If you see your dog squinting to protect his eye, if there is any suspected trauma to the eye, if the eye looks abnormal in any way, or if the eyelid cannot cover the eyeball, these are all potential emergencies, and you should seek veterinary attention immediately.
What to do:
- If the eye has been dislocated from the socket (proptosis) or if the lids cannot close over the eyeball, you need to keep the eyeball moist with eye wash solution, saline, eye ointment, or even water if necessary
- If the eye was injured by a chemical or other irritant, flush the eye with eye wash solution, saline, or water for a minimum of 15 minutes
- Always contact your vet immediately – eyes are very fragile, and any delay could mean the difference between sight and blindness
What NOT to do:
- Do not attempt to treat the eyes, or remove any foreign objects yourself
- Do not try to push a proptosed eye back into its socket, this needs to be done under anesthesia to prevent causing damage to the interior of the eyeball
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If you need anything at all, please call us at 902-468-0674, and we'll be there to provide real-time answers to your questions.