Eye injury, watery eyes in a dog - immediate help from an ophthalmologist to treat eyes in animals. Eye injury in a dog - tips for owners

The key to a competent solution for eye injury lies in immediate specialized ophthalmological intervention aimed at restoring damaged eye tissue and treating intraocular infection. When an injury occurs, the dog’s eyes hurt and water, and the injured animal wants to scratch the eye. In this regard, it is necessary to either purchase or make a special security collar in the form of a cone from scrap materials. Ideally, such a collar should always be in the house, regardless of the circumstances, “in case of any fire emergency.” You can use this collar not only in ophthalmic pathologies, but also use it for any other diseases accompanied by discomfort on the part of the animal.

You also need to have it at home eye drops for dogs Tsiprovet and Iris, in order to provide first aid, wash out a possible foreign body from the eye until you contact a specialist.

Fulfillment of these simple conditions with timely contact veterinary ophthalmologist will increase the chances of preserving the eye as an organ of vision for your pet.

One of the most common types of eye injury is injury caused by a cat. claw the dog. The wound from such a claw is often very serious, but at first glance it does not seem so. This is due to the fact that the cat's claw contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria (in humanitarian medicine this syndrome known as separate nosological group called "Cat Scratch Syndrome").

Deeper injuries may result in lens rupture. In such cases, it is necessary to remove the damaged lens and replace it with an artificial one, unless an endocular infection has developed inside. When an acute inflammatory process develops, the lens is first removed, then the eye is treated for 2-3 months, and in the second stage, lens implantation is possible.

If the cornea injury is not accompanied by damage to the lens, in most cases it is possible to restore vision by performing a microsurgical operation.

Another type of eye injury is a bite. Puppies that live in a home with more adult dog and having the temerity to approach someone else’s feeding trough, as well as walking animals together. Often, after such an injury, a contusion occurs in the eye, in which the internal membranes are damaged. eyeball, in particular, which leads to retinal detachment and hemorrhage. Against this background, a lot can happen accompanying pathologies which can lead to eye loss. Such violations cause irreparable damage visual analyzer. With fast and timely treatment see a doctor for all of these undesirable consequences can be avoided.

Another common injury is eyeball prolapse.

It is most common among pugs and Pekingese, that is, breeds that have a flat muzzle and a weak ligamentous apparatus of the eye.

An eye that has fallen out of its orbit is a critical situation that requires the fastest possible contact with a veterinary ophthalmologist. Until you get to the veterinary clinic, keep your eyes constantly moisturized.

To do this, you can use saline solution or extreme case, plain water. Do not self-administer painkillers (aspirin) or any other medication. Do not allow the dog to rub its eye and do not give it food or drink, as the animal will have to general anesthesia for surgical reduction of the eyeball. Even after the eyeball has been realigned, there is a risk that the eye will not be able to see. In case of untimely treatment or advanced eye injuries, removal of the eye is possible.

If the injury is so severe that removal of the eye is required, there are two methods:

The first is standard removal of the eyeball with suturing of the palpebral fissure. Remember that psychologically, the loss of an eye for an animal does not cause serious trauma, unlike for a person. However, there is a second method - cosmetic. That is, prosthetic eyeball. Such an operation should be performed strictly by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Rehabilitation time is usually two weeks, during which the animal is kept in a protective collar. This prevents the animal from self-injuring the operating cavity.

This information may not be general for all types of animal eye injuries. Keep in mind that every wound is unique and treatment for that injury or wound will be specific to each individual case. Therefore, if you notice that your pet is scratching its eyes, that your dog’s eyes are festering or watery, contact a specialist immediately!

Eye injury in dogs is not uncommon. Can cause damage various factors. It is more important to detect the injury in time and contact a veterinarian. IN otherwise damage can cause loss visual function or the entire eye as an organ.

Causes

There are a number of predisposing factors that can cause a dog to suffer eye injuries.

