Eye Injuries in Dogs

Dog Eye Injuries

Dogs are susceptible to eye injuries. If your dog’s eye gets a small eye injury that goes untreated, then it can lead to significant issues. For example, it could become infected and lead to vision loss. Always seek instant vet attention for eye injuries to keep your dog safe.

Symptoms of Eye Injuries

•    The dog is squinting

•    Excessive blinking

•    Tear production or watery eyes

•    Yellow or green discharge

Causes of Eye Injuries

•    Small objects enter or get embedded into the eyes

•    Scratching the cornea

•    Abnormal eyelash growth

•    Inverting of the eyelids

•    Fighting

•    Trauma or accidents

•    Chemicals

•    Certain breeds are also vulnerable to eye issues, like the pug

Care Tips

In cases where the dog’s eye gets out of the socket, then quickly seek medical attention to stand a chance of saving that eyesight. Never try to restore the eye, but instead cover the area with a loose bandage. Try and keep the dog calm and quiet during the trip to the vet.

If you notice excessive squinting or blinking, then it means that something is in the eye. Using your thumb, lift the eyelids and remove any debris underneath. If you notice something that isn’t penetrating the eyes, then use cotton swab or water to remove it.\.

Your dog’s eyelid may also be torn or bruised due to trauma, like a fight. Begin by placing an ice compress to minimize swelling. Arrange to take the dog to your vet afterward to have the eye checked and prevent an infection from developing.  

Where a dog’s eyes are exposed to harmful chemicals, and then quickly flush the eyes with water for five minutes. Bandage the eyes to avoid further damage as you head to your vet. Remember to carry the chemical’s packaging or container to help the vet prescribe the most effective treatment.

Managing Eye Injuries

Your veterinarian will tell you the best ways of managing your dog during the recovery. The likely management measure will include using the Elizabethan collar along with follow-up visits to check that the injury is healing. Never ignore dog eye injuries as they have the potential of leading to blindness.

As accidents cause most dog injuries, pet owners can do little to avoid these issues. However, sufficient obedience training is helpful as it reduces the dog’s inclination to fighting. Also, keeping harmful chemicals like bleach away from your dogs will be beneficial in preventing accidents.

References: Petmd, iheartdogs, The sprucepets