Signs of Ocular Discomfort in Your Pet
Signs of Ocular Discomfort in Your Pet
It can be difficult to determine if your pet’s eye is a source of pain or discomfort. Most of our pets are stoic and do not vocalize or complain when they are in pain. They often will continue to eat, drink, ask to go on walks and even play when they are uncomfortable. Consequently, a painful eye can be easily missed and a potentially treatable disease may progress, resulting in irreversible vision loss. To prevent this from happening to your pet, become familiar with the common signs of a painful eye.
Redness: As with other sites of inflammation, an irritated eye is more pink or red in color.
Squinting: When your pet is holding their eyelids less open or fully closed, he or she is squinting and this indicates discomfort
Third eyelid elevation: The elevation of the third eyelid, the membrane at the inner corner of the eye, occurs passively when a pet’s eye is painful and the eye is retracted into the orbit (eye socket).
Tearing: Irritation and pain will also result in excessive tearing from the affected eye
Rubbing: If a pet’s eye is painful, he or she will likely rub at this eye. This is a behavior is more often noted in dogs versus cats.
If you appreciate one or more of the above signs in your pet, please seek veterinary care immediately.