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The Daily Insight

What do you do if your dog gets hit in the eye?

Author

Rachel Newton

Updated on March 23, 2026

If your dog has an eye injury, call your veterinarian. Do not attempt to treat it at home without speaking first to the vet's office. If instructed to administer first aid, a vet may suggest flushing out the eye or applying a cool compress.

In this regard, how do you treat a dog's eye injury?

If nothing is found, follow these guidelines:

  1. If you can see a scratch on the eye, cover it with a clean, damp cloth.
  2. Bandage the cloth to the head, use an Elizabethan collar, or bandage the dog's dewclaws to prevent further damage.
  3. Take her to the vet the same day.

Similarly, will a dog's scratched eye heal on its own? If by the end of this time the injury is healing but not quite gone, we can usually just extend the treatment for another week or so. The reason we use antibiotics is that it's usually just the infection in the wound that stops it from healing on its own!

Subsequently, one may also ask, how long do dog eye injuries take to heal?

Treatment depends on the degree of corneal damage, and on how long it has been since the injury. Corneal abrasions require little treatment and generally heal within 3-5 days. Your veterinarian will probably prescribe some antibiotic eye drops or ointment to prevent infection.

Why is one of my dogs eyes closed?

Conjunctivitis. Mucus, yellow-green pus, or a watery eye discharge can all be signs of conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the lining of your dog's eye. Other signs of conjunctivitis include very red eyes, inflammation, blinking too much, squinting, crusty eyes, pawing at the eyes, or keeping the eyes closed.

Related Question Answers

What do you do if your dog gets hit in the eye with a ball?

Do not delay. If the object has penetrated the eye, bandage it immediately or fit the dog with an Elizabethan collar and take him to the veterinarian immediately.
  1. Place a cold compress on the affected eye, to help reduce swelling.
  2. Keep the compress in place for 10 minutes.
  3. Take her to the vet the same day.

What happens if a dog's eye ruptures?

A corneal ulcer is deeper erosion through the entire epithelium and into the stroma. With a corneal ulcer, fluid is absorbed from the tears into the stroma, giving a cloudy appearance to the eye. If Descemet's membrane ruptures, the liquid inside the eyeball leaks out, the eye collapses and irreparable damage occurs.

Can you flush a dog's eye with water?

If the inside of your dog's eyes seem to be clear, but you want to wipe around the outside of the eyes, a warm, wet washcloth is perfect. Make sure the water you use is neither too hot nor too cold and wring out as much water as possible before dripping water all over your dog.

What is wrong with my dogs eye?

Always talk to your vet to get at the root cause of your dog's eye discharge, because some problems can result in blindness or loss of an eye if left untreated. Conjunctivitis. Mucus, yellow-green pus, or a watery eye discharge can all be signs of conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the lining of your dog's eye.

Can I use human eye drops for my dog?

You should never treat your dog with human medication without consulting a pet care specialist first. Using the wrong eye drops could cause significant pain, damage, and blindness.

Can I put Neosporin in my dog's eye?

Apply a pet-safe antiseptic solution like Chlorhexidine to the area to kill off bacteria. Take care not to get any in your dog's eyes or mouth. Allow it to dry before moving on to the next step. At this stage, you can apply a topical antibiotic like Neosporin if you want to.

What does an ulcer look like in a dog's eye?

Corneal ulcers symptoms are painful and you may notice that your dog is squinting, pawing, or rubbing at the eye. Superficial ulcers aren't typically visible to the naked eye, and your veterinarian will look for the presence of an ulcer with a special stain called fluorescein.

How can I treat my dogs eye infection at home?

"Make a saline solution using 1/4 cup warm water and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Dip a gauze pad or clean cloth in the solution, and wipe the eye area starting from the snout (corner of eye) outward (toward the ear).

What happens if a dog gets hit in the eye?

An eye injury occurs when something comes into contact with your dog's eye and causes damage. Itchy eyes due to allergies or a mild irritation can lead to eye injuries if your dog is pawing at the eyes or rubbing on something. If this behavior continues, an ulcer or scratch can form on the cornea.

Can a dog's ruptured eye heal?

Corneal abrasions generally heal within three to five days. Medication is used to prevent bacterial infections (ophthalmic antibiotic drops or ointment), and to relieve spasm and pain (typically ophthalmic atropine drops or ointment). Your veterinarian will choose the best surgery to optimize healing for your dog.

What happens when a dog gets hit in the eye?

