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Urgent care is for pets who are unwell, in discomfort, are in urgent situation or are not acting like themselves and should be assessed within 24 hours.
Can wait 24-48 hours?
Wellness, routine, or general care is for pets needing vaccines, preventive care, or ongoing monitoring who can safely wait at least 24 hours.
This page focuses on urgent assessment. Routine wellness exams, preventive care, and monitoring of stable conditions are provided through scheduled general wellness appointments.
Dog Eye Injury – When It’s an Emergency
An eye injury, ocular trauma, or a "sore eye" in dogs and cats can range from a minor irritation to a vision-threatening emergency requiring immediate intervention.
Definition
Veterinarians use the term ocular trauma to describe any physical or chemical injury to the eye or its surrounding structures. It is important to recognize that an eye injury is a clinical sign, not a final diagnosis, as the visible symptoms often mask deeper internal damage.
The mechanism of injury typically involves blunt force, sharp penetration, or chemical exposure, which can disrupt the delicate corneal layers, cause internal bleeding, or displace the lens. Because the eye is a pressurized, fluid-filled organ, even seemingly superficial scratches can lead to rapid infection or loss of the globe if the protective barriers are breached.
While an eye injury is a common reason pets visit Stittsville Kanata Vet Hospital for urgent care, careful diagnostic evaluation is required to rule out critical underlying issues for pet owners in the Stittsville, Kanata, and greater Ottawa area.
Who This Page Is For
Pets squinting or holding one eye tightly shut (blepharospasm).
Dogs or cats with sudden cloudiness or a "bluish" tint to the surface of the eye.
Animals with visible blood inside the eye or on the eyelid.
Pets Pawing at the face or rubbing the eye against furniture.
A noticeable change in the size or shape of one pupil compared to the other.
Who This Page Is Not For
Pets with a long-standing, stable history of age-related cataracts or nuclear sclerosis that are not showing new signs of pain or redness.
If you are unsure whether this is significant, that uncertainty itself warrants veterinary assessment.
Related Urgent Symptoms
What This Can Look Like at Home
Ocular pain is often expressed through subtle behavioral shifts rather than audible crying. You may notice your pet becoming suddenly "shy" or avoiding bright light, a condition known as photophobia.
Excessive tearing or thick, colored discharge (yellow or green).
The third eyelid (a white or pink membrane) staying pulled across the eye.
The eye appearing "sunken" into the socket or, conversely, bulging forward.
Swelling of the pink tissue surrounding the eye (chemosis).
A change in the clarity of the eye, looking "foggy" or "steamy."
Why This Can Be Hard to Judge
Eye injuries are notoriously difficult to assess at home because of "Early Misleading Normalcy." A pet may stop squinting for a few hours after the initial injury, leading an owner to believe the eye is healing, while a microscopic bacterial infection is actually melting the corneal tissue. Furthermore, the cornea is one of the most densely innervated tissues in the body; small, invisible scratches can be more painful and dangerous than large, visible bruises.
The Improvement Trap
Temporary improvement does not equal resolution. Pets often experience a "honeymoon phase" where inflammation temporarily dips, or they simply become exhausted from the pain and stop pawing at the eye. In cases like corneal ulcers, the eye may look better just before the cornea reaches a "descemetocele" state—where the eye is literally one cell layer away from rupturing.
What Is Easy to Miss at Home
Subtle "divots" or indentations on the surface of the eye that only catch the light at certain angles.
Increased respiratory rate or lethargy caused by systemic pain.
Slightly constricted or dilated pupils that do not react to a flashlight.
A faint change in the color of the iris (the colored part of the eye).
Subtle dehydration or "dullness" in the pet's overall demeanor.
Reframing these clues is vital: what looks like a "sleepy eye" is almost always a sign of significant ocular distress.
When This Can Be an Emergency
Immediate Urgent Care (Right Now)
The eyeball is bulging out of the socket (Proptosis).
Visible puncture or "deflated" appearance of the globe.
Active bleeding from within the eye chamber.
Sudden, total loss of vision or "bumping into things."
Chemical exposure (cleaners, pesticides) to the eye.
Next Available (typically within 24 hours)
Squinting or pawing at the eye for more than 4 hours.
Yellow or green discharge accumulating in the corner of the eye.
A "cloudy" or "blue" spot appearing on the cornea.
The third eyelid is persistently visible and covering part of the eye.
Redness of the "whites" of the eyes (scleral injection) combined with lethargy.
