It can be scary when our beloved dogs get hurt, and even more so when the injury is in a sensitive area like the eye. Here, our Bellevue vets discuss what to do when your dog has an eye injury.
Your Dog's Eye's
As with people, your dog's eye injury can begin as a minor irritation but quickly develop into a serious or painful infection. In fact, even a small eye injury can lead to permanent scarring or even blindness without the proper care.
If your pooch begins to display any of the symptoms listed below a trip to the vet is in order. Your veterinarian can determine the cause and severity of your dog's eye injury and provide treatment or a referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist in your area for advanced care.
Types of Eye Injuries Seen in Dogs
Eye injuries can occur at any time and can range from mild to extremely severe. There are a number of types of eye injuries that your dog could experience including:
- A corneal laceration (a cut or scratch on the surface of the eye)
- A puncture wound resulting from a foreign object
- Proptosis (eye pops out of its socket)
- A corneal ulcer can result from chemicals, debris or rubbing
- Eyelid trauma
Common Causes of Eye Injuries
There are countless ways that an eye injury can happen to your dog, some of the most common ways are:
- Altercations with other animals
- Scratching or pawing at the eye
- Running in the woods or digging in brush
- Abnormal growth of eyelashes
- Dangerous projectiles such as fireworks
- Riding in a car with head out the car window
Common Symptoms of Eye Injuries
Below are some common symptoms of eye injuries in dogs. If you notice your pooch displaying any of these signs, seek veterinary attention immediately:
- General Discomfort
- Twitching or spasming of the eyelid
- Squinting
- Rapid Blinking
- Inability to Open Eye
- Tearing Eyes
- Bloodshot Eyes
- Pawing at Eye / Face
- Cloudiness or Discharge
- Inability to close eye properly
Diagnosis & Treatment
You can help your vet determine the diagnosis by providing specific information including when your dog’s symptoms began, if they seem better or worse, and any details about the situation that caused the injury.
Treatment for your pup's eye injury will depend on the type of injury as well as the severity and whether the injury is infected. A simple injury may be treated with an e-collar (to prevent your dog from rubbing the injured eye) and prescription antibiotics or drops, whereas more complicated injuries may require surgery to repair your dog's eye and preserve your pet's eyesight.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.