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Eye Injuries and Scratched Eyes in Dogs

By the Dog Health Handbook team · Updated · Fact-checked against current veterinary references (see sources)

Key takeaways

  • Squinting, tearing and pawing are signs of a scratched eye.
  • Most simple scratches heal within a week with treatment, but infected ones can rupture fast.
  • Flush chemicals for 15 to 20 minutes, then see a vet.
  • A popped-out eye is an emergency; keep it moist on the way.
  • Don't remove stuck objects or use human eye drops.

Table of Contents

Research Scratched eye Foreign bodies Cat scratches Chemicals Proptosis FAQ Sources

Dog Eye Quicklinks

Eye Problems Red Eyes Watery Eyes Dry Eye Swollen Eyes Eye Injuries Eye Infections Eye Discharge Conjunctivitis Eye Drops Eye Wash Eye Tumors Eye Surgery

Eye injuries in dogs range from minor scratches to emergencies that can cost the eye. Common injuries include:1,2,3

  • Scratches and corneal ulcers, from claws, plants or rubbing
  • Foreign bodies, such as grass seeds, plant material and dust
  • Cat scratches that go deep into the eye
  • Blunt injuries that cause bleeding in the eye
  • Chemical splashes
  • Eyelid tears
  • An eye pushed out of its socket (proptosis)

Signs of a scratched eye include squinting, tearing, pawing, redness and cloudiness.1,2 Most simple scratches heal within about a week with treatment, but infected ulcers can deepen fast and even rupture the eye within a day.1,2,4 Flat-faced breeds are at higher risk.5,6 Don't put human drops or ointments in the eye, and don't try to remove anything stuck in it. Use a cone to stop rubbing and see a vet promptly.7,8,9

Go to your vet or an emergency clinic right away if:

  • The eye has come out of its socket. Keep it moist with saline-soaked or damp cloths and stop your dog rubbing it.10,11,12
  • A chemical got in the eye. First flush with lukewarm tap water or saline for at least 15 to 20 minutes.13,14
  • Something is stuck in the eye, the eye was cut or scratched by a cat, or it looks deflated or has blood inside8,15,3
  • The eyelid is torn4,16

See your vet the same day for any squinting, cloudiness or a closed eye after an injury.6,1

What the Research and Guidelines Say

  • Most popped-out eyes lose sight. Only about 1 in 4 or 5 dogs keeps vision, though the eye itself can often be saved. In a 2020 study of eyes that were put back, 28% could see about 2 to 3 weeks later.11,17,18,19
  • Pupil response is the best clue. Eyes whose pupils still reacted to light, and eyes treated by a veterinary ophthalmologist, were more likely to keep vision.18,20
  • Most dogs survive the injury. In 100 dogs with a popped-out eye, 97% survived to go home, including most of the 17 with injuries elsewhere in the body. Owners got them to a vet within a median of 2 hours.21
  • Cat claws cause many deep eye wounds. Very young puppies are most at risk, perhaps because they don't learn to blink at something coming toward the eye until about 12 weeks old.15,22,23

Scratched Eye and Corneal Ulcers

Most corneal ulcers are caused by injuries such as nail scratches, foreign bodies or chemicals.2,1 Signs include:1,2

  • Squinting or holding the eye shut
  • Tearing and pawing at the eye
  • Redness and cloudiness

Your vet puts an orange dye in the eye. It turns green where the surface is damaged.1 Simple scratches usually heal within about a week with antibiotic drops, pain relief and a cone. Your vet will recheck in a few days.1,2,4 Never stop treatment early, and don't use steroid drops until your vet confirms the eye has healed, because they can make an ulcer much worse.1 Deep or infected ulcers may need surgery. See corneal ulcers.24,16

Will a scratched eye heal on its own?

Small scratches can heal quickly, but you can't tell at home whether a scratch is infected or deeper than it looks. Infected ulcers can deepen and rupture within 24 hours.4,6 Have every painful eye checked.

Something in the Eye

  • Flush gently with sterile eye wash or clean tap water from a syringe without a needle.9
  • Don't try to pull out anything stuck in the eye, and don't press on it.8,9
  • Use a cone to stop rubbing.8,9
  • See a vet as soon as possible, and urgently if the object won't flush out, discomfort continues, or the eye is very red, swollen or not seeing.9

Plant material such as grass seeds causes strong reactions, and objects can hide behind the third eyelid.22,25

Cat Scratches and Deep Wounds

Cat claws are a common cause of cuts through the cornea. If the claw reaches the lens inside, it can cause severe inflammation, glaucoma or a shrunken eye.15,22,26 A deep wound may look like a collapsed eye with blood inside, or a dark spot where the iris is plugging the hole.3,15 Wounds limited to the cornea have a good outlook. Deeper ones are more serious, and an ophthalmologist decides whether surgery is needed.26,15 Keep your dog quiet in a cone on the way to the vet.26

Blunt Injuries and Blood in the Eye

A blow to the eye, such as being hit, bitten or struck by a car, can cause bleeding on the white of the eye or inside it.27,28 Blood inside the eye after an injury can hide deeper damage, so these dogs need a full eye exam.20 See blood in a dog's eye.

Chemicals in the Eye

Start flushing right away with lukewarm tap water or saline for at least 15 to 20 minutes, then go to a vet.13,14 Alkalis, such as cement, plaster and oven or drain cleaners, are the most dangerous because they penetrate deeply.14 Shampoo and drywall dust can also cause ulcers.1 If your dog may have swallowed the chemical, see dog poisoning.

