Why Is My Dogs Eye Swollen

Swelling in your dog’s eye can be caused by a variety of issues, ranging from minor irritations to serious conditions like infections or glaucoma. Prompt veterinary attention is crucial to prevent long-term damage and ensure your dog’s comfort and health. If you notice your dog’s eye is swollen, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice.

What Causes a Swollen Eye in Dogs

1. Allergies

• Description: Dogs can develop allergies to environmental factors such as pollen, dust, mold, or even certain foods. Allergic reactions can cause swelling around the eyes, leading to discomfort.
• Signs: In addition to swelling, your dog might experience redness, itching, excessive tearing, or rubbing their face against objects.

2. Injury or Trauma

• Description: Physical trauma, such as being hit by an object, a scratch from another animal, or rough play, can cause the eye or the area around it to swell.
• Signs: A swollen eye from injury might be accompanied by bruising, redness, or the eye being partially or fully closed.

3. Infections

• Description: Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi can lead to swelling in or around the eye. Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is a common infection that causes these symptoms.
• Signs: Symptoms of an eye infection include swelling, redness, discharge (which may be clear, yellow, or green), and discomfort.

4. Foreign Object

• Description: A foreign object like dirt, sand, or a small splinter can get lodged in your dog's eye, causing irritation and swelling.
• Signs: Your dog may blink excessively, paw at their eye, or keep the eye closed to relieve the irritation.

5. Glaucoma

• Description: Glaucoma is a serious condition where increased pressure within the eye leads to swelling, pain, and potentially blindness if not treated promptly.
• Signs: Symptoms of glaucoma include a swollen, reddened, or cloudy eye, along with dilated pupils and possible bulging of the eye.

6. Abscess or Cyst

• Description: An abscess or cyst near the eye can cause localized swelling. These may result from infections, insect bites, or injuries.
• Signs: You might notice a lump or bump near the eye, which could be painful and potentially lead to discharge.

7. Eyelid Abnormalities (Entropion/Ectropion)

• Description: Conditions like entropion (inward rolling of the eyelid) or ectropion (outward rolling of the eyelid) can cause the eye to become irritated and swollen.
• Signs: Dogs with these conditions may show excessive tearing, redness, and squinting, along with visible deformity in the eyelid.

8. Insect Bites or Stings

• Description: Insect bites or stings, such as from bees, wasps, or spiders, can cause sudden swelling around the eye.
• Signs: Rapid swelling, redness, and possible hives or itching around the affected area.

Also Read: Do Mosquitoes Bite Dogs? Exploring the Risks and Health Issues

How to Know if Your Dog's Swollen Eyes are Due to Allergies or Infection?

To determine whether your dog's swollen eyes are due to allergies or infection, you can observe and differentiate based on the following aspects.

• The nature of the discharge

Infections are usually accompanied by a purulent or abnormally colored discharge, while allergy-induced swelling may be accompanied by clear, bright tears.

• Symmetry of symptoms

An allergic reaction may cause both eyes to swell at the same time, while an infection may only affect one eye.

• Dog Behavior

Allergies may cause dogs to rub their eyes frequently or rub them with their front paws, exhibiting itching, while infections may cause eye pain, photophobia, and other symptoms.

• Characteristics of Swelling

Swelling caused by infection may be accompanied by red eyes and fever, while swelling caused by allergies may be more prominent and red.

• Environmental and dietary factors

Allergies can be related to pollen, dust or household cleaning products in the environment, etc. Pet owners need to watch their dogs to see if they have swollen eyes after exposure to new environments or foods.

If the dog's swollen eyes are accompanied by the above symptoms, it is recommended to take the dog to the veterinary clinic for a detailed examination as soon as possible in order to determine the exact cause of the disease and give appropriate treatment. The veterinarian may perform an eye examination, secretion culture or allergy test to help confirm the diagnosis. Avoid self-medication until a definitive diagnosis has been made to avoid delays or the use of inappropriate medications. It is also important to take care of your dog's eyes by keeping them clean and avoiding scratching them.

