The eye is a delicate part of the body and an injury to it can cause permanent scarring or blindness. Injuries to the eye can be in the form of scratches/scarring, perforating/penetrating injury, corneal injuries, traumatic or chemical contact to the eye.
Signs of eye injury in dogs include squinting, tearing with discharges, rapid blinking, bloodshot eyes/red-eye, cloudy eye, avoiding bright lights, itching the eye and general discomfort or distress. The most common eye injury in dogs is Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the eyes) and it could be caused by allergies, viruses, bacteria or trauma.
How to prevent eye injury in dogs:
- Avoid the use of a chemical in and around your dog.
- When giving a bath, do not let the shampoo get into the eyes.
- Trim the hair around the eyes regularly to prevent irritation.
- Trim your dog’s nail to prevent eye puncture.
- Prevent your dog from getting into a fight or rough play with another dog.
- Prevent traumatic injury/accident.
- Seek immediate veterinary care if you notice any sign of eye injury.
