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Our pets are just like us when they experience eye discomfort. Eye pain can affect one or both eyes and frequently results in squinting, tearing, and redness. While eye pain is typically not life-threatening, it can be vision-threatening and very uncomfortable for our pets. This is why it\u2019s important for pet parents to recognize signs of eye pain in pets, beware of potential causes, and know when to seek veterinary care.<\/p>\n
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Eye pain can refer to pain in almost any part of your pet\u2019s eye(s), including:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n People with eye pain often describe their pain symptoms as a dull throbbing or pressure, a stabbing or shooting pain in the eye, <\/span>or a burning sensation. Our pets will display similar symptoms, such as:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Eye pain is often more serious than simple irritation and may sign<\/span>al<\/span> a <\/span>more <\/span>serious <\/span>problem<\/span>. <\/span>Mild eye pain may occur from a small <\/span>piece of <\/span>foreign material such as an eyelash or dirt. The discomfort is typically short-lived, often <\/span>going away<\/span> after 5-10 minutes. <\/span>However,<\/span> pets may also experience <\/span>long-lasting<\/span> eye pain with <\/span>additional<\/span> symptoms<\/span>, which<\/span> can also be a sign of an underlying health problem or injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Common causes of eye pain in pets include:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, the causes of eye pain are too broad to offer a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, the best advice is to always have your pet evaluated quickly when symptoms of eye pain are noted to prevent damage and begin your pet\u2019s recovery. You can schedule an appointment with your family veterinarian, a local animal urgent care, or a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To narrow down possible causes, the veterinarian will often start by asking about your pet\u2019s medical history and symptoms. Routine questions will include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A major part of your pet\u2019s eye exam is <\/span>determining<\/span> the origin of<\/span> your pet\u2019s eye pain.\u00a0<\/span> A veterinary ophthalmologist will be able to perform a complete eye exam with microscopes and other equipment to thoroughly examine your pet\u2019s eye.<\/span> Multiple diagnostic tests are also <\/span>utilized<\/span> such as <\/span>tonometry<\/span> to evaluate eye pressure, fluorescein stain to view corneal ulcers, and the Schirmer tear test to check for <\/span>a condition called <\/span>dry eye.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n W<\/span>e hope this list give<\/span>s<\/span> pet parents a better idea of which symptoms<\/span> of eye pain<\/span> to watch for and when to seek veterinary care.<\/span> When in doubt about whether or not your pet needs immediate care, contact your family veterinarian, local animal urgent care, or local animal emergency care for guidance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n More Reading:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n
Signs of Pain\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nPossible Causes<\/span> of Your Pet\u2019s Eye Pain<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nSeeking <\/span>Veterinary <\/span>Care<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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