If you are not sure about the severity of the scratches to your dog’s eye, take it to a veterinarian. They can assess your dog’s eyes thoroughly and can weigh the need for treatment versus the dog’s ability to heal itself. [1] X Research source
Your veterinarian will be able to get a closer look at your dog’s eye by using specialty instruments. This allows the vet to assess the trauma thoroughly. [3] X Research source If left untreated, scratches to the eye can develop into serious infections, which could potentially impact your dog’s vision long-term. For example, corneal ulcers can develop in areas of the cornea that are damaged but do not heal. This damage to the clear exterior of the eye can progress deep into the eye, eventually damaging your dog’s sight if it goes untreated.
How often and how long you apply these medications will vary depending on the severity of the injury and what type of medication your veterinarian prescribes. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions for application and feel free to call your veterinary office if you have further questions about the medication’s application.
As with all surgeries, there are risks to your dog’s health when being put under anesthesia for surgery. Be sure that your veterinarian has assessed your dog’s overall health and made sure that it is fit enough to undergo surgery before your dog is put under. This usually includes a physical exam and blood tests to look for risk factors and health problems. [6] X Research source
If your dog will not leave its injury alone, you may need to put a cone on the dog to keep it from scratching its eyes. If your dog’s injury is getting worse, for instance, there are signs of infection, then you should consult with your veterinarian. Tell them about the new symptoms and they will tell you whether or not to bring your dog back into the veterinary office.
Repeated blinking or squinting may signal a different problem as well. For instance, your dog may simply have a foreign body in its eye that can be removed easily.
Pawing or rubbing at the eyes signals an issue but it does not indicate exactly what is going on. The discomfort could be caused by a scratch or injury to the eye, but it could also signal some sort of illness or condition inside the eye, such as glaucoma. [10] X Research source Stop your dog from scratching or rubbing at its eye. This behavior can do more damage to the eye. If you have a cone for your dog, put it on. If not, you should cover the eye with a bandage and watch that your dog doesn’t rub at it until you can get veterinary treatment. [11] X Research source
You may need bright light to illuminate the surface of the eye in order to see the scratches. It is likely that you will need a helper to hold your dog still while you are inspecting its eye. This is especially true if you need to hold your dog’s eyelids open in order to get a good look at the surface of the eye.
Hold your dog still and flush the eye several times. You may need a helper to hold your dog still while you do this. Using tweezers, for instance, can risk further injury to the eye if your dog moves while you are near its eyeball.
