Swollen eyes are common among puppies and when not handled properly could lead to blindness.
I know you might be terrified seeing your puppy’s swollen eyes, I was scared to but I was able to save my puppy’s eyes and I would be showing you how.
Causes of puppy swollen eyes
Puppy swollen eyes can be caused by different things but most times the cause depends on the age of the puppies, the causes in newborn puppies whose eyes are still closed are different in from that of older puppies.
Causes of swollen eyes in newborn puppies whose eyes are still closed
For newborns, the puppy’s swollen eyes are due to an infection. Most vets believe the infection is passed from the mother to the puppies.
Some people believe that the puppies get it by inhaling harmful microorganisms through their nose because there is a pathway from the nose through the eyes to the tear duct and the eye is shut when they are born.
I believe it too because most times it only affects one or two puppies which means it is not from the mum because it should have affected all the puppies and sometimes most times it affects only one eye.
You may notice crustiness around the eyebrows and that is a good sign because that means some mucus is coming out.
Causes of swollen eyes in older puppies whose eyes have opened up
For older puppies, it could still be an infection, Blepharitis, Foreign materials, irritants, Orbital cellulitis, dental abscess, Proptosis, or allergic reaction.
When it comes to older puppies whose eyes have opened up, allergies are a common cause of swollen eyes.
When your puppy’s swollen eyes are caused by allergy you may also notice redness of the eyes, your dog might be trying to constantly itch the eye, red swollen patches of skin around its body and the face may be swollen and red.
Allergies often affect both eyes but on rare occasions can affect one eye.
If you have other dogs and you notice their eyes are also swollen, it may not be allergies because they are not contagious but there is a rare chance it could be, especially if they are the same species.
Infections such as conjunctivitis could also cause swollen eyes in older puppies whose eyes have opened.
If it is an eye infection you may notice watery, thick, or smelly discharge, redness, squinting, blinking, and light sensitivity and your puppy may constantly paw at the eye.
Eye infection can affect one eye or both and it is contagious, so if other dogs he/she plays with also have swollen eyes then there is a high chance it is an infection.
Foreign materials and irritants such as soap, smoke, dust grass, hair, etc can cause swollen eyes in older puppies.
When your puppy’s swollen eyes are caused by foreign material or irritants there is usually no discharge, the eye is usually not sticky, and your puppy might continuously itch the eyes because it feels something is there.
Another cause of swollen eyes in older puppies is Blepharitis
Blepharitis is inflammation of your puppy’s eyelids. Blepharitis usually affects both eyes along the edges of the eyelids.
Blepharitis commonly occurs when tiny oil glands near the base of your puppy’s eyelashes become clogged, causing irritation and redness. Several diseases and conditions can cause blepharitis.
Blepharitis can be caused by Seborrheic dermatitis, infection, Clogged or malfunctioning oil glands, Rosacea, Allergies, Eyelash mites or lice, and Dry eyes.
If your puppy has blepharitis, you may also notice watery eyes, red eyes, eyelids that appear greasy, itchy eyelids, flaking of the skin around the eyes, crusted eyelashes, eyelid sticking, frequent blinking, and sensitivity to light.
Puppies with blepharitis tend to wake up with their eyelids stuck together.
Orbital cellulitis or retrobulbar abscess can be another cause of swollen eyes in older puppies.
Orbital cellulitis or retrobulbar abscess has to do with inflammation in the soft tissues surrounding the eye socket and leads to swollen eyes in your puppy.
It can often be caused by a few key factors; One common cause is a penetrating injury, where the skin around your pup’s eye is damaged, or when a foreign object accidentally gets lodged in the eye area.
It could also be caused by diseases spreading from nearby areas in the puppy’s body, such as issues in the teeth, salivary glands, ears, or nasal passages.
Also, this could happen when harmful microorganism in the bloodstream find their way to your puppy’s ocular region.
If your puppy has Orbital cellulitis or retrobulbar abscess you would notice that the eyelids are not swollen but the eyeballs are pushed forward or out of place and you, may also notice pus.
if you suspect your puppy has orbital cellulitis or retrobulbar abscess take your puppy to a vet immediately.
Proptosis can also cause swollen eyes in older puppies, it occurs when the eyeball becomes displaced or pushed out of its socket.
This can happen due to trauma or other underlying health issues and will cause the affected eye to appear swollen.
Proptosis can cause your puppy to lose its sight if not treated urgently.
Another cause of swollen eyes in older puppies could be dental abscess, if your dogs have an abscess in their premolars it could extend to their eyes due to the proximity between them.
If your puppy has a tooth abscess you would notice the swelling is below the eyes, it may burst and release pulse.
You can also check the premolars under your pup’s eyes if you would notice anything odd.
Another cause of swollen eyes in older puppies is glaucoma, it is a condition that has to do with increased pressure within the eye and can cause swollen eyes in puppies.
This elevated intraocular pressure can cause your pup’s eye to bulge and appear swollen or larger than normal.
If your dog has glaucoma, you may notice redness around the eye, cloudiness of the cornea, discharge from the eye, and pupil dilation.
Treatment for swollen puppy eyes
Treatment/home remedy for swollen eyes in newborn puppies whose eyes are still closed
What you have to do is open the corner of your puppy’s eyes that is close to the nose and press on the eyes. Don’t panic we would go through how to do this safely.
Firstly, take a clean towel, dip it in warm water, and use it to massage around the swollen. You should do this for about 30 minutes and every 10 minutes, try to separate the eyelid (preferably the part near the nose) with your hands and see if it opens.
If that was unsuccessful, put a swab in warm water, rub it between the eyelid, and try to part them.
