Canine eyes are incredibly vulnerable, and even the smallest injury can lead to serious trouble.
When your dog injures their eye, it is always a reason for concern and reason to consult with a veterinarian.
Causes of eye injuries in dogs include scratches, blunt force, foreign bodies, abnormally growing eyelashes, or abnormal eyelids. Jasmine had to have her renegade eyelash removed surgically–that’s how much havoc it was causing. Brachycephalic breeds are particularly vulnerable to eye injuries, but it can happen to any dog.
Symptoms of eye injuries in dogs include:
- redness
- excessive blinking
- excessive tearing/discharge
- squinting
- keeping the eye closed completely
- cloudiness
- pawing at the eye
Further information: Eye Injuries in Dogs
Buzz’s story
Buzz is an active, energetic Lurcher who enjoys his country lifestyle full of outdoor adventure. Sprinting through the countryside is his favorite activity.
Unfortunately, the more active a dog is, the more likely they are to get themselves in trouble sooner or later.
Buzz’s first symptoms
One afternoon, Buzz’s mom noticed that his right eye looked bloodshot. The eye didn’t seem to bother him–perhaps it was just some minor irritation?
Buzz’s mom cleaned his eye with sterile water and cotton pads. Flushing an unhappy eye with sterile saline solution can sometimes help, particularly if the culprit is a minor foreign body. It did not help in Buzz’s case, though.
The eye is getting worse
Buzz’s eye kept getting worse. His mom switched to sterile saline but that made no difference. The eye became sore enough that Buzz’s mom decided it was time to see a veterinarian.
At the veterinarian
Eyes are highly sensitive and can deteriorate quickly to damage that is irreversible and even blindness. All that why the dog is in potentially extreme pain.
Buzz didn’t think that an opthamologist exam was the best idea and didn’t want to cooperate. Further, by this time, there was some much swelling that it was difficult to see the eyeball. Eventually, though, his veterinarian was able to have a good look.
Special dye didn’t show any scratches or ulceration of the cornea. The veterinarian concluded that Buzz that what likely started as an irritation, turned into severe conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, is an infection of the membrane that covers part of the eye as well as the eyelids. Such infection can become quite severe.
The treatment
Fortunately, Buzz’s treatment was simple–medicated eye drops and pain relief. Buzz was lucky that a bacterial infection was all there was to it. Conjunctivitis can have more complicated causes including immune-mediated disorders, dry eye, other eye disorders, even tumors
The next morning, Buzz’s eye already looked happier, and he wasn’t squinting at all.
Source story:
Buzz the Lurcher Developed a Sore Eye
Related articles:
A Primer On Conjunctivitis
Eye Discharge in Dogs: What Is That Goop In My Dog’s Eyes?
Bulging Eyes in Dogs: When Your Dog’s Bulging Eyes Are Not Normal, And You Should Be Concerned
Causes of Cloudy Eyes in Dogs: What’s Happening To My Dog’s Eyes?
Further reading:
Eye Injuries in Dogs
Conjunctivitis in Dogs (Pink Eye)