Eye Effusions In Dogs: How To Treat Them
Eye effusions in dogs are more common than we imagine and knowing how to treat them in time is our responsibility. To know how to behave in these cases, you need to be well informed. Today we will talk about this very topic.
What are eye effusions in dogs
The effusions or ocular trauma are injuries to the eyes that can be due to an effort, but not only. In many cases, the appearance of blood in your dog’s eyes can be caused by hitting an object that has hit the eye without penetrating it.
Depending on the force with which the eye was struck, changes in its structure could result, such as a shift in the lens, detachment of the retina, fracture of the bones surrounding the eye, or even the collapse of the eye globule. . In the latter case, the unfortunate dog completely loses his sight.
A blood spill can also be caused by a sharp object entering the eye. This is a very common accident as our pets are often exposed to plant branches and thorns or may come into contact with other pets such as cats which often risk causing damage with their sharp nails.
Even the air could allow some small objects to enter the eyeball and damage it. Any of these reasons could be the cause of a perforation of the animal’s eye and cause even very serious damage.
Dogs with increased exposure to eye effusions
There is no age or race that can favor eye effusions, but there are a number of circumstances that can produce them. For example, dogs used for work or hunting are more exposed to situations where eye trauma could occur.
Puppies and young dogs, given their inexperience and the great curiosity that characterizes them, could get into trouble more easily. In addition, males in heat may venture to inaccessible places to look for a mate.
How to tell if your dog has an eye effusion
An ocular effusion occurs gradually, so observing our pet is often crucial in determining this. Below we propose a list of some signs that indicate that our pet is suffering damage to the eyes:
- Mild bleeding of the eye or eyelid
- Excessive tearing
- Bruises on the face or head
- Red eyes
- Swelling of the eyelid
- Pain in the eyes
- Dull cornea
- The eye is touched insistently with the paw
- Closed eyelids in severe cases.
- Ocular discharge
- The dog does not allow his head to be touched
- Changes in eye color
- Change in the shape of the eye.
Each of these signs is a wake-up call that shows us that something is not going quite as it should and that, without a doubt, we need to act promptly. There is no other choice but to go urgently to the vet who will make a diagnosis and propose appropriate treatment. In some cases it will be sufficient to follow a drug therapy, in the most serious cases it may be necessary to resort to surgery.
Post-treatment care is very important to your pet’s recovery. Your role will be decisive and you will have to follow meticulously all the instructions that the vet will give you.
Avoid that the dog touches the wound even at the cost of using an Elizabethan collar and in case you notice any change, contact your trusted veterinarian again.
No dog is protected from the risk of ocular effusions, but with our help it is possible to avoid dramatic worsening. We remind you that in the most serious cases the greatest risk is that of a total loss of vision.
