My Dog’s Eye Is Swollen – What Gives?

Dogs may have eye infections just as people can. It’s possible that one day you’ll come home to find your dog’s eye red and inflamed. Puffy, swollen eyes on your dog might be a scary sign that he or she is sick or injured. A dog’s bulging eye may seem hopeless, but there are several options for treatment.

Multiple reasons, such as corneal scratching and bacterial infection, may lead to eye swelling in a dog. It’s important to get your dog to the doctor quickly if the swelling is causing him or her pain. Even though eye infections are normally easy to cure, if left untreated they may cause blindness in dogs. So, if you go home and see that your dog’s eye is red and swollen, schedule an appointment with the vet immediately.

This article will discuss dog eye edema, including what causes it, how to cure it, how to avoid it, and more.

Dog Eyes Bloating: What Could It Be?

The eyes of dogs may swell for a number of reasons. Many different areas of the eye are susceptible to infection. Inflammation of the eyelids, which may be caused by a number of things, is a frequent symptom of many different diseases.

  • Worms in the Eye, a parasite. In the eye, these parasites reside in the conjunctival sac, tear ducts, and the conjunctiva, and they move quickly, snake-like. Bacteria: Canine brucellosis, leptospirosis, and tick-borne infections including canine ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease are all forms of bacteria that may cause enlarged eyes in dogs.
  • Eye swelling in dogs may be caused by a number of infectious agents, including but not limited to distemper, herpes, hepatitis, and canine influenza.
  • A dog’s eye may enlarge and become red if it suffers a severe injury. Things like a stick or ball smacking the dog’s eye, an insect bite, or a speck of dust in the eye are all examples of what might go wrong.
  • A scrape or scratch on the cornea is another possible reason for a dog’s enlarged eye. The eye may enlarge and become red from scratch from anything, including a nail, a foreign item, or another animal.
  • Puffy eyes may be caused by blood vessel ruptures beneath the conjunctiva. Eye injuries, blood disorders, and contagious diseases are all potential triggers for this complication. It is not necessary to treat most ruptured blood vessels, but if you see any significant changes in your dog’s eye, you should take them to the doctor right away.
  • Pink Eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is an infection of the conjunctiva, a thin mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the whites of the eyes. Causes of conjunctivitis range from allergens and environmental irritants to viral infections and ocular malignancies.
  • If you have conjunctivitis in only one eye, it’s probably because of a foreign item or an inflammation of the tear sac, whereas if it’s in both eyes, it’s probably due to an infection. One common reason of a dog’s eye swelling is an allergic reaction to an irritant. Ocular edema is a common symptom of dog allergies to things like pollen, mold, dust, smoke, and insect bites.

When do dogs’ eyes get swollen? What causes this?

Know the signs of canine eye swelling so you can treat the condition quickly. A single eye or both eyes may be affected by an eye infection, and the symptoms may differ depending on the severity and root cause of the illness. The following are some of the most often seen signs of canine eye inflammation:

  • When your dog has an eye infection, the first thing you’ll notice is that his or her eyes are puffy.
  • Blepharospasms, or excessive, involuntary blinking, is another typical sign of ocular inflammation in dogs.
  • A red eye in a dog is usually a sign of an infection or irritation of the eye. The whites of their eyes will be the ones affected by the redness.
  • Swollen eyes in dogs can cause a watery discharge or excessive tearing.
  • A dog with an eye infection will often have a thick discharge from the affected eye.
  • Your dog may be suffering light sensitivity if it constantly averts its gaze when you take it outdoors during the day or bring it into a bright place.
  • Squinting: While the occasional squint is to be expected from your dog, persistent squinting that you can’t stop is indicative of an eye infection.
  • A dog with an infected eye may close one eye to alleviate the pressure on the other.
  • Dogs with swollen eyes sometimes exhibit the symptom of pawing or rubbing at the affected eye in an attempt to alleviate the discomfort.

How Do You Care for a Dog With Puffy Eyes?

The best treatment for a dog’s swollen eye will depend on what caused the illness in the first place. Your dog needs to see a vet to find out what’s causing the illness. A dog’s enlarged eyes may be diagnosed with an eye exam and other testing.

The Schirmer tear test, fluorescein stain, and intraocular pressure are just few of the basic diagnostic procedures your veterinarian may use to determine the cause of your dog’s enlarged eyes. Schirmer’s test evaluates the amount of tears produced by the eye. If swelling is the result of an ulcer or scrape on the eye’s surface, a doctor may use a fluorescein dye to detect the problem. Glaucoma may be detected by monitoring intraocular pressure, which detects any changes in the eye’s internal pressure.

Your dog’s enlarged eyes might be caused by a number of conditions, and your doctor can help you narrow down the list after the underlying issue has been identified.

  • Eye drops: If a bacterial infection is thought to be the cause of the swelling, eye drops will most likely be prescribed. Your dog may also have to wear a buster collar while they recover to prevent them from scratching their eyes.
  • Steroids: In the case that an allergic reaction is causing your dog’s swollen eyes, a vet will prescribe steroids to treat it. Steroids should help with the inflammation in the eye, and they should go down within a few days.
  • Antihistamines: Antihistamines may also be recommended to treat swelling that’s caused by allergies. But make sure you speak with your vet before giving your dog any oral antihistamines that you use, like Benadryl or Zyrtec. While these can be used to treat mild-to-moderate allergies, it’s always important to check with your vet first.
  • Antibiotics: Topical and oral antibiotics can be used to treat certain conditions that cause swelling in a dog’s eyes. A vet may prescribe antibiotics if the swelling is caused by a foreign object in the eye, a bacterial infection, corneal abrasion, or pink eye.
  • Allergy medications: If your dog’s face is swollen, this is most likely due to an allergic reaction and your vet will probably prescribe allergy medications to bring the swelling down.
  • Surgery: In more severe cases of swelling, surgery may be required. Tumors, corneal ulcers, serious cases of glaucoma, and extreme trauma are all situations when surgery is likely needed to treat the swelling

How to Prevent Your Dog’s Eyes From Swelling

Preventing your dog from developing puffy eyes is the best treatment. To reduce the puffiness around your dog’s eyes, you may do things like:

  • You should cut the hair away from your dog’s eyes so that it doesn’t rub against them.
    By keeping the windows closed in the car, you may reduce the chance that your dog’s eyes will be injured in a collision. This will safeguard your dog’s eyes from debris such as dust and grime.
  • Obtain some dog-specific eyewear. Dog goggles are a fantastic method to shield your pooch’s eyes from dirt, dust, and other potential irritants. When taking your dog to an area where there may be rocks or other debris, such as the beach, they are a must.
  • The wrinkles of your dog’s skin are a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive, and this bacteria may then spread to the dog’s eyes, causing illness.
  • Examine your dog’s face often for any signs of anomalies that might signal illness. Take them to the vet right away if you see anything wrong with their eyes or face.
  • Pay attention to your dog’s body language. This may be a great indicator of how your dog is feeling. Always keep an eye on your dog’s body language for clues as to whether he’s feeling well or not.

In Conclusion

Though it might be alarming to come home and find your dog’s eye bulging, there are a number of treatments available. When a dog has a red, puffy eye, it’s serious since most eye infections need medical attention. When you see that your dog’s eye is puffy, you should take them to the doctor immediately.