Among them:

1. Chasing cats through thickets of grass and bushes. There are branches sticking out strongly, which pose a huge danger to the organs of vision;
2. Explosions of firecrackers. This is especially true during the period New Year's holidays. In addition to the fact that many dogs are afraid of loud, sharp sounds, fireworks may hit your eye. This often leads to the pet's blindness;
3. While hunting or serving. While performing service work, dogs often have to deal with sand, dry leaves, grass and branches. It carries increased risk, and the possibility of injury increases. This especially applies to animal ages. Wounds and scratches regularly appear on them;
4. Activity, youth and neurosis. Pets that are too nervous or easily excitable often injure their own eyes by fighting with other animals or playing with them. These factors should be taken seriously. If you have the slightest suspicion of injury, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

Damage to the eyelids

They are divided into end-to-end and non-through. A piece of the eyelid may come off. Reach the most effective treatment In case of injuries to this part of the eye, it is possible only by contacting a veterinarian on the first day after receiving the injury. If you cannot show your pet to a specialist within 2 hours, then you must immediately wash the wound. To do this you will need a solution of furatsilin 1:5000. It is safe for the animal and will not cause any negative effects if it accidentally gets into the eye.

Corneal injuries

Trauma to the cornea of ​​a dog's eye is considered a serious pathology. If such damage occurs, you should quickly take your pet to a specialist. The dog could have received a similar injury if it got into the eye area foreign body, pricked on a branch or from a cat's claws. Important symptoms The appearance of eyelid spasm and photophobia are considered to indicate corneal injury. The pet will constantly squint its eyes. Sometimes there is discharge of pus from the damaged area.

The dog must be taken to the veterinarian immediately. After all, inaction or attempts at self-medication can provoke the formation of a hole in the cornea and total loss eyes. It is important to prevent your dog from scratching the injured area. It is convenient to use a special collar for this.
To alleviate your pet's condition, you can drop inocaine drops into the eye while you bring it to the clinic. They'll take it off painful sensations. But you should drip carefully. After 10 minutes, you also need to drip eye drops with antibacterial effect. You should avoid using drops that contain corticosteroids. Otherwise, everything will end with the corneal tissue simply melting.

Another injury is eye contusion. It can occur if you hit the dog with a stick or kick. Often appears after a fight with dogs or from a blow while running or playing. Deformation of the eyeball occurs due to external force, changes intraocular pressure. In some cases, there is displacement and rupture internal structures organ of vision. Even if the damage does not appear externally, but the dog has hit its eye, it is necessary to urgently bring it to a specialist for diagnosis.

Injuries to the organ of vision are not always noticeable to the owner. With any damage to this organ, the most dangerous complication is when the eyeball falls out. This can only be avoided by providing timely assistance to your pet.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Mechanical eye injury is characterized by its sudden onset. The organ of vision begins to turn red, traces of inflammation appear on the eyelids, and they swell. The pet constantly rubs its eye or puts its paw on it. In some cases, you may notice streaks of blood in this area. If it remains in the tissues of the eye, it will sharply swell and increase in size.

If the injury was caused by a foreign body entering this area, then in many cases the owner himself can notice it by examining the eyeball. Of course, it is recommended to take the dog to the veterinarian for an appointment in any case. However, this should be done immediately if the pet’s pupil stops responding to light, takes irregular shape or its contraction in the light occurs too slowly. This indicates that the damage is quite serious and the dog needs urgent help.

Injuries manifest themselves in the form of darkening of the surface of the organ of vision and its protrusion beyond the orbit. In these cases, diagnostics are first carried out to determine accurate diagnosis, and then the pet’s treatment is prescribed. It should include modern and effective drugs.
Whether the dog can see fully after an eye injury depends on how quickly and correctly treatment is started. Therefore, high-quality diagnosis is important. The veterinarian first conducts visual inspection injured organ, checks whether the dog reacts to light and how quickly.

Treatment

After determining what type of eye injury the dog has, treatment will be prescribed depending on the severity of the situation and the location of the injury. If the wound is not penetrating in nature, has not caused serious inflammatory processes, and its appearance the doctor did not cause any strong concerns, then they will be prescribed antiseptic ointments. The pet must be in a special collar throughout the entire treatment period so as not to worsen the situation.

