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Health

Why is My Dog Bleeding from its Eye? Causes and Treatment

At A Glance

The sight of blood in your dog's eye may make you cringe. While it is definitely a cause for concern, what can you do about it?

Know what causes eye bleeding in dogs and when you need to be worried.

Last Updated on: Jul 28, 2022




Eyesight is such an important sense, that doctors recommend eye check-ups at least once per year. Any infection in the eye can result in permanent blindness and in the worst case, turn out fatal.

Hyphema is a condition in which an eye bleeds. While it sounds serious, it’s actually treatable. If you have spotted that your dog’s eye is bleeding, proceed to check for symptoms. The first thing to do is to establish the cause, and then work to resolve it.

Puppy dog

Symptoms

What signs can possibly indicate that your dog is suffering from hyphema? The most obvious sign is the dog bleeding from the eye. Other signs include:

  • Squinting of the eye
  • Rubbing of the eye
  • When your otherwise active dog shows signs of a lack of energy or lethargy
  • Reduced appetite
  • Unclotted blood in the eye
  • If your dog expresses pain

Also Read: Do Beagles Have Eye Problems?

Causes

The causes of bleeding eyes could vary. Some are mild, while others are extremely serious and need urgent medical attention. Here are the most common causes of hyphema:

Trauma

Trauma is the leading cause of a dog bleeding from its eyes. If your pet has probably been injured in the head or the eye, it can show signs that it is experiencing pain. Look out for when your dog suddenly becomes unusually inactive.

Eye Inflammation

If your dog’s eye is inflamed and you can spot blood dripping out, then the eye could be inflamed because of an underlying health condition or infection. Your vet is in the best position to define the problem and its causes.

Rat Poison Ingestion

The poison may not necessarily kill your dog, but it will affect your pet adversely. It’s possible that the blood in its eyes could perhaps come from mistakenly ingesting rat poison.

Infections

The presence of blood in your dog’s eyes could also be an outside manifestation of his inner health. The infection could be inside the eyes or on the head.

Cancer

It’s also possible that your dog could be suffering from a life-threatening cancerous tumor. Only a professional can carefully detect this, so it’s better to take your dog to the vet immediately.

Also Read: Why is My Dog Bleeding from its Vagina?

Heritable Conditions

How well do you know your dog’s family history? It’s best to find out your dog’s history from the breeder or adoption center you got it from. Some examples of particular dog breeds that can develop hyphema are Labradors and Boxers.

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Treatment

The treatment procedure will always depend on the severity of the bleeding condition. Sometimes, the bleeding will stop on its own when the cause is mild.

Here are the possible treatment methods:

Restricting Movement

Firstly, you will need to restrict your dog’s movement and physical activities. A blood clot can turn out to be dangerous if rigorous activities are not controlled.

The clot can even travel to the heart in some cases. Your vet will treat the blood clot before it gets worse. There are drugs that break up the blood clots as well.

Treating the Hemorrhage

The first step is treating the hemorrhage. The vet will establish the specific underlying cause of the bleeding and treat it accordingly.

Your vet may recommend eye drops to cure inflammation and infection. If the main cause of the bleeding is inflammation, drops will usually work. With pain relief drugs and treatment, your dog’s eye should be back to normal within no time.

However, surgery may be required if cancerous tumors and growths are the underlying cause of the bleeding. Your dog’s eyes should be treated within 1-3 weeks if the eye-bleeding problem is not complicated.

When the cause is severe, the healing will take longer. It would be ideal to hospitalize your dog so that it can be monitored by professionals.

puppy dog

Surgery

You will probably not lose your dog because of eye bleeding. However, you wouldn’t want your dog to lose its vision.

In the worst scenarios, the medical professionals may even remove your dog’s eye to cease the infection.

A dog bleeding from the eyes and mouth may require different medical attention altogether. Find an emergency vet the moment you notice blood in both the mouth and the eyes.

 

author-image

Meet Paul, a devoted dog dad to the delightful French Bulldog, Cofi. With a flair for humor and a deep understanding of Frenchie quirks, Paul brings a lighthearted touch to his writings. His relatable stories and practical insights are a blend of laughter and valuable advice and resonate with fellow dog owners.


Through his words, Paul aims to celebrate the joys and challenges of being a dedicated pet parent, reminding you that life is simply better with a four-legged, snorting sidekick by your side.