Why Is My Dog’s Eye Swollen? Causes, Red Flags, and Treatment

Seeing your dog’s eye swollen can be alarming. The good news is that many causes are treatable, but the key is to understand the urgency of the situation. A swollen eye can be a sign of discomfort, pain, or a serious problem that needs vet attention. If you’re wondering, “Why is my dog’s eye swollen?” or “Is this an emergency?”, this article is for you! 

We’ll walk you through the most common reasons for a swollen eye, help you identify when it’s an emergency, and provide guidance on what to do next.

Key Takeaways

• Don’t Ignore It: Any eye swelling in a dog requires immediate attention, as it can be a signal of a serious condition like glaucoma.
• Look for Red Flags: Contact your vet if you see signs like a cloudy eye, squinting, pawing at the face, a bulging eyeball, or a sudden loss of vision.
• Common Causes: The most frequent causes include allergies, a foreign object in the eye, injury, or infection. Glaucoma and tumors are less common but more serious and possible causes as well.

Track Behavior: Using a pet health tracker can help you identify subtle changes in your dog’s behavior that signal pain, allowing you to get the necessary care quickly.

Why Is My Dog’s Eye Swollen?

When a dog’s eye is swollen, it indicates inflammation. This can be a sign of an issue like an insect sting, an allergic reaction, or an irritation that is causing discomfort. 

Why Is My Dog’s Eye Swollen and Red?

If your dog’s eye is both swollen and red, it’s likely an inflammation and potential irritation or infection. It can be caused by conjunctivitis (pink eye), an infection, or a foreign body.

Look for common signs that often accompany swelling and redness, such as:

• Squinting or holding the eye shut
• Watery, thick or pus-like discharge from the eye
• Pawing or rubbing at the face
• Protruding third eyelid

Common Causes of Eye Swelling

Let’s explore the most frequent reasons for a swollen dog eye, from least to most severe.

Allergies

Dogs can have allergic reactions to pollen, dust, food, or insect bites. An allergic reaction can cause the eyelids and surrounding tissues to swell, often accompanied by redness and itching.

Trauma or Injury

A scratch, a poke from a stick, or a fight with another animal can all cause a sudden, swollen eye. These injuries can damage the delicate cornea, leading to pain, swelling, and potential infection.

Infection

Bacterial or viral infections can cause painful swelling. This is often accompanied by a thick, yellow, or greenish discharge, and the dog will likely be squinting.

Foreign Body

A tiny piece of dirt, a grass seed, or a stray eyelash can get trapped under the eyelid. Your dog’s natural reaction will be to rub at the eye, causing further irritation, swelling, and redness.

Glaucoma

This is a serious medical emergency. Glaucoma is a condition where the fluid pressure inside the eye increases, which can cause extreme pain and rapid, irreversible blindness if not treated immediately. Glaucoma usually presents itself with the following symptoms:

• A bulging or enlarged eyeball
• A cloudy or blue-tinged cornea
• Difficulty in opening the eye
• Sudden, complete blindness

Tumors

While less common, tumors can develop on the eyelids or inside the eye itself, leading to swelling. If the swelling is slow and progressive, talk to your vet.

When Eye Swelling Is an Emergency

If the question “why is my dog’s eye swollen” is worrying you, a vet trip might be a good idea, especially if you see any of these signs:

• Sudden swelling that doesn’t disappear within 24 hours.
• Signs of pain, like crying out, shaking, refusing to be touched
• A cloudy, blue, or red-tinged eyeball
• Obvious signs of trauma, such as a visible cut or a foreign object
• Other symptoms like lethargy or loss of appetite.

At-Home Care Before the Vet Visit

If the swelling is mild and not an emergency, you can take a few steps while preparing for your vet appointment:

• Prevent Rubbing: Don’t let your dog rub or paw at their eye, as this can worsen the condition. If you have an Elizabethan collar (the “cone of shame”), put it on them.
• Don’t Self-Medicate: Never put human eye drops or ointments into your dog’s eye unless specifically instructed by a vet.
• Observe Closely: Take note of when the swelling started, if it’s getting worse, and any other symptoms you observe. This information will be helpful for your vet.

“Eye swelling in dogs should never be ignored. While it can be caused by something simple, it may also point to infections, trauma, or glaucoma—all of which require prompt veterinary care. Early detection and treatment are critical to prevent pain, permanent damage, or vision loss,” Carolina Domingues, DVM, Veterinarian at Maven Pet.

How the Maven Pet Health Monitor Helps Track Behavioral Clues of Discomfort

Beyond the visible symptoms like swelling, dogs communicate their discomfort through subtle behavioral changes. These can be easy to miss, which is why a pet monitor, like the Maven Pet Health Monitor, is a game-changer. 

This dog health tracker device can signal subtle shifts in your dog’s activity, rest, and sleep patterns. 

Monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, activity & rest, drinking, itch behavior.

Track your dog’s health

For example, a dog with a painful eye might become more restless at night, have disturbed sleep, or show a decrease in their overall activity level because they don’t feel well. 

You can also log specific symptoms in the Maven app, creating a complete picture of your dog’s health that you can share with your vet.

By tracking these behavioral clues, the pet health app provides an earlier warning sign, giving you the opportunity to address the issue before it becomes a more serious problem.

Takeaways Recap

• Assess the situation: When you see a swollen eye, first determine if your dog is in pain or if the swelling is significant.
• Identify emergencies: Seek immediate vet care if you see any red-flag signs, such as a bulging eye, extreme pain, a cloudy cornea, or sudden blindness.
• Prevent further injury: Do not let your dog rub or scratch the eye, and never use human eye drops without vet approval.
• Early action is key: Use a pet health tracker to detect concerning symptoms and get your pet care immediately. 

Maven Pet focuses on improving the quality of life of our pets with technology, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable proactive pet care. By accurately collecting and monitoring pet data 24/7 and flagging any irregularities, Maven Pet empowers pet parents and veterinarians to stay ahead of potential health issues, ensuring the well-being and longevity of our beloved companions.