In addition to ointments, eye drops are prescribed. The doctor may recommend making compresses that are pre-impregnated with an antiseptic. If foci of severe inflammation are observed, there is a suspicion that bacteria have begun to develop in the affected area; antibiotics and other drugs aimed at eliminating viruses and microbes are prescribed.

There are some types of damage that cannot be treated without surgery. Among them:

• Injuries in which proliferation of the cornea is observed;
• Damage in which the iris of the eye was affected. This often occurs when a pet is scratched severely by a cat;
• A wound that led to a strong increase in the volume of the eye. The eyeball begins to protrude from the orbit of the eye;
• The presence of a foreign body, large dimensions or complex shape, in particular acute, which protrudes from the conjunctival cavity. Can be stuck into the cornea;

Surgical intervention

If, as a result of an injury, the pet has a wound the size of which is 2/3 larger than the length of the eye itself. In such situation surgical intervention urgently required. The veterinarian will prescribe medications, which fully correspond to the seriousness of the injuries received. Most often, antibiotics and non-steroidal drugs are prescribed to eliminate the inflammatory process. If your dog has suffered a minor eye injury, it is recommended to rinse the eye area weak solution peroxide as often as possible.

In most cases, after diagnosis, assistance and treatment, the pet is taken home, where it undergoes treatment. The speed of the dog's recovery will depend on how carefully and patiently the owner takes care of it.

All veterinarian recommendations must be strictly followed. Avoid self-medication completely. Give medications only prescribed by a doctor, but not at your own discretion or on the advice of friends. It is not recommended to remove the surgical collar ahead of schedule. Even if it seems to you that everything is fine, you should wait until the veterinarian gives his approval.

By removing the collar, you increase the chances that your dog's condition will worsen. After all, it can damage your own eye even more. There are cases where a pet was completely blinded due to a minor injury due to the fact that the owners decided to remove the collar ahead of time. A dog can easily get an infection into a completely unhealed eyeball simply by trying to scratch it.

Prevention

It is impossible to completely isolate a dog from eye injuries. However, the owner can try to bring everything together possible risks to a minimum. As a place to walk with your pet, you should not choose abandoned construction sites or walk along heavily overgrown paths in the park. It is recommended to choose the route that is safest for the animal’s eyes, where branches and dry grass cannot harm it. If the dog's eye becomes cloudy, then this is more serious.

If possible, contact with unfamiliar dogs and stray animals should be avoided. Try to keep your pet away from cats as little as possible. The only exception is if the cat is a friend of the dog. In other cases, there is a high risk that a representative of the cat breed may touch the pet’s eyes with its sharp claws.

What do you prefer to feed your pets?

Poll Options are limited because JavaScript is disabled in your browser.

Cats often come to see a veterinary ophthalmologist and suffer from a blow from a cat's claw. Often these are puppies or small dogs, but cases are also not uncommon. Distinctive feature injuries caused by a cat's claw is that their depth can be significant and the amount of damage is not limited only to injury to the cornea.

What happens when injured by a cat's claw? The claw penetrates the cornea and in most cases damages it completely; the corneal defect caused by a claw injury most often has a linear shape. Through the anterior chamber of the eye, the claw penetrates the iris and lens. If the iris is injured, its vessels rupture, and bleeding may occur; if the lens is injured, the claw ruptures the anterior capsule of the lens, which leads to the release of the lens substance into the intraocular fluid and clouding of the lens - traumatic cataract (Fig. 1. Diagram of the eyeball (Slatter's Fundamentals of veterinary ophthalmology, 4 edition)).

A through wound to the cornea leads to depressurization of the eyeball, intraocular fluid pours out of the eye, and part of the iris may fall out into the hole formed by the claw in the cornea - iris prolapse. Volume intraocular fluid sharply decreases, which leads to hydrodynamic damage to the structures of the eyeball. Intraocular bleeding from the vessels of the injured iris leads to the accumulation of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye - hyphema (Fig. 2. Injury by a cat's claw in a puppy, Fig. 3. Perforating injury to the cornea and rupture of the eyelid by a cat's claw in a dog).

