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What to do if my dog is hiding with a swollen eye under the car?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 26 days old | 20 lbs

Our dog is really down and won't come out from underneath the car. One of her eyes is also swollen. What can we do to help her and is this something to worry about? Thank you.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 27th, 2017

Oh my. This sounds like Arya may have really injured her eye. If you can see swelling from underneath the car, then it must be pretty significant. I am concerned about her and the stability of her eye; therefore, you have to try really hard to get her out from underneath there so that you can take her to your nearest vet for a proper exam. I would try to coax her out with her favorite treat, tuna, or even peanut butter. Use calm voices and also take a towel with you to cuddle her in once she is out, so that she feels as comfortable and calm as possible. Then take her to the nearest vet right away, but call first to let them know you are on the way. I can't tell how badly her eye is injured without a picture, but I can imagine that any amount of swelling needs to be seen by your vet and treated quickly to prevent any permanent damage. I wish you all the best with Arya and I hope you can get her seen soon. Take care.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Oh no, poor Arya! She could have been injured leading to her eye being swollen and her subsequent hiding behaving. She could also be sick. It is very concerning that her eye is swollen and she is hiding, and based on this plus her young age, she needs to see a vet right away. The eye is such a delicate and important structure that any problem with it should be considered an emergency. That's because leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. I would try to tempt her out with some food, or you may need to carefully reach under there to get her out. I say carefully because when dogs are in pain, they can react aggressively (even if they aren't normally like that), and I don't want you to get bit. Once you get her out from under the car, I would take her into a vet immediately.

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