Bruising to a dog’s eye can be difficult to identify, but serious to the pet’s health and should be treated just like other eye injuries before consulting a veterinarian for confirmation. If a serious eye injury goes untreated, it can result in blindness, surgical removal of the eye, or the risk of glaucoma in the future. Eye bruising can be caused by dog bites, trauma to the head or other dangerous situations such as cat fights and flying debris. Some eye bruises are not serious, but it is important to check with a veterinarian to be sure.
Step One
Stay calm. Being too excited may trouble the dog and cause further injury. Soothe your pet to keep her from getting upset.
Step Two
Refrain from diagnosing your dog’s bruised eye yourself. Instead, take measures to prevent your dog from getting worse before seeing the veterinarian.
Step Three
Use sterile saline solution to remove any debris or foreign objects in the eye. Besides flushing the eye, this may help the dog feel more comfortable.
Step Four
Apply a warm compress to the outside of the dog’s eye. This may help soothe her and make any treatment go more smoothly.