An eye injury occurs when something comes into contact with your dog's eye and causes damage. Itchy eyes due to allergies or a mild irritation can lead to eye injuries if your dog is pawing at the eyes or rubbing on something. If this behavior continues, an ulcer or scratch can form on the cornea.

How do you treat a dog's scratched eye?

Cover the eye with a damp, clean cloth and bandage it loosely to the head. If you can do it quickly, soak the cloth in warm, salty water or a supersaturated sugar solution to help preserve the eye. Get immediate veterinary attention, keeping the dog as quiet and calm as possible.

How can I soothe my dogs irritated eye?

Treatment for eye problems sometimes requires eyedrops or ointments, both easier to administer with a few quick tips:
  1. Have the eyedrops or ointment close at hand, then clean away any discharge around your dog's eyes with warm water and a cotton ball.
  2. For eyedrops, tilt your dog's head back a little.

What can I put on my dogs sore eye?

To clean crusty or irritated eyes, you can make a soothing saline solution by mixing ¼ teaspoon sea salt and 1 cup of distilled or filtered water. For irritation or injury, pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoon eyebright (a herb). Add ¼ teaspoon salt and let steep for 15 minutes.

What does a scratched cornea look like in a dog?

If the dog is squinting and tearing up excessively or has red eyes, it is usually indicative of a scratched eye. If you can see a scratch on the eye, cover it with a clean, damp cloth. Bandage the cloth to the head, use an Elizabethan collar, or bandage the dog's dewclaws to prevent further damage.

What home remedy can I use for a scratched eye?

Rinse your eye - Fill a small, clean glass with saline solution or clean water. Rest the rim of the glass on the bone at the bottom of your eye socket (below your lower eyelid). The water or saline solution can often flush out the foreign object that scratched your eye.

What do you do if your dog gets poked in the eye?

Do not delay. If the object has penetrated the eye, bandage it immediately or fit the dog with an Elizabethan collar and take him to the veterinarian immediately.
  1. Place a cold compress on the affected eye, to help reduce swelling.
  2. Keep the compress in place for 10 minutes.
  3. Take her to the vet the same day.

What does glaucoma look like in dogs?

Here are the top signs of glaucoma in dogs: Cloudy eyes in dogs, foggy eye or hazy with a bluish cloud. Red, cloudy eye, possibly with a dilated pupil. Loss of vision (the dog may be bumping into things)

How do you know if your dog is dying?

When a dog is dying, they may experience difficulty breathing, and their breathing may become shallow. You may also notice that your dog seems to struggle to catch their breath, and their breathing may be uneven. The time between each inhale and exhale may become longer.

How do you help a stressed dog?

#1 – Easily the number one way to reduce a dog's stress is through regular, daily exercise. Walking, playing, trips to the dog park, swimming any form of physical activity will not only reduce your dog's daily stress level, it also helps them to live a much longer and healthier life.

Why does my dog suddenly have a lazy eye?

Strabismus can also occur as a result of injury to some of the nerves going to the eye muscles. In addition, it may be seen if the dog has a disease of the vestibular system. For animals with injury to or disease of the nerves or the vestibular system, the underlying cause needs to be found and treated.

What could be wrong with my dogs eye?

Dog Eye Diseases. Learn about common eye diseases of dogs, including Cherry Eye, Eyelash Problems, Entropion, Ectropion, Conjunctivitis, and more. If your dog is pawing at, rubbing or shows signs of pain or irritation around the eyes, seek veterinary help as soon as possible, as eye conditions can worsen quickly.

Did my dog have a stroke?

A sudden loss of balance and a head tilt are just some of the signs, but strokes take scary one step further by mimicking other health issues, such as kidney failure and more. Your veterinarian is your best resource for determining whether your dog has had a stroke and can help put you both on the path to recovery.

Why does my dog look sad?

Dogs change their facial expressions when they know people are looking at them—perhaps in an effort to communicate. For instance, canines in the study would make the classic "sad puppy face"—raising their inner eyebrows to make their eyes look larger and more infant-like—when looking into a human's eyes.

What to do if your dog is squinting?

If your dog is blinking or squinting excessively and avoiding bright lights, there is likely something in his eye:
  1. Use a thumb to lift the upper eyelid and check for debris underneath.
  2. Do the same with the lower lid, using the other hand.

What is wrong with my dog's eye?

Dog Eye Diseases. Learn about common eye diseases of dogs, including Cherry Eye, Eyelash Problems, Entropion, Ectropion, Conjunctivitis, and more. If your dog is pawing at, rubbing or shows signs of pain or irritation around the eyes, seek veterinary help as soon as possible, as eye conditions can worsen quickly.