2, matched to natural tears |
| Grade | Cosmetic | Ophthalmic-grade, 10-micron sterile-filtered |
| Moisturising active | Usually none | Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) 0.05% |
| Soothing botanicals | Rarely listed with amounts | Aloe vera 8%, chamomile 2%, pro-vitamin B5 |
| Stain control | Peroxide or bleach in some | Sodium phytate 0.15% |
| Alcohol / fragrance | Common | None |
To be clear: these are non-medicated hygiene drops. They don't treat pannus or replace ciclosporin, tacrolimus or steroids; they make the prescribed routine easier to keep up and help keep tear staining off the face. Made in Canada, 120 mL, with free worldwide delivery and all UK duties and VAT paid in advance (DDP), so there is nothing to pay on arrival. Browse our dog eye care products for the UK. For routine debris around an otherwise comfortable eye, compare eye cleaners for routine debris and tear stains; this is a different task from treating a painful or inflamed eye. For another part of the face’s sensory system, see how a dog’s whiskers work.
For more on cleaning and daily care, read Dog Eye Cleaner, Angel Eyes for Dogs UK and Optixcare Eye Lube for Dogs. If you want to look at the options in more detail, start with Saline Solution for Dogs' Eyes.
When to call your vet
- Any new pink film at the outer edge of the eye in a German Shepherd, Greyhound, Husky or Tervueren over the age of 3.
- Squinting, pawing or a tightly closed eye, which suggests an ulcer rather than pannus.
- A sudden cloudy, blue or enlarged eye: same-day appointment.
- Pink tissue returning after the dose was reduced.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a dog live with pannus?
A normal lifespan. Pannus affects the eyes, not general health. What's at stake is sight, and consistent treatment preserves it in most dogs. See normal eye health and urgent changes for the details behind this part of the care plan.
Read Red Eyes in Dogs for more detail on eye care and changes to look out for. Our guide Green Eye Discharge in Dogs covers a related part of eye care and changes to look out for.
Is pannus painful for dogs?
Usually not. Most dogs with pannus don't squint or rub their eyes. If yours does, ask your vet to check for a corneal ulcer or another problem.
For more on eye care and changes to look out for, see Watery Eyes in Dogs.
Can pannus in dogs be cured?
No, but it can be controlled. Prescription drops settle the inflammation within weeks, and a low maintenance dose keeps it quiet long-term.
Is pannus covered by UK pet insurance?
Often, but only as long as the condition remains covered. Lifetime policies are the safest option for a condition that needs drops for life. Check your policy wording and any pre-existing exclusions.
Scientific References
- Chavkin MJ, Roberts SM, Salman MD, Severin GA, Scholten NJ. Risk factors for development of chronic superficial keratitis in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1994;204(10):1630-1634. PMID 8050943
- Jokinen P, Rusanen EM, Kennedy LJ, Lohi H. MHC class II risk haplotype associated with canine chronic superficial keratitis in German Shepherd dogs. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 2011;140(1-2):37-41. PMID 21144596
- Drahovska Z, Balicki I, Trbolova A, Mihalova M, Holickova M. A retrospective study of the occurrence of chronic superficial keratitis in 308 German Shepherd dogs: 1999-2010. Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences. 2014;17(3):543-546. PMID 25286670
- Balicki I, Szadkowski M, Balicka A, Zwolska J. Clinical study on the application of dexamethasone and cyclosporine/dimethyl sulfoxide combination eye drops in the initial therapy of chronic superficial keratitis in dogs. Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences. 2021;24(3):415-423. PMID 34730300
- Denk N, Fritsche J, Reese S. The effect of UV-blocking contact lenses as a therapy for canine chronic superficial keratitis. Veterinary Ophthalmology. 2011;14(3):186-194. PMID 21521443
Veterinary disclaimer: This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Pannus must be diagnosed and managed by an RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon. Pure Majesty Pets eye drops are non-medicated hygiene products; they do not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease and are not authorised veterinary medicines under the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).