Dog Eye Swollen Suddenly: What Are The Reasons, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Remedies

“Dog eye swollen” or “puffy eyes in dogs” is a common health issue. 

However, this demands immediate and serious attention, as from common allergies to glaucoma, there can be various reasons behind the puffiness and redness. 

So, along with alleviating the primary discomforts, it is also important to detect and treat the underlying conditions. 

Here is a comprehensive guide for first-time pet parents who want to take care of swollen eyes. 

Dog Eye Swollen: Know The Reasons 

Allergies are the most common reason behind your dog having swollen eyes. However, an autoimmune disease, glaucoma, and a tumor can also make dog eye swollen. 

Moreover, dog allergies are of different types. So, staying aware of the possible reasons is very important for the day-to-day care of your dog. 

1. Allergies 

Dogs are allergic to a lot of things, including molds, pollens, insect bites, dust, and certain food items. 

When they come in contact with or consume any of these objects, they will have swollen eyes. 

However, if the eyes are swollen due to allergic reactions, there will also be itchiness in their eyes, and their eyes will water. 

Furthermore, swollen eyes in dogs can happen due to two types of allergies. 

Food Allergies 

Food allergies are one of the primary reasons behind itchiness, redness, or puffiness in your dog’s eyes. 

If you feel a food allergy is the reason and the dog has eaten something outside their diet chart, you must take them to a vet. 

Environmental Allergies 

Mold and pollen are the two most potent factors that cause allergies in dogs. Molds are common in summer and monsoon when the humidity is high in the air. 

On the other hand, spring is the time when your dog can have a pollen infection. 

Keep your home clean and use an air purifier to reduce exposure to these allergens. 

2. Injury Or Trauma

You cannot stop your dog from being an adventurous soul. So, they are going to get bumps or scratches, and these can cause swelling in the eyes. 

Also, sometimes, foreign objects such as seeds, grass, dust, or small objects can get into their eyes, causing redness, puffiness, and discharge. 

3. Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis means the inflammation of the conjunctiva, and it is a painful condition in dogs, like humans. 

Now, conjunctivitis can be contagious when bacterial or viral infection affects the conjunctiva. So, in such cases, the affected dog should be kept away from other pets. 

On the other hand, non-infectious conjunctivitis means the irritation of the conjunctiva due to smoke, foreign objects, or chemicals. 

4. Glaucoma 

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition in which there is increased pressure in the eyes. Now, with the increased pressure, there will be puffiness in the eyes. 

Furthermore, glaucoma needs immediate treatment as it can also lead to blindness. 

Also, glaucoma can be of two types, primary and secondary glaucoma. 

Primary Glaucoma 

Primary glaucoma means anatomical abnormalities in the eyes. Siberian Huskies, Cocker Spaniels, Chow Chows, and terriers are some species that are more prone to having primary glaucoma. 

Beagles and Shiba Inu are also susceptible to primary glaucoma. 

Secondary Glaucoma 

Tumors, lens luxation, and uveitis are some of the reasons behind a dog having secondary glaucoma. 

When a dog is diagnosed with secondary glaucoma, treating the underlying condition helps to restore vision and alleviate puffiness. 

5. Infections 

Infections in different parts of the eye or the surrounding tissues of a dog can cause “dog eye swollen.” in a dog.

However, these infections can be fungal, bacterial, or viral, and here are the details. 

Eyelid Infections

Blepharitis is a common eyelid infection in which dogs have swollen eyes. This condition also causes discharge, and vets usually prescribe oral antibiotics to treat this infection. 

Orbital Infections 

Orbital infections are more serious conditions as the tissue behind the eyes of your dog gets affected. 

Vets suggest oral medication or surgery as the remedy based on the reason and severity of the infection. 

6. Other Health Conditions 

Autoimmune disorders, tumors, and some systemic disorders can cause the dog eye swollen. 

Tumors can be malignant or benign. However, in both cases, they will cause puffiness. 