The severity of hyphema varies depending on the amount of blood from insignificant (grade 1) to complete filling of the anterior chamber with blood (grade 4). The presence of blood in the anterior chamber and vitreous body adversely affects the structures of the eye, for example, even a small amount of blood in the vitreous body can eventually lead to the formation of strands that cause retinal detachment.

Trauma to the anterior capsule of the lens by a cat's claw leads to its rupture and contact of the lens fibers with the intraocular fluid. The presence of lens proteins in the intraocular fluid causes a powerful inflammatory response from the choroid eyes – phacoclastic uveitis. This happens because the substance of the lens is antigenic to your own body, normally it is isolated from immune system lens capsule and blood-ophthalmic barrier. Also, contact of the lens substance with the fluid of the anterior chamber leads to excessive hydration of the lens fibers and a change in its transparency, the lens becomes cloudy - traumatic cataract (Fig. 4. Traumatic cataract in a Yorkshire terrier puppy).

When a cat's claw penetrates a wound, a large number of microorganisms from the surface of the claw get inside the eyeball, which can lead to the development of bacterial inflammation eye structures – endophthalmitis, requiring aggressive antimicrobial therapy.

From the above it follows that a cat's claw can cause significant damage to the condition of the intraocular structures, leading to serious injury to the lens and loss of vision, and in complicated cases to the loss of the eyeball.

In case of eye injury from a cat's claw veterinarian should conduct an ophthalmological examination to determine whether the cornea has been damaged through-through, whether there has been trauma to the lens, what is the condition of the posterior segment of the eye (vitreous body, retina), whether pupillary reactions, a threat reaction and a reaction to blinding light are present. To carry out the inspection, standard equipment is used: slit lamp, ophthalmoscope, tonometer, with severe swelling cornea, if examination of the intraocular structures is impossible (Fig. 5. Injury to the cornea by a cat’s claw in a puppy), ultrasonography eyeball, which often requires sedation of the animal in order to eliminate pressure on the eyeball by the ultrasound sensor when the animal resists (Fig. 6. Ultrasound of the eyeball with traumatic cataract (the same animal as in Fig. 5), Fig. 7. Ultrasound of a healthy eyes, transparent lens).

After the diagnostic measures a veterinary ophthalmologist can determine the tactics further treatment and give forecasts for the condition of the eye and the possibility of preserving vision and the eyeball.

Speaking about the prognosis, I would like to note that traumatic cataract is serious complication injury from a cat's claw and requires removal of the affected lens from the eye. The lens substance is removed by phacoemulsification (crushing using ultrasound and aspiration through small incisions), and the lens capsule remains in the eyeball (if it is stably attached to the ligamentous apparatus). Almost always, when performing standard cataract surgery in animals, a artificial lens(intraocular lens), to maintain the normal framework of the capsular bag, prevent its fibrosis (clouding), and to allow light to refract as it does in a healthy eye. In the case of traumatic cataract, rupture of the lens capsule occurs

different shapes and sizes, and not the standard even one as with normal operation. The discrepancy between the shape and size of the rupture of the lens capsule and the usual one leads to the fact that it is often impossible to implant an intraocular lens into the vacated capsular bag, which leads not only to the absence of a normal refractive medium in the eyeball, but also to wrinkling and clouding of the capsule left without a frame, which can significantly reduce the animal’s vision (Fig. 8. Fibrosis of the lens capsule in a puppy after phacoemulsification without implantation of an artificial lens). However, the absence of a lens in an animal does not mean that it lacks vision, since the function of the lens is only to focus the light beam on the retina, which provides visual function; without a lens, animals see, but the image is not so clear.

Separately, it is worth discussing the prognosis for puppies and kittens after removal of traumatic cataracts. It is known that when the lens is removed without subsequent implantation of an artificial intraocular lens, the eyes of a young animal (up to 6-7 one month old) may slow down its development and not develop to normal size, this complication leads to the fact that the animal's eyelids can roll up and cause chronic irritation of the cornea, since the smaller eyeball does not support the eyelids in a normal position.

After removing the injured lens and washing the anterior chamber from inflammation products, the ophthalmologist sutures the defect on the cornea, having previously cleaned the corneal wound from dead tissue.

