👁️ Eye Injuries in Pets: 2025 Vet First Aid Guide for Trauma, Chemicals, and Vision Emergencies 🐶🆘

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc 🩺

Eye injuries in pets can escalate quickly. Whether caused by a scratch, bite, chemical, or foreign object, eye problems need immediate care to prevent permanent damage or even blindness. In this 2025 vet first aid guide, I’ll walk you through what to do when your pet’s eye is injured—and what not to do. 🐾👁️

🚨 When to See the Vet Immediately

If you notice any of the following signs, your pet’s eye could be in serious danger:

• 😣 Squinting or holding an eye closed
• 🟥 Redness or swelling of the whites (sclera)
• 👁️ Visible trauma or foreign object
• 👄 Dislocated eyeball (proptosis)
• 😿 Eyelid can’t fully close over the eye

⏱️ Eyes are delicate—every second counts. Seek emergency veterinary attention. 🏥

🧰 What To Do Immediately

1. 🧤 Protect Yourself

• In pain, pets may bite—use a muzzle if needed
• Handle gently to avoid further injury

2. 💦 Keep the Eye Moist

• If the eye is dislocated, do NOT try to push it back in
• Instead, apply one of the following to keep the eye moist:
• 💧 Contact lens solution (saline)
• 🧴 K-Y jelly
• 🚿 Clean water or moist compresses

3. 🧪 For Chemical Exposure

• Flush the eye immediately for at least 15 minutes
• Use running water, contact lens saline, or homemade saline
• DIY saline: 2 teaspoons salt in 1 quart of water

4. 🧣 Prevent Rubbing

• Keep pets from scratching or rubbing the eye
• Use an Elizabethan collar if available

5. 🚗 Go to the Vet ASAP

• Even if your pet seems to improve, have the eye examined professionally
• Corneal ulcers, glaucoma, or retinal damage can develop quickly

🚫 What NOT to Do

• ❌ Don’t remove a visible object from the eye
• ❌ Don’t use ointments or human eye drops without vet instruction
• ❌ Don’t try to push a proptosed eye back into the socket

🩺 What Your Vet May Do

• 🔬 Perform a fluorescein dye test to check for corneal ulcers
• 📸 Take eye pressure readings for glaucoma
• 💊 Prescribe antibiotics, lubricants, or anti-inflammatories
• 🔍 Refer to an ophthalmologist if damage is severe

Most pets recover well with quick care. Delay, however, can lead to blindness or loss of the eye. 🧠

📦 Eye Injury First Aid Kit

• 💧 Contact lens saline
• 🧴 Water-soluble lubricant (K-Y jelly)
• 🧽 Sterile gauze or clean sponge
• 📞 Emergency vet contact info

🛡️ Eye Injury Prevention Tips

• 🚫 Keep pets away from chemical sprays, lawn treatments, and bleach
• 🧼 Use pet-safe shampoo and rinse eyes immediately if exposure occurs
• 👁️ Trim long fur near the eyes to reduce irritation
• ⚽ Avoid letting pets play with sticks or sharp toys

📲 Ask A Vet for Eye Emergencies

If your pet is squinting, injured, or exposed to chemicals, get help now. The Ask A Vet app lets you:

• 💬 Chat live with licensed veterinarians
• 📸 Send photos of the eye for immediate review
• 📋 Get first aid steps while you're heading to the clinic

Visit AskAVet.com or download the app. When it comes to your pet’s eyes, don’t blink—act fast to save their sight. 🐶👁️🩺