Eye Injury

Eye injury in pets 

While eye injury is not common in pets, sometimes the vet may recommend eye removal to enhance your pet’s life span and quality of life. Veterinarians can recommend eye removal if the injury is too severe and leads to blindness. 

Glaucoma is a common condition that causes eye disease. And though having one eye might seem unpleasant for pets, it may be necessary to have one eye removed to enhance the pet’s overall quality of life.

Can eye removal cause behavioral change?

Pets usually experience severe pain after eye removal, and most will show more playfulness and increased energy. And while each pet is different, most cats and dogs who have had eye surgery to remove the diseased eye are behaviorally different from their peers that have two-eyes.

Following eye removal, you will spot some bruising on the surgical area for about 3-5 days. The pet may also have mild pain post-surgery, but this will diminish within 3-4 days. Often, pets that have undergone surgery for eye removal may appear to be winking or squinting.

However, the surgical area will close permanently after the affected area has completely healed, and fur will grow within 3-4 weeks. If the pet has severe eye injury that warrants removal, then surgically removing the affected eye is beneficial and lifesaving. In other words, your pet can live a happy, normal life even if it’s missing one eye.

Common Causes of eye injury in pets

Eye injuries are quite common in pets as they often spend most of their time outdoors playing. Grass, sticks and sand can easily injure your pet’s eye, causing damage and irritation. Breeds that are more prone to eye injury include the Persian cats and Pekingese dogs. Cats that have constant fights can easy injure their eyes as well.

Serious blows caused by an impact like being hit head on by a car may cause severe eye damage. Blows on the head can cause the eyeball to bleed internally. And such damage will eventually predispose your pets to glaucoma and prevent the eyeball from functioning optimally. Sharp blows can also damage the retina, which can cause blindness.

Inflamed or irritated?

Dust and debris can easily cause eye irritation where the eyes become read due to improper blood flow around the eyeball – a condition that is referred to as conjunctivitis. Additionally, irritation can cause bacterial infection that might produce a yellowish or whitish fluid.

Conclusion

If your dog or cat has an eye injury, you should visit the vet immediately to prevent deeper damage that may happen if the wound is left untreated longer.

References: Modern dog magazine, The spruce pets, Pet guide