Red eyes in dogs can signal anything from a minor irritation to a sight-threatening emergency. Understanding why your dog's eyes are red helps you make quick decisions that could save their vision.
When your dog looks up at you with bloodshot eyes, it's natural to worry about what might be wrong. Let's explore the causes of red eyes in dogs and learn when this common symptom requires immediate veterinary attention.
Top Questions About Your Dog's Red Eyes
When Should I Rush My Dog To The Emergency Clinic?
Red eyes in dogs need quick veterinary attention if you notice severe swelling, colored discharge (yellow, green, or bloody), squinting in pain, or if your dog is pawing at their eye excessively. These signs often indicate serious conditions that could threaten your dog's vision. Call the emergency clinic before leaving home to confirm they can see your pet.
How Do I Know If My Dog's Eye Redness Is Serious?
Your dog's red eyes are likely serious if the redness appeared suddenly, comes with visible discomfort, or if the eye looks cloudy or has changed color. Dogs with serious eye conditions may keep the affected eye closed or rub their face against furniture. Any changes in vision, such as bumping into objects, also warrant quick attention.
What Can I Do Right Away To Help My Dog?
Gently clean around your dog's eye with a clean, damp cloth to remove any discharge without touching the eye itself. Prevent your dog from scratching the affected eye, which could cause further damage. Call a veterinary professional right away for guidance on next steps.
Why Red Eyes Occur In Dogs
Red eyes in dogs happen when blood vessels in or around the eye become inflamed or enlarged. This inflammation can result from allergies, infections, injuries, or internal eye problems. Some causes clear up quickly with proper care, while others can lead to permanent vision damage without quick treatment.
Spotting Mild Cases
Mild redness might happen from environmental irritants like dust, pollen, or smoke. These cases typically show minimal discharge that is clear rather than colored. Your dog may blink more than usual but doesn't seem to be in pain and maintains normal behavior. Even with mild symptoms, it's best to call your veterinarian for advice.
Recognizing Serious Cases
Serious eye conditions often present with intense redness accompanied by squinting, pawing at the eye, or visible pain. Injuries to the eye's surface can worsen rapidly and may appear as cloudy spots. Increased pressure within the eye can lead to blindness within hours if left untreated. Inflammation inside the eye often indicates underlying health problems and requires quick attention.
What To Do
Step 1: Call An Emergency Provider
Contact an emergency veterinary provider as soon as you notice concerning eye symptoms. Describe what you're seeing in detail, including when the redness started and any other symptoms your dog is showing. Ask if you should come in right away or if there are any steps you should take before arrival.
Step 2: Watch For Escalating Signs
Monitor your dog closely for worsening symptoms while preparing to visit the veterinarian. Note if the redness intensifies, if discharge increases or changes color, or if your dog seems to be in more pain. Keep track of these changes to report to the veterinary team.
Step 3: Prepare For A Safe Trip
Transport your dog safely by keeping them calm and preventing further eye irritation. If your dog is pawing at their eye, a protective collar can prevent self-trauma during transport. Keep the car quiet and drive smoothly to minimize stress. Bring any medications your dog is currently taking to share with the veterinary team.
Potential Life-Threatening Conditions
Increased eye pressure presents as severe redness with a cloudy, enlarged eye and requires quick treatment to prevent permanent blindness. Eye injuries, where something has damaged the eye, can lead to infection if not treated promptly. Severe infections can spread beyond the eye to affect other parts of the body. These conditions can progress from uncomfortable to vision-threatening within hours.
Helping Your Pet Before The Vet Visit
Keep your dog in a dimly lit, quiet area to reduce stress on their eyes. If there's discharge, gently wipe it away using a clean, damp cloth, being careful not to touch the eye itself. Do not apply any medications, eye drops, or home remedies unless specifically directed by a veterinarian. Call your veterinary clinic for guidance on whether to offer food and water before your appointment.
Preventing Future Red Eye Incidents
Regular face cleaning helps prevent eye irritation, especially in breeds with facial folds or prominent eyes. Keep your dog's environment free of potential irritants like cigarette smoke and dust. Trim hair around the eyes carefully to prevent it from rubbing against the eye surface. Schedule routine veterinary check-ups to catch early signs of eye problems before they become serious.
We're Here To Help
Our hospitals provide care for pets with eye emergencies. Our teams can quickly assess your dog's condition and determine the best treatment approach. We understand how frightening it can be when your dog's eyes are red and painful.
Is this an emergency? Mild symptoms like slight redness with clear discharge and normal behavior may be monitored while waiting to see your primary veterinarian. Severe symptoms including intense pain, colored discharge, or vision changes require quick attention. If you're not sure, call us — we can talk you through the situation.
Key Takeaways
- Red eyes with pain, discharge, or vision changes need quick veterinary attention
- Conditions affecting the eye can progress rapidly, sometimes causing permanent damage within hours
- When in doubt about your dog's red eyes, it's always better to call for professional advice
The information contained in the article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of the advice of a veterinarian.
