What should I do if my dog's eyes are swollen

In the morning, as usual, I was about to give the dog a warm hug, but I found that its eyes were severely swollen. The originally bright eyes were squeezed into only a narrow slit by the swollen eyelids, and there was nothing but discomfort and helplessness in its eyes. At that moment, my heart seemed to be tightly gripped, and anxiety and distress swept over me instantly. Dogs can't speak and are unable to tell us about their physical discomfort, and these suddenly swollen eyes are an urgent distress signal it sends to us. Facing this situation, we are both worried and at a loss, eagerly wanting to find a solution to help the dog get rid of the pain and regain bright and healthy eyes.

From a professional medical perspective, the reasons for a dog's swollen eyes are complex and diverse. Each cause of the disease may bring different degrees of pain to the dog, and different countermeasures need to be taken. Understanding these reasons is the crucial first step in correctly dealing with the problem of a dog's swollen eyes.

Eye infections are one of the common causes of a dog's swollen eyes. The invasion of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi can trigger inflammations like conjunctivitis and keratitis. When the eyes are infected by bacteria, the inflammation will irritate the eye tissues, causing the blood vessels to dilate, and a large amount of blood and tissue fluid to exude, resulting in red and swollen eyes. At this time, the dog's eyes will not only be swollen but may also be accompanied by an increase in secretions. The secretions are yellow or greenish pus, and in severe cases, they may even stick the eyelids together, making it difficult for the dog to open its eyes. In the case of a viral infection, such as the eye infection caused by the canine distemper virus, in addition to swollen eyes, symptoms such as tearing and conjunctival congestion may also occur, and it is often accompanied by systemic discomfort such as fever and coughing. Fungal infections are relatively rare, but once they occur, the treatment process is rather difficult. In addition to swelling, symptoms such as itching and ulcers will appear in the eyes. The itchy and painful feeling makes the dog fidgety. Watching the dog suffer terribly due to the eye infection and keep rubbing its eyes with its paws, the owner wishes to bear the suffering for it and only hopes to find an effective treatment method as soon as possible to relieve its discomfort.

Trauma is also an important factor causing a dog's swollen eyes. Lively and active dogs are very prone to accidents during play. Being scratched by sharp branches, scratched when fighting with other animals, or accidentally hitting a hard object may all directly damage the eye tissues. Corneal scratches are common eye injuries. When the corneal epithelium is damaged, the eyes will show symptoms such as pain, tearing, and swelling. The dog will blink frequently due to the pain and be afraid to open its eyes. If the trauma is relatively severe, such as a ruptured eyeball, it will not only cause severe swelling of the eyes but may also lead to an infection, seriously threatening the dog's vision, and may even require an eyeball removal surgery. Every time I see the dog's eyes swollen due to trauma, I will fall into deep self-blame, regretting not having protected it better. The only thought in my mind is to quickly take it to the hospital for treatment so that it can recover soon.

Allergic reactions can also cause a dog's eyes to swell. The causes of allergies in dogs are diverse. Pollen, dust mites, certain foods, medications, etc. can all be allergens. When a dog comes into contact with an allergen, the immune system regards it as a foreign "enemy" and initiates an immune response, releasing substances such as histamine. These substances will increase the permeability of the blood vessels in the eyes, and a large amount of fluid will exude into the tissue spaces, thus causing the eyes to swell. At the same time, the allergy will also make the dog feel itchy in the eyes, and it will keep scratching its eyes with its paws, further aggravating the swelling and damage.

In addition, a dog's swollen eyes may also be related to some systemic diseases. For example, heart disease can lead to poor blood circulation throughout the dog's body, and the venous return of the eyes is blocked, causing the eyes to swell; kidney disease will affect the balance of water and salt metabolism in the body, leading to the accumulation of water in the tissue spaces, and symptoms of swollen eyes may also occur. Endocrine disorders, such as hypothyroidism, will also affect the body's metabolic function and cause the eyes to swell. When a dog's eyes swell due to systemic diseases, the situation is often more complicated, and the owner needs to pay great attention and take the dog to the hospital for a comprehensive examination and diagnosis in a timely manner.

When you find that your dog's eyes are swollen, the owner should first stay calm. Never deal with it in a flurry, and never casually use human eye drops or ointments on the dog, so as not to aggravate the condition. You can first use a clean wet towel or cotton ball, dip it in an appropriate amount of normal saline, and gently wipe around the dog's eyes to clean the secretions, but be sure to be gentle to avoid irritating the swollen eyes. At the same time, carefully observe other symptoms of the dog, such as whether there is fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., as well as the degree of eye swelling, whether there are secretions, and the color and properties of the secretions. This information is very important for the veterinarian to accurately diagnose the cause of the disease.

After the initial treatment, you should take the dog to the pet hospital as soon as possible. The veterinarian will accurately determine the cause of the dog's swollen eyes through detailed inquiries, eye examinations, blood tests, and other means. If it is an eye infection, the veterinarian will prescribe corresponding antibiotic eye drops, antiviral eye drops, or antifungal eye drops for treatment according to the type of pathogen; for eye swelling caused by trauma, debridement, suturing, and other treatments need to be carried out according to the degree of injury; for eye swelling caused by allergies, anti-allergy medications need to be used, and help the dog stay away from allergens; for eye swelling caused by systemic diseases, systematic treatment of the primary disease is required.

A dog's eyes are the windows through which they perceive the world and an important bond for our emotional communication with them. When their eyes are swollen, we are their only support. Using professional knowledge, warm love, and firm protection to help the dog overcome the disease and let the bright and happy light shine in their eyes again is our deepest commitment to them.