How Veterinarians Assess This
Clinical signs alone cannot reliably determine severity. Symptoms can appear similar while representing very different internal disease processes. Diagnostic testing is how veterinarians determine whether a condition is mild and self-limiting or serious and potentially life-threatening, and how they guide appropriate care.
Fluorescein Stain: A specialized dye used to detect corneal ulcers, scratches, or epithelial defects.
Tonometry: Measurement of the internal pressure of the eye to rule out https://www.google.com/search?q=glaucoma (high pressure) or uveitis (low pressure).
Schirmer Tear Test: Evaluation of tear production to determine if "dry eye" is contributing to the injury.
Ophthalmoscopy: Detailed exam of the internal structures, including the lens and retina.
Ocular Ultrasound: Used when the front of the eye is too cloudy to see through, allowing the vet to visualize the back of the eye.
Additional disease-specific testing (such as cytology or bacterial culture) may be considered based on the overall clinical picture.
Veterinary Differentials - Serious / Must-Rule-Out First
Corneal Perforation: A full-thickness hole in the eye wall allowing internal fluid to leak out. Tests may include Fluorescein stain, Seidel test, and Slit-lamp biomicroscopy.
Glaucoma: Increased intraocular pressure that can lead to permanent blindness within hours. Tests may include Tonometry and Gonioscopy.
Anterior Uveitis: Severe internal inflammation of the eye often secondary to trauma or systemic disease. Tests may include Tonometry, CBC, and Biochemistry profile.
Hyphema: Accumulation of blood in the anterior chamber, often hiding a retinal detachment. Tests may include Ocular ultrasound and Coagulation profile.
Lens Luxation: Displacement of the lens which can cause a rapid, painful spike in eye pressure. Tests may include Ophthalmoscopy and Tonometry.
Veterinary Differentials - Common / More Typical
Corneal Ulcer: A "scrape" on the clear surface of the eye, highly painful but usually treatable. Tests may include Fluorescein stain and Cytology.
Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the pink tissues around the eye, often due to irritants or infection. Tests may include Physical exam and Schirmer tear test.
Foreign Body: Material like a grass seed or hair trapped under the eyelid. Tests may include Eyelid eversion and Topical anesthesia for flushing.
Distichiasis: Extra eyelashes growing inward and rubbing against the corneal surface. Tests may include Magnification exam and Fluorescein stain.
Eyelid Laceration: A cut or tear to the eyelid margin that requires precise surgical alignment. Tests may include Physical exam and Fluorescein stain.
Safety, Psychology, & Peace of Mind
Wait-and-see is a dangerous strategy with eye injuries because the window to save a pet’s vision is often measured in hours, not days. The eye has a limited way of responding to trauma, and untreated inflammation can lead to permanent scarring or "phthisis bulbi" (shriveling of the eye). Seeking an early assessment eliminates the "pain-guessing" game and prevents a minor scratch from turning into a surgical emergency.
Our clinical team in Stittsville understands the stress of an eye injury; providing an assessment here in Kanata ensures your pet receives same-day relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a squinting eye always an emergency for a dog?
A squinting dog eye should be assessed urgently because it is the primary sign of ocular pain and may indicate a corneal ulcer or high eye pressure. While some cases are mild, veterinarians cannot determine the risk of vision loss without specialized diagnostic tools. Immediate assessment prevents minor injuries from escalating.
Can I use human eye drops on my pet's eye injury?
You should never use human eye drops on a pet's eye injury because many contain steroids or vasoconstrictors that can cause a corneal ulcer to "melt" or rupture. Some ingredients are toxic to animals and can mask worsening symptoms. A veterinary exam is required to ensure the medication is safe for the specific type of injury present.
My pet’s eye looks better after flushing it with water, do I still need a vet?
Temporary improvement after flushing an eye does not equal resolution because the water only removes surface debris and does not treat underlying scratches or internal inflammation. The injury may continue to progress microscopically even if the pet appears more comfortable. Veterinary assessment ensures there is no hidden damage that will flare up later.
What happens if I wait until tomorrow to bring in my pet for an eye injury?
Waiting to treat an eye injury increases the risk of permanent blindness, infection, or the need for surgical removal of the eye. Eye conditions can deteriorate rapidly over a single night, turning a treatable scratch into a ruptured globe. Seeking same-day care is the best way to preserve vision and reduce overall treatment costs.
Why does the vet need to do a "stain" test if I can see the scratch?
Veterinarians use a fluorescein stain test because it highlights the exact depth and borders of a corneal ulcer that are invisible to the naked eye. This test is the only way to confirm if the protective layer of the eye is compromised. Knowing the extent of the damage allows for the selection of the correct antibiotic and pain management.