If that was unsuccessful, you could lay your puppy down and hold it firmly or put it in a position it moves, then use a toothpick to try and open the part of the eye near the nose by parting the eyelid.
The toothpick should not go deeper than the eyelid to avoid injury to the eyes.
If the warm towel and cotton swab method don’t work for your puppy and you are too scared to use a toothpick, you could take your dog to your vet.
If you succeed in getting the eyes open, gently pressed towards the open area to get rid of all mucus.
After removing the mucus, you should apply terramycin in the area you open. Terramycin is an antibiotic that is used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections.
The next day you should try to gently open the eye completely, if that is not successful, don’t force it, keep massaging with warm water and keep trying, it would open within two days, if it doesn’t open then see a doctor.
When you get the eye completely open keep applying the terramycin till the eye heals. You can also use a saline solution to flush out the mucus when you get the eye completely open before applying terramycin.
If you cannot get access to terramycin, you can try using those triple-action antibiotic creams for the eyes or Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solutions that are used for eye infections.
Treatment of swollen eyes in older puppies whose eyes are open
Treatment of puppy swollen eyes caused by allergies
If your puppy’s swollen eyes are caused by allergies, you should think about any new thing you have introduced it to, it could be food, treats, a toy, a piece of furniture, clothing, etc.
If you observe that your puppy’s eyes always get swollen during a particular period of the year then it could be seasonal allergies and you try to find out what causes it.
If your pup’s allergy is mild, you can use a sterile saline solution to flush the eyes to remove the allergens and resolve the symptoms, you can do this twice a day.
If you cannot find the cause of your puppy’s allergies and the allergy is not getting better, then you should see your vet, so they can run some tests.
Treatment of puppy swollen eyes caused by foreign objects or irritants
You should use a sterile saline solution to flush your pup’s eyes if the foreign objects are tiny like sand or hair and for irritants like smoke and dust.
If the foreign objects are things like pieces of wood or glass, you should go to your vet to get them removed.
Treatment of puppy swollen eyes caused by infection
You should begin with getting rid of any pus, I prefer to flush my puppy’s eye with a sterile saline solution to get rid of pus or any mucus,
After that, you should apply terramycin twice a day till the eye is healed,
If you cannot get access to terramycin, you can try using those triple-action antibiotic creams for the eyes or Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solutions that are used for eye infections.
Treatment of puppy swollen eyes caused by Blepharitis
If your puppy has blepharitis you should see your vet.
Short-term symptomatic treatment for the inflammation, such as the application of warm compresses for 5-15 minutes several times per day and removal of any discharge from the eye may be recommended by your vet.
However, any specific treatment for blepharitis will depend on the underlying cause of the disorder.
Treatment of puppy swollen eyes caused by Orbital cellulitis or retrobulbar abscess
If your puppy’s swollen eyes are caused by Orbital cellulitis or retrobulbar abscess, you should take your pup to see the vet and they may carry out drainage behind the last upper molar teeth.
In mild cases, antibiotics are usually started both orally and topically. Many of these cases respond and improve in 48 to 72 hours.
Treatment of puppy swollen eyes caused by Proptosis
If your puppy’s swollen eyes are caused by proptosis, you should go to your vet immediately.
If your vet feels there is a high chance of retaining your puppy’s vision, he/she would replace the globe in the orbit and suture it, the procedure is called a temporary tarsorrhaphy.
Treatment of puppy swollen eyes caused by dental abscess
If you suspect your puppy’s swollen eyes are caused by a dental abscess, you should see your vet immediately.
Your vet is likely to prescribe some antibiotics to control the infection, he/she would also prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication. If your dog is going through pain, pain relief would be added.
Although this medical treatment will deal with the symptoms, it will not treat the underlying tooth injury and antibiotics alone will not cure a tooth root abscess.
An abscessed tooth can only be treated in two ways, the first way is a root canal therapy which can preserve the tooth’s structure and the second way is an extraction.
Treatment of puppy swollen eyes caused by glaucoma
If your puppy’s swollen eyes are caused by glaucoma, you should see your vet immediately.
Your vet would prescribe some drugs that draw fluid out of the eye and drugs that decreased the production of fluid.
When your vet sees that the pressure in your dog’s eye is lowered, he/she would find a way to stabilize it.
If your dog’s glaucoma has gotten very bad and its eye is already enlarged and blind eye, the eye may be removed to relieve pain.
Frequently asked questions about puppy swollen eyes
Will puppy eye swelling go away on its own?
If your puppy’s swollen eyes are caused by mild allergies, it might go away on its own but I recommend you treat the allergy because it would be causing your pup pain.
You should never wait for your puppy’s swollen eyes to go away on their own because they might be caused by a serious disease.
Why does my puppy have swollen eyes but act normal?
It may be because the swollen eye is not accompanied by itchiness and pain or the swollen eye has not gotten to the stage it would cause pain.
You should get your vet to check it.
How can I treat my puppy’s eye infection at home?
You should begin with getting rid of any pus, I prefer to flush my puppy’s eye with a sterile saline solution to get rid of pus or any mucus,
After that, you should apply terramycin twice a day till the eye is healed,
If you cannot get access to terramycin, you can try using those triple-action antibiotic creams for the eyes or Ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solutions that are used for eye infections.
Why is my 5-week-old puppy’s eye swollen?
If your puppy is 5 weeks old there could be a lot of reasons for a swollen eye, I suggest you read the cause of swollen eyes we discussed above in this post.
When should I be concerned about my puppy’s eyes?
If your puppy’s eyes get red, swollen, bulging out or out of place, and have continuous discharge then you should be concerned.
How do puppies get eye infections?
It could be from their mom, from inhaling or coming in contact with contaminated material.
I always advise that you ensure your puppy’s environment is always clean.
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