How to Properly Clean Your Dog's Eyes When They Are Swollen

When your dog's eyes are swollen, it is very important to clean them properly to avoid further infection and irritation. Here are some steps and precautions.

• Avoid touching the eyeballs

During the cleaning process, make sure that cotton balls or gauze do not come into direct contact with your dog's eyeballs to avoid injury. 

• Wash your hands

Before you start, make sure your hands are clean to avoid bacterial infections.

• Prepare tools

Prepare some sterile cotton balls or gauze, saline or a special pet eye cleaning solution.

• Gentle Cleaning

Gently spread your dog's eyelids apart, moisten the cotton balls or gauze with saline, and gently wipe from the inside of the eye (the side near the nose) to the outside (the side away from the nose) to remove secretions and impurities. Avoid wiping the eye itself to avoid injury.

• Using pet-specific eye drops

Under the guidance of your veterinarian, you can use pet-specific eye drops for treatment, such as antibiotic eye drops, to help reduce inflammation and swelling.

Eye Drops for Dog Allergies and Cats Conjunctivitis

For the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis in cats and dogs, neomycin eye drops for dogs and cats can reduce the harmful effects of bacterial conjunctivitis, and early use of the drug can control the development of the disease and reduce eye congestion and photophobia, and other uncomfortable manifestations.

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• Soothing your dog

Gently reassure your dog during the cleaning process to avoid him feeling nervous or upset.

• Regular Cleaning

If your dog's eyes are prone to accumulating dirt or foreign objects, they should be cleaned regularly, especially near the eye sockets, which are the easiest place to harbor dirt. 

• Observe changes in symptoms

After cleaning the eyes, you should closely observe whether your dog's eyes improve, such as whether the redness and swelling subside and the discharge decreases. If symptoms persist or worsen, contact your veterinarian immediately. 

• Avoid self-medication

Don't use eye drops or other medications on your dog without your veterinarian's guidance, as improper treatment may exacerbate eye problems. 

Keep in mind that eye swelling can be a sign of infection, inflammation, or other eye conditions, so prompt veterinary examination and professional treatment are essential. Gentleness and patience are crucial when dealing with your dog's eye problems.

Related: Dogs Eye Swollen: What Should I Do

How Should I Adjust My Dog's Diet and Living Environment When Their Eyes Are Swollen?

When your dog's eyes are swollen, adjusting his diet and living environment can help reduce discomfort and promote recovery. Here are some specific suggestions.

Dietary adjustments

• Reduce fat intake: avoid feeding fatty foods such as cream and meat that may aggravate eye discomfort.
• Increase fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals, such as carrots and tomatoes, can strengthen your dog's eye resistance.
• Eat a light diet: Choose foods that are easy to digest and do not irritate the eyes, avoid spicy and pickled foods.
• Increase food moisture: helps your dog take in better nutrients, especially when tears may increase.
• Drink plenty of water: Keeping the body hydrated will help remove waste and keep the eyes moist.
• Choose easily digestible foods: Cooked chicken and white rice, for example, as well as moderate feeding of foods containing gelatinous substances, such as lean meat broth, will help maintain healthy eye tissues.
• Watch your vitamin C intake: Vitamin C helps repair eye tissues and boost immunity. 

Living Environment Adjustment

• Avoid bright light irritation: avoid exposing your dog to bright light during an eye injury or infection to reduce eye pain and discomfort.
• Regular review: Even if your dog's eye appears to have improved, you should take him to the veterinarian for regular review to ensure that the problem has been completely resolved.
• Diet control: During the treatment period, your dog's diet should be controlled to avoid ingesting ingredients that are harmful to the body.
• Use an eye patch: During treatment, you can equip your dog with a special eye patch to prevent him from accidentally rubbing or licking his injured eye.
• With these adjustments, you can help your dog cope better with swollen eyes and promote a quick recovery. Remember to observe your dog's reactions closely and follow your veterinarian's professional advice while making adjustments to his diet and living environment.

What to Do If Dog Eye Swelling Persists or Worsens

When your dog's eye swelling persists or worsens, you should take the following steps immediately.

Avoid self-medication

Do not give your dog any medication that has not been recommended by your veterinarian as this may aggravate the condition. 