The early postoperative period requires wearing a protective collar, using local antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs, mydriatics, and systemic antimicrobial therapy for 7-14 days.

If successful surgery and calm postoperative period the animal is oriented satisfactorily, and the eyeball has no significant cosmetic defects.

Conclusion 1: if there is a cat in the house, its claws should be trimmed; this will protect the eyes of other pets from serious injuries (a trimmed claw is extremely unlikely to cause perforating wound cornea and injury to intraocular structures).

Conclusion 2: if an eye injury occurs from a cat's claw, an urgent ophthalmological examination is necessary to determine the severity of the injury and treatment tactics.

Unfortunately, eye injuries in dogs and cats are not uncommon. Olga Yurievna Fedotova, a veterinary ophthalmologist at the Biocontrol veterinary clinic, tells how to provide first aid and why you should not hesitate to visit a doctor.

— What are the types of eye injuries?
— There are several classifications of injuries, or wounds, to the eyeball. For simplicity, these injuries can be divided into: penetrating and non-penetrating. Penetrating wounds are accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the eyelids, conjunctiva, sclera and cornea, and in the case of severe wounds, the internal structures (membranes) of the eyeball.

Penetrating wounds are of mild, moderate and severe severity. In mild cases, the conjunctiva, outer layers of the cornea and sclera are affected. Injuries mild degree arise as a result of injections, scratches or even games between animals. Penetrating injuries of moderate and severe severity most often occur as a result of falls, motor vehicle injuries, serious animal fights, and sometimes as a result of injury from a firearm or pneumatic weapon. They occur with a violation of the integrity of the external and internal membranes, displacement or destruction of the lens, bleeding in the anterior or posterior segment of the eye, as well as with the effusion of intraocular fluid, and require immediate contact with an ophthalmic surgeon for primary surgical treatment of the eye and assessment of its condition.

Non-penetrating (or contusion) eye injuries are accompanied by inflammatory processes(uveitis) in the anterior or posterior segment of the eye. If we consider the biomechanics of the contusion process, then the eye can be imagined as a sphere that undergoes strong sharp compression (compression), then expansion (decompression), hyperextension and oscillation (oscillatory movements) with a change in the position of internal structures. Primary anteroposterior compression of the eyeball results in equatorial stretching of the cornea and compression of the eyeball along the anteroposterior axis to such an extent that the cornea can touch the iris or lens. After the deformation forces disappear, the anteroposterior diameter begins to increase, and the equatorial diameter begins to decrease. For a short time, their sizes become larger and smaller than normal. Subsequently, the size of the eyeball changes between maximum and minimum with a rapid decrease in the amplitude of oscillations. Such stretching and compression of tissues causes damage to the choroid, lens, optic nerve And vitreous.

In the case of severe contusions, ruptures of the inner membranes of the eyeball are possible, accompanied by displacement of internal structures, deformation of the bone orbit and ruptures of the extraocular muscles. If an injury occurs with hemorrhages in the anterior or posterior chamber of the eye, changes in the symmetry of the eyeballs, geometry bone structures, an ultrasound examination should be performed and X-ray orbital regions.

— What should you look out for in case of injury?
Enlargement or reduction of the eyeball, the presence of a vascular pattern, changes in eye color and the presence pupillary reflex(asymmetry compared to healthy eye), blood or a cloudy suspension in the anterior chamber. In the first hours of injury, the animal may squint its eyes, sometimes rub its eye, then the owner may notice severe lacrimation and clouding of the cornea in the injury area. Usually, with a more detailed examination, it is possible to assess the extent of the damage, its location and boundaries, but this should be done by a specialist in a clinical setting.

— Does it happen that an eye can fall out of its socket?
Yes, sometimes. Eye loss is not uncommon among brachiocephalic dog breeds. Pugs, Pekingese, and bulldogs are most often affected. These dogs have a rather flattened head shape, a shallow orbit and short oculomotor muscles. These muscles, among other things, are quite weak, which often contributes to proptosis (loss) of the eyeball. This condition can occur when physical activity, falling, severe injuries heads in other breeds of dogs, as well as cats.