Eyelid Tears

Torn eyelids often happen in dog fights, when a tooth hooks the lid, or from cat claws.3 They should be repaired quickly, ideally within hours, to keep the eyelid edge working. Use a cone to stop scratching until then.4,16,22

Eye Out of the Socket (Proptosis)

In flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Shih Tzus, Pekingese and Lhasa Apsos, very little force can push the eye out, even pressure on the neck from scruffing or a tight collar. In long-nosed dogs it takes major trauma.3,29,30

  • On the way to the vet: keep the eye moist with saline or clean water on damp cloths, and stop your dog rubbing. Don't try to push it back.11,12,31
  • Treatment: under anesthesia the vet replaces the eye and stitches the eyelids partly closed for about 2 to 3 weeks. Badly damaged eyes are removed.11,3
  • Outlook: the eye can often be saved, but only about 1 in 4 or 5 keeps vision. A pupil that still reacts to light is a good sign. Blood inside the eye or three or more torn eye muscles are bad signs.11,18,29,3
  • Later problems can appear weeks later: dry eye, ulcers, an eye that turns outward, and blindness.11,3

Speed matters. Most experts say the longer the eye is out, the worse the outlook, although one 2020 study found the pupil's response mattered more than timing.16,19,18 See also dog eye problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my dog scratched his eye?

Squinting, tearing, pawing, redness or a cloudy spot. A vet confirms it with a dye test.

How long does a scratched eye take to heal?

Most simple scratches heal within about a week with treatment.

My dog got hit in the eye and it's swollen and red. What should I do?

Stop rubbing with a cone and see a vet the same day.

What should I do if my dog's eye pops out?

Keep it moist with damp cloths and go to an emergency vet immediately.

Can I flush my dog's eye with water?

Yes. Sterile saline is best, but lukewarm tap water is fine in an emergency, such as a chemical splash.

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Sources and further reading

This article was rewritten and fact-checked on October 27, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:

  1. Barnes C, Weir M, Ward E. Corneal ulcers in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, July 2025.
  2. Gelatt KN. Disorders of the cornea in dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), updated September 2024.
  3. van der Woerdt A. Ophthalmic Emergencies. European Veterinary Conference Voorjaarsdagen, The Hague, 2017 (IVIS).
  4. Ollivier F. Ocular emergencies. WSAVA World Congress proceedings, 2019.
  5. Plummer CE. Understanding and addressing brachycephalic ocular syndrome. Today's Veterinary Practice, April 2026.
  6. Packer R. Eye problems in brachycephalic dogs. The Kennel Club. Accessed October 2026.
  7. Pet Poison Helpline. Imidazoline decongestants, May 2026.
  8. Baxter R, Fox K, Edwards T, Oh A. K9 clinical practice guideline: ocular injuries (K9 CPG 15). Joint Trauma System, US Department of Defense, December 2025.
  9. Lort Smith Animal Hospital. Foreign body in the eye in dogs, updated March 2025.
  10. VCA Animal Hospitals. Eye issues (urgent care).
  11. Thomasy SM. Proptosis in animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, July 2024.
  12. Palella Gómez A. Traumatic proptosis in a pug. Vet Times, June 2017.
  13. ASPCApro. Vet tech corner: ocular decontamination. ASPCA, 2015, updated February 2024.
  14. Bradley C. Chemical injuries in corneas. Vet Times, July 2018.
  15. Thomasy SM. Corneal lacerations in small animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, July 2024.
  16. Villagrasa M. Ocular Emergencies. Southern European Veterinary Conference, Barcelona, 2007 (IVIS).
  17. Ofri R. Is it exophthalmos, buphthalmos or proptosis? How do I know? How do I treat? WSAVA World Congress proceedings, 2014.
  18. Pe'er O, Oron L, Ofri R. Prognostic indicators and outcome in dogs undergoing temporary tarsorrhaphy following traumatic proptosis. Veterinary Ophthalmology, 2020.
  19. Hamor RE. Prolapse of the eye. MSD (Merck) Veterinary Manual, updated July 2026.
  20. Ofri R. Ophthalmic emergencies. Southern European Veterinary Conference, Barcelona, 2014. Conference proceedings hosted by IVIS.
  21. Whinery N, Allbaugh RA, Sebbag L, Walton R. Incidence of concurrent systemic injuries with traumatic proptosis and its effect on outcome: 100 dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2024.
  22. Westermeyer H. Management of common ocular injuries. WSAVA World Congress proceedings, 2013.
  23. Spiess BM, et al. Eye injuries in the dog caused by cat claws (in German). Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde, 1996 (abstract).
  24. Hamor RE. The cornea in animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, updated July 2026.
  25. Ofri R. Lacrimal System and Third Eyelid Diseases. European Veterinary Conference Voorjaarsdagen, Amsterdam, 2008 (IVIS).
  26. Thomasy SM. Penetrating intraocular injuries in small animals. MSD (Merck) Veterinary Manual, July 2024.
  27. Newbold GM. Subconjunctival hemorrhage in dogs. Clinician's Brief, 2020. Summarizing Saastamoinen J, Rutter CR, Jeffery U. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2019.
  28. Kleszynski B. Hyphema in dogs. PetMD, November 2023.
  29. Fryer JS. Proptosis in dogs. PetMD, September 2023.
  30. Wotman K. Brachycephalic ocular syndrome. CSU Veterinary Health System, Colorado State University, January 2021.
  31. Burkhill G. Eye prolapse. Animal Trust, May 2026.

About this article

Last updated : rewritten using the Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA, ASPCA, a 2025 military working dog eye-injury guideline, WSAVA and IVIS proceedings and studies published 1996 to 2024.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.