Swollen Eyes in Dogs

If your dog’s eye is swollen, don’t ignore it. It’s important that you consult your veterinarian as soon as possible for further advice and for a consultation. Swollen eyes in dogs can occur due to a number of causes — some more serious than others.

If your dog’s eye is swollen all of a sudden, or your dog’s eye is swollen shut completely, you’ll need to pay an immediate visit to your vet, and treatment could be urgent. In this guide, we’ll delve into more detail about what can cause swollen eyes in dogs, and how to treat swollen eyes in dogs.

‘Why is my dog’s eye swollen?’ is typically a pet parent’s very first question when they see their pup with an eye issue. The answer is — it could be for lots of different reasons. From an allergy to an infection, or even a more serious underlying health condition, a swollen eye (or eyes) could be a symptom of many potential problems.

Some of the most common causes of your dog’s eye being swollen include:

• Conjunctivitis
• Glaucoma
• Foreign object or injury
• Allergic reaction
• Tumors
• Infection
  
  

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis (swelling of the lining of the eyes) is a common condition that can make a dog's eye swollen. It can be caused by either external irritants or eye infections; conjunctivitis occurs when there is inflammation surrounding the tissue that covers the eye.

Swollen eyes in dogs are a common symptom of conjunctivitis, which can affect either one eye or both eyes. A viral or bacterial infection will usually lead to both eyes being affected and swollen. Allergens may affect one eye or both if the irritant enters the eyes.

Some signs to look out for to determine if your dog’s eye is swollen because of conjunctivitis are:

• Red or swollen eyes
• Repetitive blinking
• Squinting
• Sneezing
• Nasal discharge
• Redness to the eye membrane 
• Behavioral changes such as withdrawal and inactivity 
• Mucus or pus discharge from the eyes

There are different types of conjunctivitis. Allergic conjunctivitis is usually seasonal and not contagious to other dogs. It is typically caused by environmental irritants such as dust or pollen.

Viral conjunctivitis is caused by a viral infection which can take up to a month to recover from. It is highly contagious to other dogs.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial infection and is also highly contagious. There are other causes of conjunctivitis too, such as dry eyes and entropion (malformation of the eyelid which causes the edges to roll inward). 

Glaucoma

• Physical swelling of the eye
• Bulging of the eye
• Watery discharge
• Eye pain
• Cloudy cornea
• Blindness
• Squinting
• Tearing

Glaucoma can be a sudden, or chronic, condition. In the most severe of cases, if not treated urgently, glaucoma can lead to irreversible eye damage, and even blindness. It’s thought some dog breeds — including the Basset Hound, Cocker Spaniel and Beagle – are more susceptible to glaucoma than others.

Foreign object or injury

If your dog’s eye is swollen all of a sudden, without warning, it could be because of an injury, or the impact of a foreign object. What’s a foreign object? It’s when something — an object — penetrates the eye, causing damage. Dogs can easily suffer damage to the cornea of the eye due to lacerations and ulcers.

Some active dogs love to explore and shove their faces into bushes when out and about, so there’s always a risk of a branch or stick scratching their eye. Grass awns, dust, grains of sand — all can infect the eye and lead to discomfort.

Symptoms of a foreign object or injury causing your dog’s eye to become swollen can be:

• Watering of the eye
• Redness
• Discharge
• Excessive blinking
• Rubbing at the eye

Allergic reaction

Tumors

A dog’s eye that’s swollen can be an indicator of a serious condition. Tumors in a dog’s mouth or face can increase pressure on the eyes and make them swell and protrude. There may not necessarily be any pain, but this symptom cannot be ignored as the long prognosis for a dog with a tumor is poor — especially if left undiagnosed and untreated.

If your dog develops swollen eyes, it’s critical for them to be assessed by a veterinarian as quickly as possible. How urgent the situation is depends on what you can see; with a slight soreness or swelling, you may decide to monitor your dog’s condition during the day to see if there’s any improvement.

However, in many instances you’ll need to speak to your vet — especially if your dog’s eye is swollen all of a sudden or your dog’s eye is swollen shut. 

It’s important to understand what’s causing your dog’s eye to be swollen, and your vet will take steps to do that.

Firstly, share as much information with your vet as you can. When did the swelling start? Has your dog eaten anything that might have triggered the swelling? Has your dog come into contact with something that could have caused an injury to the eye?

Your vet will conduct a physical examination of your dog. Administering a liquid anesthetic to the eye can help to numb any discomfort, while your vet looks for signs of an injury, or the presence of conjunctivitis.

A fluorescent stain can be used to detect any injuries to the cornea, and if a foreign object is spotted — a sliver of stick, a grass awn — your vet can remove it. That could clear up your dog’s swollen eye very quickly.

Treatment for swollen eyes

Surgery might be required in the most severe of cases.

A lot of common health issues with dogs can be prevented — a regular deworming program will reduce the chances of your pet getting worms, maintaining vaccinations can stop common canine diseases such as distemper and parvovirus. 

Preventing your dog’s eye becoming swollen isn’t always as easy.

The best advice is to remain observant when it comes to your pet. If your dog has been off-leash, tearing around a park or in the countryside and happily exploring, when you get home check his or her eyes for any signs of dirt or debris that shouldn’t be there. Use a warm compress to bathe and gently wipe your dog’s eyes, reducing the chances of an infection.

If glaucoma is causing your dog to have swollen eyes, there isn’t much you can do by way of precaution. Just take quick action and book a veterinary appointment if you suspect your dog has this condition — early diagnosis of glaucoma means earlier treatment.

Swollen eyes can be expensive to treat. The cost of treating your dog’s eye when it’s swollen varies according to the condition your pet is diagnosed with. Antihistamines for an allergy or oral antibiotics for conjunctivitis won’t cost much — the price of the vet appointment plus the medication itself — but treatment for a more serious condition such as glaucoma could run into thousands of dollars.

A pet insurance plan can help you to meet the cost of treatment for your dog’s swollen eyes. Use free Wag! Compare to search for and compare plans in seconds.