An early diagnosis is important for tumors, and they need to be eliminated with medicines, surgeries, or other therapies. 

On the other hand, autoimmune diseases such as uveitis can cause puffiness in the eyes. For autoimmune diseases, long-term treatment and management become crucial. 

What Are The Common Symptoms That Occur With Swollen Eyes In Dog? 

Swelling is never a standalone symptom when there are infections, allergies, or injuries in your dog’s eyes. 

Redness, itching, and discharge are some common symptoms that accompany the swelling.

Now, understanding these symptoms helps to identify the underlying cause behind the puffiness in a dog’s eyes. 

1. Irritation And Redness 

Is your dog rubbing their eyes with their paws? If yes, it indicates irritation in their eyes. 

Also, is there redness in their eyes? Redness means inflammation, and there can be many reasons behind it, including injuries, allergies, or infections. 

2. Discharge 

Now, the type of discharge will be different based on the underlying cause. 

If your dog is suffering from allergies, the discharge from their eyes will be clear. On the other hand, if there is an infection, the discharge from their eyes will be mucus-like and thick. 

3. Showing Light-Sensitivity 

Dog eye swollen can lead to light sensitivity. In this, the dog can keep their eyes partially or fully closed. 

So, if you see your dog squinting their eyes, look for visible signs of injuries and take them to the vet for the detection of infection. 

4. Changes In Behavior 

Does your dog have swollen eyes, and is it acting normally? Or, have they become withdrawn and unusually quiet? 

A change in the behavior indicates that the problem is severe, and it calls for rushing to the vet. 

Dog Eye Swollen: What Are The Common Diagnosis Methods? 

The diagnostic process for swollen eyes in dogs is of three types. There will be a physical examination, an ophthalmic test, and imaging. 

1. Physical Examination 

Physical examination means that the vet assesses the appearance of the dog’s eyes. They will look for visible injury signs and evaluate different symptoms, such as infections. 

Thus, the vets can narrow down the potential reasons behind the puffiness in the eyes, and they chart the further course of diagnosis and treatment. 

2. Imaging 

If there are suspicions about more complex underlying reasons or trauma, X-rays and other imaging tests, such as ultrasounds, become essential. 

With these tests, you can have a thorough view of the eye structure. Thus, they can identify a hidden problem that physical examination cannot detect. 

3. Ophthalmic Tests

If the vet suspects more serious conditions behind the swelling of your dog’s eyes, they will conduct ophthalmic tests. 

Some of these tests are fluorescein staining, which detects corneal scratches or ulcers, and Schirmer tear tests, which are used to measure tear production. 

Moreover, if the vet suspects an infection, they will advise taking a sample of the eye discharge of your dog and conducting a laboratory test. 

Treatment, Remedies, And Care For Swollen Eyes In Dogs 

The treatment of the swollen eyes of your dogs will depend on the underlying condition. 

Furthermore, along with specialty treatment with oral and topical medications, the vet can also perform surgeries. 

Moreover, in the case of dog eye swollen, supportive care becomes important. 

1. Specialty Treatment 

A vet will prescribe ointments or an antibiotic eye drop if they can detect an infection in the eyes of your dog. 

Furthermore, if allergies are the underlying reasons, your dog will have to take anti-inflammatory medicines or antihistamines.  

2. Surgeries 

A vet can perform surgeries on the eyes of a dog when tumors or entropion are the reason behind puffy eyes in a dog. 

In entropion, the eyelid of the dog is rolled inward. Furthermore, sometimes a foreign object can penetrate the eyes of a dog, and that needs removal through a surgical process. 

3. Supportive Care 

Supportive care is very important to prevent conditions such as swelling in your dog’s eyes. 

First of all, you need to keep your room clean so that incidents such as pollen or mold infections become less likely. 

Also, you can make them wear an Elizabethan collar so that they cannot rub their eyes with their paws. You can also read our guide on different types of dog collars. 

Moreover, maintain a low-stress environment for them so that they heal faster.