Emergency — phone the vet now
Within hours
Dog with an eye injury
Squinting, redness, discharge, cloudiness, or pawing at the eye — fit a buster collar and head to the vet today; eye conditions worsen rapidly.
Recognise the signs
- Squinting, holding eye closed
- Tearing, discharge
- Redness
- Cloudy or bluish appearance
- Visible foreign body
- Pawing at eye
First aid steps
- Fit a buster collar.
- Do not flush except with sterile saline (or copious water for chemical splash).
- Do not try to remove embedded foreign bodies.
- Phone the vet — same day.
Do NOT
- Do not use human eye drops.
- Do not flush with tap water unless chemical exposure.
- Do not let the dog rub or paw.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Cloudy or bluish eye (possible glaucoma)
- Visible deep wound or perforation
- Severe pain
- Eye out of socket — immediate emergency
Common causes
- Foreign body (grass seed, dust, thorn)
- Corneal scratch (cat claw, branch, rough play)
- Chemical splash
- Trauma
- Glaucoma flare
- Untreated dry eye progressing to ulcer
What the vet will need to know
- When the problem started
- Known trauma
- Any chemical exposure
- Pain level
Aftercare
- Treatment per cause — drops, surgery, foreign body removal.
- Buster collar essential.
- Frequent rechecks — eye conditions deteriorate fast even on treatment.
Prevention
- Avoid long grass walks in seed season for prone breeds.
- Manage dry eye and chronic conditions.
- Lock household chemicals.
Breed-specific notes
- Brachycephalic breeds (Pug, French Bulldog, Pekingese) prone to proptosis and corneal injury.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use human eye drops?
No — many contain steroids that worsen ulcers.
Is a watery eye urgent?
Persistent watering with squinting or discharge warrants same-day vet review — corneal ulcers often present this way.
What if the eye is out of socket?
True emergency — cover with a damp saline gauze, prevent rubbing, drive to the vet immediately.