020 8073 0500
Veterinary Emergency services at Home throughout London and Greater London and Manchester and Greater Manchester
Veterinary Emergency services at Home
throughout London and Greater London

What to do in case of eye trauma in a dog?

Back

Eye injury in a dog

mushrooms

Degree of Urgency:
  • From minor to severe, depending on the lesions.
  • Any animal that suffers a blow to the eye must be seen by a veterinarian urgently, even if no visible injuries are apparent.

    • WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY / FIRST AID MEASURES

  • Apply cold, moistened compresses to the eye (ideally soaked in saline solution).

    • WHAT NOT TO DO

  • Do not apply any eye drops without veterinary advice, as some could worsen the condition.

    • WHEN TO CONSULT A VETERINARIAN / SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR

    If you didn’t witness the accident, certain signs should alert you and prompt a visit to the veterinarian as soon as possible:
  • Severe localized pain in the eye area and reluctance of the animal to be touched there.
  • Eyelid, conjunctival, or episcleral hematoma (blood pooling visible on the white of the eye when lifting the eyelids).
  • Blood pooling inside the eye, either in front of the pupil (hyphema) or behind it (vitreous hemorrhage, harder for owners to see).
  • Abnormal pupil size: excessive contraction (miosis) or dilation (mydriasis) that does not respond to light.
  • Sudden blindness: the animal bumps into walls, doors, etc.
    Be aware that the pathological consequences of eye trauma may not become apparent until several months later.

    • KEY INFORMATION

    A strong impact to the eyes can damage all ocular structures, from the eyelids and cornea to the retina and optic nerve.
    These incidents are very common and can occur during:
  • Playtime (tennis ball or frisbee hitting the eye).
  • Aggression (fights between animals, scratches to the eye from a cat, a blow with a stick, etc.).
  • Falls or road accidents, resulting in trauma to the head or orbital area.
    The shockwave from the impact can cause deep and often severe damage to the eye’s delicate structures, including:
  • Cornea: corneal edema, detachment of Descemet’s membrane.
  • Iris: hyphema, uveitis, glaucoma.
  • Lens: cataract formation.
  • Retina: vitreous hemorrhage, retinal tear or detachment, optic nerve damage leading to blindness.
    The smaller, heavier, and faster the object, the more traumatic the impact. In extreme cases, the force of the blow can rupture the eyeball. Surgical removal of the eye (enucleation) may then be necessary.

    IMPORTANT NOTE

    The consequences of an eye injury are not always immediate. The absence of visible lesions in the hours following the accident does not guarantee there will be no further complications.
    A consistent result of ocular trauma is the development of traumatic uveitis, which requires prompt treatment to minimize damage.
    • Back