A dog's eye problem may seem minor, but it can quickly lead to permanent damage and blindness, so understanding what common symptoms of an eye infection in dogs, cats and other animals – discharge, squinting, redness – indicate will help pet owners act appropriately when a pet has an eye problem.
How Injury and Infection Occurs
The eye is a delicate and fragile structure that’s prone to injury through everyday activities: a rock could bounce up and strike a dog's eye while riding in the car; sand may blow into the dog's or cat's eyes while outside; a branch may strike and injure a dog's eye during a hike; hay can poke a goat, cow or chicken's eye while in the barn; woodchips can injure a small animal's eye while inside its cage; and a dog or cat can easily injure the eye during play or a fight.
Infection is another common eye problem in dogs, cats and other pets. An eye infection can occur when bacteria makes its way into the pet's eye from surrounding skin and fur. Airborne bacteria can find its way into the animal's eye from infected mucus that becomes airborne due to a cough or sneeze. And bacteria can also be introduced when an object comes in direct contact with the eye, so whenever a dog, cat or other pet suffers an eye injury, infection is always a possibility.
Disease can also affect vision. Some conditions, like cataracts and entropion (which occurs with the eyelashes grow inwards) are hereditary, while others occur spontaneously, like glaucoma.
The key to spotting a dog's eye injury or a cat's eye infection is to understand how a pet’s eyes normally appear.
“Pet owners need to be familiar with how their pet normally looks and acts, whether it’s the eyes or another body part – if you know what ‘normal’ is, it will be easy to detect an abnormality. I recommend examining your pet once a week, and after activities like walks, car rides, hikes and play,” explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM.
The Symptoms of an Eye Injury or Eye Infection in Dogs, Cats and Other Pets.
Eye injuries and eye infections can be signaled by an array of symptoms, including the following:
- Discharge, often in shades of yellow, white and green.
- Tearing
- Squinting
- Bloodshot eyes
- Redness of the pet's eyelid and surrounding area
- Swelling of the animal's eyelid and surrounding area
- Enlargement of the eyeball
- Protrusion (bulging out of the socket) of the eyeball
- Clouding of the eye
- Debris or foreign objects in the pet's eye
- Pupil dilation in just one eye
- Non-responsive eyes (the pupils don’t respond to light or darkness)
- Glassy appearance
- Blue-tinged pupils
- Blood in or around the eye
In addition, eye problems in pets are often associated with certain behaviors. A dog or cat with an eye injury or eye infection can often be seen pawing and rubbing at the eye, rubbing the face on objects such as a carpet or pillow.
Pet owners should also look for odd behaviors, particularly while walking. A pet who suddenly begins bumping into objects may be suffering from a serious eye ailment like blindness.
How to Help a Cat, Dog or Other Pet With an Eye Problem
In the event of a pet with eye irritation, debris in the animal's eye, or if a chemical comes in contact with the eyes, flushing is required. Sterile buffered saline is ideal for flushing, but in its absence, flushing can be performed in the sink or shower. Flushing for a period of at least 90 seconds with luke warm water is typically sufficient.
In the case of a pet like a dog with an eye infection, flushing can temporarily lessen some of the irritation that can occur due to discharge. Flushing the eye is not a substitute for antibiotics or other medical treatments, but in some cases it can lessen irritation and prevent further damage from occurring, particularly in a case where debris has come in contact with the eye.
Veterinarians say that games like fetch can pose a serious eye injury risk for dogs. Check out Vets Say Playing With a Stick is Dangerous for more information on why fetching sticks is dangerous and how dog owners can avoid pet injuries during games like fetch.
Related Reading for Pet Owners
Pet owners may also find the article Eye Structure in Animals helpful for understanding how and why eye injuries and eye problems occur in dogs, cats, small animals, and other pets.
Signs of an Infection in Pets may also be helpful for dog owners, cat owners and other animal lovers who are wondering, "Does my pet have an eye infection?"
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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