Chihuahua Pug Mix That Can Hardly Open His Eyes

A dog who can barely open his eyes is in pain, so please have him seen by a vet today if you can. Allergies can cause red, itchy, watery eyes with discharge, but painful squinting is also typical of a scratch or corneal ulcer, dry eye, and inflammation inside the eye. Some of these can get worse quickly.

Pug mixes often share the flat-faced build that leaves the eyes more exposed. Flat-faced dogs get corneal ulcers and dry eye more often than other dogs, and ulcers in flat-faced dogs can deepen fast. Your vet can tell the causes apart with a few quick tests: a dye that shows ulcers, a tear test for dry eye, and an eye pressure check.

Until then, keep him from rubbing his eyes, using a cone if you have one, and gently wipe away discharge with a clean cloth dampened with sterile saline. Please don't use human eye drops or leftover medicine. Steroid drops in particular can make an ulcer much worse.

See dog eye problems, eye injuries and scratched eyes and dry eye in dogs.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.