Seek urgent medical attention

Take your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for professional examination and treatment. The veterinarian may perform an eye examination, a culture of secretions, or other necessary diagnostic tests. 

Eye Protection

Avoid allowing your dog to rub his eyes while waiting for medical attention. You can gently wipe around the eyes with a cotton ball moistened with warm water to remove discharge and keep the eyes clean.

Use an Elizabethan collar

If your dog has started scratching at the eye, an Elizabethan ring should be used to prevent further damage. 

Elizabethan Collar for Pets

Elizabethan Collar for Pets

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Keep in mind that swelling in your dog's eyes can be caused by a number of things, including infection, allergies, and trauma, so prompt veterinary diagnosis and treatment is crucial. Treatment under the guidance of your veterinarian can be effective in relieving symptoms and preventing potential complications. 

FAQs

Can Human Eye Drops be used on Dogs?

The main differences between eye drops for pets and eye drops for humans are the ingredients, concentration, manufacturing standards, and the structure of the eye to which they are applied. Eye drops for pets are often formulated differently to ensure safety and efficacy, taking into account the special needs and sensitivities of pet eyes. For example, human eye drops may contain ingredients that are harmful to pets, such as certain hydrochloric acid formulations, which may cause allergic reactions or eye damage. In addition, pet eyedrops may be manufactured to different standards than human eyedrops and may contain levels that are better suited to the size and physiology of a pet's eye. 

When using pet-specific eye drops, you also need to pay attention to the proper way of using them, including hand washing and disinfection, keeping the mouth of the eye drop bottle clean, gently applying the drops, and strictly following the instructions, in order to avoid causing secondary damage to your pet's eyes. When choosing eye drops for pets, you should choose regular brands and channels to ensure reliable product quality. 

In conclusion, pet-specific eye drops are specially designed according to the eye structure and physiological characteristics of pets, while the composition and concentration of human eye drops may not be suitable for pets. Therefore, for the sake of pets' eye health, human eye drops should be avoided and appropriate pet eye drops should be selected and used under the guidance of veterinarians.

Does Frequent Blinking Mean A Dog Has Eye Problems?

Frequent blinking in dogs can be a sign of eye problems. Frequent blinking may be associated with eye infections, foreign body irritation, impaction, dry eye, conjunctivitis and other eye conditions. These conditions can cause eye discomfort, pain or itching, and dogs will therefore try to relieve the discomfort by blinking frequently. If your dog's blinking behavior is accompanied by symptoms such as red eyes, increased discharge, swollen eyes or photophobia, you should take your dog to a veterinary clinic for examination and treatment. While waiting for medical attention, avoid self-administering eye drops to your dog to avoid delaying the condition or using inappropriate medication. 

Can Swollen Dog Eyes That Persist Lead to Blindness?

Persistent swelling in your dog's eyes can be a symptom of a variety of eye diseases that, if left untreated, may lead to vision loss or even blindness. For example, glaucoma is a disease caused by elevated intraocular pressure, which, if left unchecked, may cause permanent damage to the optic nerve and ultimately lead to blindness. In addition, inflammatory diseases such as keratitis and conjunctivitis, if left untreated, may cause corneal clouding or ulceration, which may affect vision. In the event that your dog's eyes are swollen, you should immediately stop using any medications that have not been directed by your veterinarian and take your dog to a veterinary clinic for an examination as soon as possible. The veterinarian may perform intraocular pressure tests, fluorescein staining tests, slit lamp examinations, etc. to determine the cause of the swelling and give appropriate treatment, such as medication or surgery, based on the diagnosis. 

Therefore, persistent swelling in your dog's eyes is a sign that needs to be taken seriously and professional veterinary treatment should be taken promptly to avoid the potential risk of blindness.

Conclusion

A swollen eye in your dog can be a sign of various underlying issues, from minor irritations to serious conditions like infections or glaucoma. It’s important to address the problem promptly to prevent further complications. By carefully monitoring your dog’s symptoms and seeking veterinary care when needed, you can help ensure your dog’s eye health and overall well-being.