What it means if your dog has red or bloodshot eyes

Disclaimer: This article, its content and related references, does not constitute veterinary advice and should not be considered a substitute for veterinary care.

Reddened or bloodshot eyes in dogs are common symptoms with many potential underlying causes. Treatment options vary widely depending on what is causing a dog’s red eyes, and the best way to accurately determine the cause is with the professional guidance of a veterinarian. If your dog has red or bloodshot eyes, read on to learn:

• Causes of red eyes in dogs
• How eye conditions are diagnosed and treated in dogs
• When red eyes are an emergency
• What to do if your dog has red eyes

Red eyes in dogs can be caused by environmental irritants, upper respiratory infections, bacterial infections, and a variety of other eye conditions. While some eye issues may resolve on their own, others require treatment from a veterinarian. It’s important to seek veterinary care to prevent severe complications, including vision loss, and to avoid home treatment, such as artificial tears or medication, without first consulting a vet.

Red or bloodshot eyes in dogs can vary in appearance and severity. Different parts of the eye may appear reddened, including:

• Eyelids, including the third eyelid
• Conjunctiva - the thin membrane around the outside of the eyeball and inside of the eyelids
• Sclera - the white of the eye
• Skin around the eye
• Anterior chamber - the space between the clear bubble covering the front of the eye (cornea) and the colored part of the eye (iris)

It can be helpful to determine what part of the eye is affected by examining the eye at home with a light and magnifying lens. One or both eyes may be affected, depending on the cause of the redness. Multiple parts of a dog’s eye may also be affected.

Symptoms associated with red or bloodshot eyes in dogs

Depending on what’s causing your dog’s eyes to be red or bloodshot, other symptoms may also be present, such as:

• Coughing or sneezing
• Eye discharge
• Swelling or redness around the eyes
• Squinting or excessively blinking
• Trouble holding the eye open
• Nasal discharge
• Pawing at the eyes
• Dilated pupils
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Lethargy

Making a note of any additional symptoms, even if they seem minor, can help when getting a vet to diagnose the cause of your dog’s red eyes.

Reddened or bloodshot eyes are common symptoms with many potential causes. Underlying conditions vary widely and can range from relatively harmless to life-threatening. The best way to accurately determine the cause of a dog’s red or bloodshot eyes is to get professional guidance from a veterinarian.

Bacterial, viral, or allergic conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis, or “pink eye,” is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane covering the eyeball and inner eyelids. It’s a very common condition and one of the most common causes of red or pink eyes in dogs. Conjunctivitis in dogs is most commonly caused by allergies, viruses, and bacterial infections. Most cases of conjunctivitis have a good prognosis. However, untreated conjunctivitis can be very uncomfortable and lead to permanent eye damage.

Other eye conditions

Various other eye conditions can lead to eye redness in dogs, including:

• Eye injury
• Eyelid and eyelash disorders
• Corneal ulceration
• Dry eye
• Cherry eye
• Uveitis
• Glaucoma
• Ruptured blood vessels in the eye
• Primary lens luxation
• Eye cancer

Infectious diseases

Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections can cause red eyes in dogs. It’s possible for any part of the eye to become infected. In addition, red eyes can be caused by systemic diseases, such as upper respiratory infections, including:

• Kennel cough
• Herpesvirus
• Distemper
• Adenovirus

Upper respiratory infections often have additional symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and discharge from the eyes and nose. Secondary infections can also occur in the eyes after an eye injury or other eye diseases.

Exposure to irritants

External irritants in the environment can lead to eye irritation, causing red or bloodshot eyes. Environmental and airborne irritants include:

• Pollen
• Grass seeds
• Dust
• Bee stings and bites from flies, mosquitos, gnats, and other insects
• Shampoos, cleaners, or other caustic agents
• Smoke
• UV exposure
• Air pollution

If a dog is allergic to a particular irritant, they can also develop allergic conjunctivitis. Some irritants, such as grass seeds, can cause injury to the eye and increase the risk of a secondary infection.

Bleeding or clotting disorders

Any toxin or disorder that interferes with the body’s ability to clot blood can result in abnormal bleeding, which may show in the eyes. This may look like:

• Bloody patches on the whites of the eyes
• Blood in the anterior chamber (hyphema)
• Bloody tears (hemolacria)

Clotting disorders in dogs can occur in association with:

• Rat bait toxicosis (anticoagulant toxicosis)
• Thrombocytopenia
• Venomous snakebite
• Von Willebrand disease
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Clotting disorders will often have other emergency symptoms, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty walking
• Bleeding from the gums or other areas of the body
• Collapse

It’s essential to seek veterinary care immediately if any of these symptoms occur.

Red or bloodshot eyes in dogs are very common symptoms with many potential underlying causes that range in severity. The appearance of a dog’s eyes does not necessarily indicate how severe the underlying issue is. To determine the underlying cause of your dog’s reddened eyes, a vet may use:

• Patient history, including recent whereabouts and potential exposures
• Thorough eye and physical examination
• Fluorescein eye stain to check for corneal scratches and ulcers
• Schirmer tear test to check tear production
• Intraocular pressure test to look for glaucoma
• Bacterial or fungal culture
• Blood tests, including testing for infectious diseases
• Cytology, or microscopic examination of cells from the eye or surrounding tissues
• Diagnostic imaging, such as X-rays or ultrasounds
• Biopsy

Some conditions may be diagnosed simply by looking at the eye, while others can be more challenging to diagnose and require more testing. An accurate diagnosis is needed to determine a proper treatment plan.

