My dog's eyes are painful and she can't open them. What's wrong?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By David Darvishian

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 31st, 2017

  Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see that Pebbles is having a problem. Eye problems are always emergency problems and should be seen immediately since the eyes are very important sense organs and eyes can deteriorate very quickly sometimes completely blinding the pet. I would take her right now to your vet or an emergency vet so they can assess the eye, stain the cornea, measure tear production and pressure inside the eye (if needed). Once diagnosed, they can advise eye drops, ointments, pain meds, etc to help the cornea heal. The cornea does look damaged from some type of injury or infection. These are very painful also so she needs immediate attention. Good luck with Pebbles.

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

• Answered By Stacey Anstaett, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on June 9th, 2018

  Poor Lucy! That looks pretty severe and it may need surgery. However if that is not an option financially, it’s always worth a try to treat medically. Get her to a vet today, and be sure to put an e-collar (cone of shame) on her to prevent her from further traumatizing it.
  If the eye is already being treated medically and is getting worse, surgery may be needed to save the eye.
  Corneal ulcers are very painful, so don’t delay in getting her seen by a vet!
  I hope that’s helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

• Answered By Rebeccah Wood

  Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist

  Published on July 29th, 2017

  Hello there! I can see your pictures, and boy oh boy, does it look like miss Trinity has a problem! I can't say definitively, but it looks like Trinity has a pretty severe corneal ulcer on her eye. A corneal ulcer is an erosion of the surface of the eye caused by some kind of trauma. They can be from infection, from a foreign object, and sometimes they are self-induced by scratching. I understand financial hardship, but this is probably very painful for Trinity and there isn't anything that you can do for her at home, aside from keeping her from traumatizing it and keeping the area around her eye clean. She most likely needs topical antibiotics and pain medication, and this type of trauma takes a very long time to heal. Sometimes, if the ulceration is too deep or painful, the eye may even have to be removed. The vet will confirm this by staining Trinity's eye - they will put a dye in her eye that collects in ulcerations and glows under a blacklight. If this test is positive, they will recommend a course of treatment.
  
  As far as paying for her care goes, there are several options. The first is to apply for CareCredit. CareCredit is a credit card that is specifically used for veterinary bills. I have had clients with bad credit get accepted for this card, and they usually have some kind of no-interest incentive for the first 6 months. You can also check with your regular vet to see if they have a hardship fund - sometimes good samaritans donate funds to animal hospitals just for this purpose - to help out people and their pets that need it. Asking friends and family for help or loans can be difficult, but can sometimes be helpful as I'm sure they know how much you love Trinity. Lastly, and this is the suggestion that no one wants to hear, but if you truly cannot afford her care, you may need to consider surrendering her to a local humane society or shih-tzu rescue that can get her the treatment she needs so desperately. Whatever is causing her eye to look this way is incredibly painful, and I know that you wouldn't want her to experience this for long.
  
  I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that Trinity gets well soon!

  

  2Pet Parents found this answer helpful