Eye Injuries in Pets: How to Deal With It

Eye injuries are common in pets. Here, our Torrance vets explain what symptoms to look for, and why you should seek veterinary care right away if your cat or dog is displaying symptoms of an eye injury.

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Eye injuries in pets can range from mild to severe, and may include foreign bodies in the eye, scratches, chemical exposure or contact corneal trauma.

As soon as you notice your dog's eye injury - or that your cat showing symptoms of an eye injury - see a veterinarian to determine the cause and severity.

Urgent veterinary care is especially important when dealing with a dog or cat eye injury because a number of eye conditions can lead to permanent scarring or even blindness if not properly treated.

Common Causes of Eye Injuries in Pets

There are many causes for eye injuries in pets, but the most common include:

• Cat eye injury from fights
• Dog eye injury caused by cat scratch
• Other types of altercations with animals
• Running in the woods - branches scratching eye
• Digging in brush - damage to eye caused by brush
• Dangerous projectiles such as fireworks
• Riding in a car with head out the window

Symptoms of Pet Eye Injuries

If your dog or cat is experiencing any of the following eye injury symptoms, get to your vet right away:

Diagnosing Pet Eye Injuries

You can help your vet determine the diagnosis by providing specific information including when your pet’s symptoms began, if they seem better or worse, and any details you may know about the situation that caused the injury.

If your vet can’t immediately see a foreign object in your pet's eye or other damage to the eye, they’ll conduct a thorough ocular exam to determine if there’s a deeper injury, irritation or bruising as a result of trauma.

Cat & Dog Eye Injury Treatment

Treatment options will depend on the severity of your pet's injury and what caused the injury to your pet's eye. In many cases a simple injury can be treated by having your dog or cat wear an e-collar to prevent rubbing and prescription antibiotics or drops. More complex injuries may require surgery to repair your pet's eye and restore its function.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

If your pet is suffering from a painful eye injury contact our vets at Harbor Animal Hospital in Torrance right away. For emergency vet care contact your nearest emergency vet.