My Shih Tzu has one red eye, the other is fine. What's the cause?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pepples. The pictures you submitted are very helpful. It appears as though her conjuctiva (the tissue under her eyelids) is very red and swollen. She also appears to have cloudiness to her cornea (the surface or her eye) and tiny vessels growing across it. She will need to see her veterinarian to determine the cause of these changes. She could be suffering from a corneal ulcer (scratch to the surface of the eye). There is also a condition that is common in her breed that causes decreased tear production. Once she has a diagnosis, treatment can be started and she will begin to feel better. Good luck!

Hello. It appears that Panda may have bruised the eye. It is not uncommon for the dog breeds with protruding globes to accidentally get bumped in the eye. Usually, the redness will go away in a few days, but if the area does not clear or seems to be getting worse, or you notice any discharge from the eye, enlargement to the globe, unequal pupils or anything else that concerns you, please see your veterinarian as soon as convenient. Otherwise, just observe things for a couple of days. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This could be an inflammation of the sclera (episcleritis). At this time this does not look very dramatic or like an emergency as I cannot see other swelling which would point to more serious diseases such as glaucoma or an underlying autoimmune disease, however I would make an appointment with a veterinarian for an eye exam soon. It is not possible to diagnose this from a photo, and would need a proper eye exam. The cause of episcleritis (superficial inflammation of the sclera) or scleritis (full thickness inflammation of the sclera) is unknown, however toxins, autoimmune disorders and toxoplasmosis are accepted causes, In severe cases the vet may want to take a biopsy under anesthesia to distinguish between a mass and inflammatory tissue. Treatment may be necessary and would consist of corticosteroids and/or other immunosuppressants.

Hi. Poor Charlie. That looks painful. This could be a few things. It could be corneal ulcers, eosinopholic keratitis, glaucoma, dry eye leading to these lesions, and many others. He will need his tear levels checked, a test for scratches on the cornea, and an introcular pressure test. Then the correct diagnosis and medications can be given. Of all of those tests and the rest of the exam is normal, then a referral to an opthomologist could be in order. Good luck

Hi there! I am so sorry Simba is not feeling well. From the picture, it looks like the white part of his eye (called the sclera) is very red. There are many reasons why his eye could be red. He could have a corneal ulcer (a scratch on his eye caused my trauma or dry eye), his could have conjunctivitis (inflammation of the tissue around the eye, caused by allergies or bacteria) or glaucoma (high pressure inside the eye) or something systemic causing these issues. I recommend going to the Emergency Clinic and seeing a veterinarian sooner rather than later if you are worried. Typically, a veterinarian will performed a full physical exam and ophthalmic (eye) exam. This includes a schirmer tear test (to determine if he has dry eye), a fluorescein stain test ( to determine if he has a corneal ulcer), sometimes the vet will check the pressure in the eye too. I also recommend seeing a vet ASAP if Simba has change in color or texture of the eye, any increase of green or yellow mucus discharge (may indicate infection), an increased pain, holding eye shut or a sudden squirt of clear liquid may indicate a ruptured ulcer. If so, this can be an emergency and should be evaluated at your earliest convenience. You can also start a consultation with, if you would like to talk more about this! Good luck and I hope Simba feels better!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Symphony. She may have a condition known as cherry eye where the third eyelid becomes prolapsed. She will need to see her veterinarian to know for sure. If this case, surgery can be performed to replace the gland. I hope this information helps!

Hello there! Vennesa could have a severe eye infection, may have injured her eye, or could have glaucoma. She needs to see a vet for this problem, and she has to see one as soon a possible. Leaving an eye problem untreated can lead to permanent vision loss, and this will be painful for her. There are no pain medications you can give, as many human ones are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. In addition, this eye problem can't be treated at home. Please have your parents take her into a vet immediately. Best of luck.