Severe Eye Infection That Blinded One Eye in a Senior Lab

We're sorry. When inflammation reaches the back of the eye, vets look for causes elsewhere in the body, such as fungal or tick-borne infections, immune disease or cancer, especially lymphoma. Many of these don't show up on routine blood tests, so a normal blood panel doesn't rule a tumor out.

Ask your vet or ophthalmologist about chest X-rays, abdominal ultrasound, infectious disease testing (including fungal and tick-borne diseases) and, if suggested, sampling fluid from the eye. Given the scavenging and dirty water, ask about leptospirosis and roundworm larvae (Toxocara), which can both inflame the back of the eye. Increased thirst is also worth mentioning.

See dog eye infections for more on eye problems in dogs.

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