Eye Problems in Dogs: What to Watch For

Eyes are delicate and time-sensitive

A dog’s eye is a small, finely balanced structure, and problems that would be minor elsewhere can become serious quickly. The cornea — the clear front surface — has little protection once it is damaged, and conditions such as ulcers and glaucoma can progress within hours.

Dogs cannot tell us their eye hurts. Instead, they show it through behaviour: squinting, holding the eye closed, avoiding bright light, rubbing the face along the floor, or shying away from being touched. These signs are easy to miss in a busy household, but they matter.

In eye disease, time is vision. What is a straightforward problem today can become an emergency — or an irreversible loss of sight — if it is left until tomorrow.

Signs that need prompt attention

Some of these are obvious, others subtle. Any sudden change in an eye should be taken seriously.

• Squinting, blinking repeatedly or holding the eye closed.
• Pawing at the eye or rubbing the face against furniture.
• Redness, cloudiness or a change in the colour of the eye.
• Discharge — watery, sticky or pus-like — or excessive tearing.
• A swollen, bulging or sunken eye.
• A visible scratch, cloudiness or a change in the pupil.
• Sudden loss of vision, bumping into objects or reluctance to move in dim light.
• One eye held differently from the other.

Why some eye problems cannot wait

A corneal ulcer — a scratch or erosion of the clear surface — is painful and can deepen rapidly. Glaucoma, a build-up of pressure inside the eye, is intensely painful and can destroy the optic nerve within days if it is not controlled. Sudden inflammation inside the eye can threaten sight just as quickly.

There are also conditions that reflect disease elsewhere. Dry eye, for example, often has an immune cause, and a cloudy lens may signal diabetes. Treating the eye in isolation may miss the bigger picture.

Because the eye is so compact, the difference between a minor problem and a serious one is often invisible without special tests. An eye that is clearly uncomfortable is an urgent problem, not one to “wait and see”.

What an examination involves

We start by examining the eye and the structures around it in a dim room, often using a bright, focused light and a magnifier. We assess the eyelids, the tear film, the cornea, the pupil and the inside of the eye as far as we can see.

Where needed, we place a harmless orange dye on the surface to reveal scratches and ulcers, and measure the pressure inside the eye to check for glaucoma. Tear production can be measured too. These tests are quick and usually well tolerated.

The findings determine the treatment: whether it is lubricants, antibiotics, pressure-lowering medication or something more. Sometimes referral for specialist imaging or surgery is the best route, and we will tell you honestly if that is the case.

What not to do

Eyes are easy to harm with good intentions, so please avoid these common mistakes.

• Do not put human eye drops into your dog’s eye unless we have specifically advised it — some are harmful.
• Do not use old or leftover eye medication from a previous episode, even if the signs look similar.
• Do not try to remove a foreign object or trapped hair yourself; you may cause further damage.
• Do not delay because the eye “looks a little better than yesterday” — improvement can be temporary.
• Do not let your dog rub the eye; a protective collar may be needed until we see you.

When to see us

Contact us the same day if your dog is squinting, holding an eye closed, or has a red or cloudy eye or any discharge. Sudden blindness, a bulging eye, or an eye that is clearly very painful should be treated as an emergency.

Please do not self-treat. Contact us before putting anything into your dog’s eye. Eye conditions often need very specific treatment, and the wrong preparation can make matters worse.

A prompt, thorough examination is the safest way to protect both your dog’s comfort and its sight.