Dogs' love for play and their innate curiosity make them vulnerable to scratches from time to time. Even the most well-behaved dogs can cause eye injury. More likely to happen in rude games, chasing small animals in bushes, or just digging in th...
Dogs' love for play and their innate curiosity make them vulnerable to scratches from time to time. Even the most well-behaved dogs can cause eye injury. More likely to happen in rude games, chasing small animals in bushes, or just digging in the garden.
As a dog owner, being familiar with different types of eye trauma can help you better respond when problems arise or if they occur.
Types of eye injury
are usually the result of blunt trauma, and eye injury is a situation that usually requires immediate veterinary care. Some eye trauma are considered an emergency, especially when vision loss is a threat.
Eye injuries range from mild to severe and can usually be diagnosed by your veterinarian with some simple tests. Common eye injuries include
corneal laceration (cut or scratched on the surface of the eye)
corneal ulcer (from chemicals, debris, or friction)
stab wound (from any foreign body)
eyelid trauma or eye protrusion (when the eye pops out of its eyeball).
Symptoms
Many different eye diseases can affect dogs. Eye symptoms may occur even if there is no injury. However, if your dog has obvious wounds on or around the eyes, which may be accompanied by blood, it is best to check it out. Other symptoms of eye injury include squinting, eyelid twitching or spasm, grabbing the eye area with your hands, blinking quickly, or excessive tears. Some injuries may even affect your dog’s ability to fully open his eyes. Bloodlines in the whites of the eyes may indicate trauma or irritation. Yellow or green secretions may indicate infection.
Other types of eye problems can cause redness in the mucosa around the eyes, cloudy eyes, dilated pupils, asymmetrical appearance of the eyes, and light sensitivity. There may be signs in one or both eyes, which can sometimes confirm whether it is an injury or other problem.
Treatment
If your dog has eye injury, call the veterinarian. Don't try to treat it at home without first talking to the veterinarian.
Family First Aid
If first aid is directed, the veterinarian may recommend rinsing the eyes or cold compress.
Rinse the dog's eyes with sterile saline eye wash as recommended. Do not use contact lens solution.
Remember to be gentle! Your dog is likely experiencing some degree of pain.
As you take care of your eyes carefully, ask another family member to help you hold the dog.
Bathroom floor, bathtub, kitchen floor or patio all work well.
Choose an area that allows you to easily get close to your pet and can be splashed.
Place smaller dogs on a table, counter or even sink for easy cleaning.
Wrap the dog with a towel, open the dog's eyes with one hand, and apply a drop of eye wash with the other. Use a small towel or cloth to drain the salt water out of your eyes.
