Signs Your Dog May Need Eye Care
Dogs may show eye discomfort in several ways. Some signs are obvious, while others may be subtle at first.
Please schedule an appointment if you notice:
- Squinting
- Excessive blinking
- Redness
- Eye discharge
- Watery eyes
- Pawing or rubbing at the eye
- Swelling around the eye
- Cloudiness
- Holding one eye closed
- Sensitivity to light
- Visible scratch or injury
- Changes in eye appearance
- Bumping into objects
- Sudden vision concerns
Eye symptoms should not be ignored, especially if they appear suddenly or seem painful.
Common Dog Eye Problems
Dog eye issues can come from irritation, infection, injury, allergies, tear production problems, eyelid abnormalities, or underlying health concerns. Because many eye conditions look similar, a veterinary exam is important.
Common dog eye concerns may include:
- Conjunctivitis
- Corneal ulcers
- Eye injuries
- Dry eye
- Allergic irritation
- Eyelid or eyelash problems
- Tear staining
- Foreign material in the eye
- Cloudiness or lens changes
- Glaucoma concerns
- Cataract concerns
- Infection or inflammation
Our veterinarians can examine your dog’s eyes and recommend testing or treatment based on the findings.
What Happens During a Dog Eye Exam?
During a dog eye care visit, our team will review your dog’s symptoms, health history, and any recent changes you have noticed. We will also evaluate the eye and surrounding structures to look for signs of irritation, injury, infection, or other concerns.
A dog eye exam may include:
- Review of symptoms and timing
- Physical exam
- Eye and eyelid evaluation
- Assessment of discharge, redness, swelling, or cloudiness
- Tear production testing when appropriate
- Eye stain testing to check for corneal damage when appropriate
- Medication recommendations when needed
- Referral guidance if advanced eye care is required
Our team will explain what we find and help you understand how to care for your dog at home.
Eye Infections and Irritation
Eye infections and irritation can cause redness, discharge, swelling, squinting, and discomfort. However, not every red or watery eye is a simple infection. Some eye symptoms are caused by allergies, injury, dry eye, ulcers, or underlying disease.
Because different eye conditions need different treatments, it is important to avoid using old medication or human eye drops unless your veterinarian specifically recommends them.
Eye Injuries and Corneal Ulcers
If your dog is holding an eye closed, squinting, pawing at the eye, or suddenly showing signs of pain, they may have an injury or corneal ulcer. These conditions can be painful and may worsen without prompt care.
Possible signs of an eye injury include:
- Sudden squinting
- Pawing at the eye
- Redness
- Cloudiness
- Tearing
- Discharge
- Visible scratch
- Sensitivity to light
If you suspect an eye injury, please call our team as soon as possible.
Allergies and Eye Symptoms
Dogs with allergies may have watery eyes, redness, rubbing, skin irritation, paw licking, or recurring ear problems. Eye symptoms related to allergies may need a broader evaluation of your dog’s skin, ears, and overall comfort.
Our veterinarians can help determine whether your dog’s eye symptoms may be related to allergies or another condition.
Hospital and Mobile Eye Care Options
Dog eye care is available at our Scottsdale animal hospital. In some cases, Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians may also be able to provide an initial in-home evaluation for eye concerns when appropriate.
Hospital care may be recommended if your dog needs special testing, closer examination, pain control, advanced diagnostics, or urgent treatment. If symptoms are severe or your dog may have an eye injury, our Scottsdale animal hospital is often the better setting.
Schedule Dog Eye Care
If your dog has redness, squinting, discharge, swelling, cloudiness, or signs of eye pain, Scottsdale Animal Hospital & Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians can help.
We provide dog eye care for families in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Tempe, and surrounding areas.
