Eye Pain
Dogs and cats can't tell us their eye hurts, but pain has recognizable signs — and it almost always means something needs attention.
Signs your pet may be in eye pain
- Squinting or holding the eye partly or fully closed
- Pawing, rubbing, or scratching at the eye or face
- Excessive tearing or discharge
- Avoiding bright light
- Reluctance to be touched near the head or eye
- Changes in behavior — hiding, irritability, or decreased activity
Common causes
- Corneal ulcers — one of the most common and most painful eye conditions we treat
- Uveitis — inflammation inside the eye
- Glaucoma — elevated eye pressure, often intensely painful
- A foreign body — debris or a foreign object trapped under the eyelid
- Eyelid abnormalities — entropion (inward-rolling eyelids) or eyelashes rubbing on the cornea
Think your pet is in eye pain?
Ocular pain is rarely something to watch and wait on — please have it evaluated promptly.