Dog Eye Injury

Dogs are susceptible to a number of eye injuries and the reasons for getting them in the first place are also many. Dog eye injury maybe caused either due to a blunt injury or a sharp injury wherein the former occurs due to a flat object that hits the dog and the latter is because of the dog being hit by a sharp object that damages the eye. In case of a blunt injury, the particular object does not come in direct contact with the eye but it may result in an injury of the eye. Dog eye injuries can be a result of an external material entering the eye and damaging it, a bacterial infection, an allergy or viral illness, bruising or a corneal ulcer in which case there are scratches on the cornea of the eye. You can identify an eye injury or infection by looking out for the following symptoms that include a yellow, white or green color discharge, squinting, blood present in or around the eye, tearing, swelling, eyeball being enlarged, pupils unable to respond to light or darkness and so on. Flushing can provide your dog with temporary relief from any irritation but it is mandatory to get your dog checked by the veterinarian who will prescribe a few medicines and other treatments.

Infection in the eyes is another very common problem in dogs and occurs when bacteria makes its way into the eyes through the skin or fur. Infection can also happen through mucous that has been infected. You will know that your dog is having some problem with the eye if he is perpetually pawing and rubbing the eye or rubbing the face constantly on a pillow or a carpet. Also, if you have taken your dog for a walk and he is all of a sudden bumping into things, there is a possibility that he is suffering from an eye injury. You will thus, be able to figure out that there is something wrong with your dog if you are a little attentive and alert towards the dog behavior. It is important that you take care of any eye injury that your dog suffers from because even though the injury may seem very small it can have a serious damage on his eyes leading to permanent loss of sight. Besides, the eye is extremely delicate and therefore, needs a lot of care and attention.

Injured Eye in Dogs:

Eye trauma may occur due to the impact of flat or pointed objects on the eye. Flat objects result in blunt injuries wherein the eye surface is struck without any penetration. This can cause the eye to become displaced from the socket. The eye lens may also shift and bleeding can occur from the eye chamber. Other effects of such injuries include detachment of the retina, fractures of the eye bones and rupture of the eyeball. Pointed objects cause sharp injuries which penetrate the eye. These include injuries from thorns or cat claws. Such injuries may cause tearing of the cornea, conjunctiva and eyelids. Lens injuries and other orbital laceration my also occur.

Eye injuries can occur in dogs at any age. Injuries from cat claws are more common in puppies. Puppies and younger dogs are also more likely to wander away from their owners and hence become the victim of injuries such as those caused by vehicles or other animals. Male dogs that have not been neutered also tend to stray around more and hence place themselves in greater risk of injuries. Minor eye injuries in dogs could result in symptoms such as pawing around the eye area, squinting, blinking, eye redness, cloudiness of the cornea, bruising in the area around the eye and minor bleeding in the eye region. More serious eye injuries could cause severe pain which makes the dog reluctant to have his head examined. Tearing, mucus discharge, bleeding, inability to open the eyelids and change in the eye shape may also occur. The dog may also display lethargy and may not eat or drink properly.

Getting immediate veterinary help is important as the injury could aggravate and cause major damage and even loss of vision. The dog is also likely to undergo a great deal of pain and discomfort if the injury is not treated early. After treatment, caring for the dog at home involves keeping him in a confined area so as not to allow for further injuries. The dog must also be kept in a quiet and peaceful area to allow for proper rest and recovery. He must also not be allowed to paw at or rub the eye excessively as it could worsen the injury and cause infection. This can be prevented by making him wear an Elizabethan collar around the neck. This collar will be available with the veterinarian. It is important not to give the dog any over-the-counter medicines or eye products meant for humans as it may aggravate the condition.