Many of us let our dogs stick their heads out of the window while we drive without thinking about possible injuries to our pet’s eyes. In this edition of Pet Pointers, Lisa Chelenza looks at what to do if your pet receives an eye injury.

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An eye injury can happen in an instant and is commonly seen in veterinary emergency rooms. DVM Maureen Luschini tells us more about eye injuries she has seen.

“The most common in reason for a dog to come in with an eye injury is a dog fight of some sort, where they eye has been traumatized to the point where it is no longer sitting in the socket. Some breeds are predisposed to it,” explained Dr. Luschini.

No matter how your pet’s eye is injured, it is crucial that you get them to a vet ASAP.

“If you ignore injury to the eye it can lead to death of the eye and permanent failure of the eye to function, leading to blindness, infection, and pain. So we recommend early intervention so we can identify the trauma and preserve the health of the eye,” said Dr. Luschini.

To help prevent further injury, try and keep your pet from scratching at the area by covering it with a bandage and holding your pet until you arrive at the vet.

Remember, the faster you seek treatment for your pet’s injuries, the more successful their recovery will be.