— How soon should you see a doctor?
— If possible, it is better to show the animal to a specialist immediately after the injury. If help is not provided on time, a condition may arise that will lead to blindness. At home, you can rinse your eye with running water or saline solution sodium chloride or tear substitute. The doctor must treat the eye and set the eyeball. If necessary, hem the muscles, prescribe medications to prevent intraocular wound infection. Very often when health care rendered untimely, the prolapsed eye dries out, becomes contaminated with bacterial flora, and severe inflammation, which requires antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapy.

— What other complications occur with non-penetrating eye injuries?
— Dislocations and subluxations of the lens, traumatic cataracts or uveal glaucoma. There is a group of breeds that are predisposed to subluxation or dislocation of the lens and cataracts. Concussion injury to the eye can contribute to this; the hydrodynamics of the eye will be disrupted. A decrease or increase in the volume of the eye, a strange reaction of the pupils to light, if it seems to you that you have seen in the eye Moonstone- a reason to contact a specialist. Here the only treatment is surgical, especially the risk congenital subluxation The bull terrier and collie have a lens.

— What to do if the animal received a puncture wound?
— Puncture wounds There are end-to-end and non-through. With damage and loss of the iris, vitreous body, with or without displacement of the lens. In such cases, animals may experience severe pain, especially if it's small breeds dogs or cats - refusal to feed, hypotension (decreased pressure, collapse of the eyeball). In such cases, you need to urgently go for an examination to a doctor - only he can provide first aid, sew up or treat the wound.

At home, you can rinse your eye with cold running water or saline; no other solutions should be used. There are clinical cases when the eye looks good, but a detailed examination reveals serious problems. The prognosis for puncture injuries ranges from guarded to unfavorable.

— What can you say about chemical eye injuries?
— Yes, there are injuries from chemical and physical agents. Chemical injuries - burns from acids and alkalis.

Problems with the organs of vision can also occur with an overdose. various drugs. Sometimes animals themselves find some pills in the owner’s medicine cabinet (if they are stored incorrectly) and eat them. Potent drugs can cause visual impairment and sometimes blindness. There was such a case in my practice, it ended in the dog’s irreversible blindness.

— In what cases can the eye not be saved?

- At very long stay in the heat open wound when there were multiple scleral penetrating wounds, injuries to the limbus, with sharp decline tone of the eyeball that is not corrected surgically or with medication. In cases of multiple ruptures of the iris, with destruction of the lens with a displacement towards the vitreous body, with severe forms retinal detachment.

— Owners have access to many medications, but sometimes they use folk remedies- brewing and herbal teas. How useful are they?
- This is very good question. Everything is useful in moderation and according to indications - this also applies herbal infusions. There are some breeds of dogs (poodles, Yorkshire terriers, Giant Schnauzers) and cats (Sphynxes, Cornish Rexes), which have a tendency to develop keratoconjunctivitis sicca. When translucent ones appear, stringy discharge, the owners wipe the tea leaves with running water, thereby exacerbating the process. For example, the tea leaves, beloved by the owners, have astringent properties due to its tannin content. Infusions of sage and chamomile in excessive quantities can also increase dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva.

It is better to buy lotions for eye treatment in veterinary pharmacy. If it is expected laboratory test, then it is better to stop using the drugs about a week before the study. It is gratifying that many drugs are now legally sold by prescription and owners will not be able to thoughtlessly use something that their pet may not need.

— Are there any eye drops from the human arsenal that are contraindicated for animals?
— There are groups of drugs that should be used with extreme caution - antiglaucoma drugs, as well as drugs with steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory components. These medicines are prescribed only by an ophthalmologist according to indications. You should not use anything other than lotions on your own - there is a risk of harming the animal and the ophthalmologist will no longer be able to help.

comments 64

Natalya Borisovna(08/21/2016 at 20:42):

Biocontrol(08/22/2016 at 09:31):

Natalia(03/22/2018 at 21:16):

Biocontrol(03/23/2018 at 12:40):

Elena(02/20/2017 at 02:00):

Biocontrol(02/20/2017 at 09:22):

Natalia(08/26/2018 at 22:09):

Biocontrol(08/27/2018 at 09:38):