Are red eyes an emergency?

Red eyes themselves are not usually an emergency, but their presence can indicate a serious underlying health issue. The appearance of the eyes does not necessarily indicate how serious the condition is. The underlying health condition may be an emergency if a dog is also showing symptoms such as:

• Bleeding from the eyes or other parts of the body
• Labored or rapid breathing
• Collapse or loss of consciousness
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• An enlarged or bulging eye
• An obvious foreign body in the eye or an eye dislodged from its socket

Prompt veterinary attention is recommended for any changes in a dog’s eye health, even if there are no other obvious symptoms. Even minor eye infections or other issues can get worse and may lead to permanent vision loss or even the loss of an eye.

Treatment options vary, depending on the cause of a dog’s red eyes, but may include:

• Flushing the eyes
• Eye drops or ointments with antibiotics, antifungals, or anti-inflammatories
• Oral medications, such as antibiotics, antivirals, pain medication, or anti-inflammatories
• Allergy treatment
• Supportive care
• Surgery
• Medications for associated systemic disease
• Palliative care
• Chemo and radiation therapy

Not all eye issues require medical treatment, and some may resolve on their own. In some cases, supportive nursing care can be provided at home to encourage healing, such as:

• Applying warm compresses
• Cleaning eye discharge from the face
• Feeding warm, moist food and encouraging your dog to eat
• Increasing heat and humidity in your dog’s environment

It’s impossible to know what’s affecting your dog’s eyes without a veterinarian’s help, so it’s important to seek prompt treatment if you notice any symptoms.

Can I treat my dog’s red eyes at home?

Do not attempt to treat your dog’s eye symptoms at home without consulting a veterinarian. Misdiagnosis is common due to the large number of conditions that can cause red eyes. Reddened eyes can be a sign of a serious underlying health condition and waiting to seek veterinary help delays proper treatment. A specific diagnosis is necessary in order to know what type of treatment will work. Attempting home remedies without an accurate diagnosis can be ineffective or dangerous, and delay proper care. Once a diagnosis is made, most diseases that cause red eyes can be treated at home with supportive care, topical medications, and other treatment options. Eye conditions usually do not require hospitalization.

It’s important to talk to a veterinarian right away if you notice changes in your dog’s eyes. “Getting help from a professional is always better than trying to wait it out, even if the issue is minor,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on the Vetster platform. “Quick intervention means it is less likely your dog will experience serious complications such as loss of vision. It often costs more to treat a health problem of any type if you wait until it gets worse.”

While waiting for an appointment with a vet, you can apply general first aid to your dog’s inflamed eyes:

• Flush irritants from the eyes with sterile saline or contact lens solution
• Gently wipe away discharge with a warm, wet washcloth
• Gently apply a warm, damp compress to the affected eye

Sterile saline, contact lens solution, and tap water are all useful for flushing irritants from eyes. Don’t allow eye discharge to accumulate on the fur near the corner of the eye or cheek because this can lead to skin irritation underneath. It’s often easier to remove discharge from the face before it dries and sticks to the fur.

Never give your dog human medication for pain or inflammation without consulting a veterinarian. Human medications, such as ibuprofen, can be toxic for your dog. Do not give human or “leftover” animal antibiotics. This can be dangerous and will likely be ineffective, as many eye conditions are not caused by bacterial infections. Never attempt to remove a foreign item embedded in the eyeball or manipulate a dislodged eye back into the socket. These are emergencies and require immediate veterinary care.

If you’re unsure if your dog’s symptoms require emergency treatment or prompt veterinary care, an online vet can use their expertise to offer advice. An online veterinary professional can also assess your pet via video and look for additional symptoms or signs of an emergency.

Should I take my dog to the vet for a red eye?

Red eyes in dogs can be caused by a wide variety of conditions that range in severity. The best way to know what is causing your dog’s red eyes is to get professional guidance from a veterinarian, especially since reddened eyes can be a sign of a serious underlying health concern. It’s always best to seek veterinary attention if your dog has a red eye.

Are red eyes in dogs an emergency?

Red eyes alone are not usually an emergency, but red eyes can be caused by serious conditions that are emergencies. Seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog is bleeding from the eyes or other areas of the body, has difficulty breathing, has collapsed or lost consciousness, has an obvious foreign body in the eye itself, or has an enlarged eye or eye that has been dislodged from the socket.

Why are my dog’s eyes red?

There are many reasons why a dog may have red eyes. Some of the most common causes of red eyes in dogs include allergic or bacterial conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infection, or eye irritation from something in their environment. Other causes of red eyes can be severe and life-threatening, so it’s important to seek prompt veterinary attention.

Can I use human eye drops on my dog?

A dog’s eye can be flushed with sterile saline, contact lens solution, or tap water to remove foreign material and irritants such as dust. Avoid using artificial tears and other types of human eye drops that contain additional ingredients without consulting a veterinarian first.