Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My dog is rubbing her eye and losing hair. Is it an emergency?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | unspayed | 1 year old | 6 lbs

My Dog just turned a year old. And she started rubbing her eye with her foot. So bad that she is losing her hair around her eye.What advice can you give me please ?

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 19th, 2017

Marley is so cute! It sounds like her eye is really bothering her, and this can be caused by an eye infection, allergies, or something in her eye. It's important to keep her from rubbing her eye with her foot because her claws can scratch her eye, potentially leading to an ulcer. You will need to put an Ecollar on her to keep her from rubbing at it. You can buy one at a pet store or you can make one at home. I will put a link below on how to make one at home. She will then need to see a vet as soon as possible for this problem. 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. The vet can diagnose what is causing her to rub her eye and how best to treat it. Good luck, I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my dog has these bumps around his eye! He has been scratching them they seem to bother him a little bit!
This could be an allergy. Put an Ecollar on Marley to keep him from rubbing his eye, as he could damage his cornea with his nails. You can make one at home or buy one at a pet store. Take him into a vet tomorrow to get this checked out. Best of luck. http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I noticed a small mark on the bottom of her eye last night, almost like she'd gotten scratched. I only noticed it on the bottom part of her eye, felt around it, didn't really seem like a wound, figured I'd wait and see if it went away. Today when I
Ouch! This looks pretty irritated now. Ada could be having an allergic reaction to something, have chronic allergies that are starting for the season, or even have an issue with her immune system. I would recommend putting and e-collar (cone) on her tonight so that she can't rub her face and damage her eye and schedule an appointment for tomorrow with her regular vet. If she can't get comfortable this evening, or you don't have an e-collar, err on the side of caution and take her to an emergency clinic. Good luck and thanks for using Boop by Petco. Please let me know if this was helpful information.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dogs right eye is watering, her skin circling the eye is red, and shes itching it constantly.
Isabella needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. Signs like this are concerning for a scratch on the eye or something trapped in the eye. These conditions are not only very painful but they can also get worse quickly. She also needs to wear an elizabethan collar at all times to stop any rubbing. Have her examined quickly so she is out of pain and gets the correct treatment.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I noticed about a week that my dog had a little spot of blood under his eye that I assumed he had scratched and done himself since I haven’t been able to go get his nails trimmed recently (he has been itchy lately so that was my first thought). But l
It could just be hair loss from eye discharge accumulating there on the skin below the eye or it could be from scratching. I don't think it is an emergency. I would give it some time to see if it goes away or gets worse. If it gets worse at any time then you should definitely have a vet check it. For right now you can just use this Vetericyn eye gel in the eyes and on that spot. It may help with any allergens that may be in the eye and is safe to use on the skin around the eyes. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-antimicrobial-pet-ophthalmic-gel
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has been itching it's eye. Left her alone thinking it'd go away. Now she's cross eyed and we're worried.
I would have Sandra seen by a vet immediately. She could have allergies or an infection causing the itching. Any eyecondition should be considered an emergency, as leaving it untreated can lead to vision loss. The vet can diagnose what is causing Sandra's eye problem so she can be treated. Please take her into an ER vet or find a vet on call to see her ASAP.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
He keeps rubbing his paws on his eyes but one eye his really in bad shape like it not gettin any better im scared we live to far from a vet. So what do i do ???
Oh no, poor Rocco! Eyes are very delicate structures and can be damaged very easily. Excessive itching can quickly worsen an existing issue, such as a corneal ulcer, and can even lead to eye rupture in severe cases. Unfortunately, the only thing that you can do at home is make sure that Rocco is wearing an e-collar (cone) so that he does not damage his eye further. A vet will need to examine Rocco to determine the cause of his eye issue so that he can be appropriately treated. I hope that he feels betters soon!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is favoring her eye and it has a reddish spot on it... how can I help her feel better?
Bella needs to see a vet immediately. It looks like she has a corneal ulcer. These are super duper painful, and the quicker they start treatment the quicker they heal without lasting effects (like a scar that can affect vision). Unfortunately, there are no safe OTC medications that will help. Since they often try to rub their eyes, you may need to have Bella wear an e-collar/cone until she is checked by the vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 4 year old lab has a rash under her ears. She's been scratching at them for 2 days now and it's not getting any better. The vet appt isn't under next Wednesday. Should I be taking her to the ER?
I am sorry to hear about Bella! While a skin issue like this isn't considered an emergency in the sense that it isn't life threatening, in some cases a pet is so miserable and itchy that owners will elect to pay an emergency fee to get the pet treated right away. That is a personal decision you have to make based on how bothered you feel Bella is and whether or not it can wait. You may talk to your vet about whether or not they feel it would be safe to give her an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine or cetirizine in the meantime to try to decrease the itching, or to apply a topical hydrocortisone cream to decrease the itching. If she is rubbing/scratching constantly she may also be at risk of causing an ear hematoma, where blood vessels in the ear pinnae (the floppy part of the ear) can rupture and cause a painful swelling. For this reason you may consider picking up an e-collar for her (you can find these at most pet stores) to try to prevent self trauma.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
I recently got a puppy from a friend who wasn’t really taking care of him. i was told he’s pretty much imbred. Well we thought he had a lazy eye but today his eye has seemed to gotten worse the corner of his eye has a lot more white covering it now
This white covering you are seeing is likely Tyson's third eyelid, which is a normal part of a dog's anatomy but should only come out when his eyes are closed such as when he is sleeping. When you see it out while his eye is open, that is a sign of illness such as an eye infection or foreign body in the eye. Clearly his eye is bothering him if he is rubbing at it, and you need to put an Ecollar on him to keep him from doing that because he could make the problem worse. I will put a link below on how to make an Ecollar at home. Next step is get him into a vet asap. 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. The vet can diagnose what is causing his third eyelid to protrude and how best to treat it. Good luck, I hope this helps! http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dalmatian pit bull mix 3 years old suddenly has runny crusty eyes. But, the left one she rubs with her paw, couch, wall, side of mattress anything to rub it up against. It's just been 2 days but this morning I noticed that there is some blood show
This does not sound like an emergency, so don't panic. Laylah may have allergies or something is irritating her eyes. Try to wrap her paws with vetwrap or a sock or something so she can't scratch her corneas with her nails, and if you have an e collar or can get one at a pet store, put this in her. Use a warm water compress (clean facecloth) on her eyes with her lids closed to sooth the itch several times daily until you can get to the vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Eye Care Dog Ear & Eye Care Dog Ear Care Dog Ear & Eye Medicine Dog Health & Wellness Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Cat Ear & Eye Care Prescription Allergy Medicine for Dogs Allergy & Itch Relief Dog Shampoos Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Natural Remedies Dog Eye Care Earth Animal Dog Eye Care Curicyn Dog Eye Care Vetericyn Dog Eye Care Well & Good Dog Eye Care Natural Remedies Dog Ear & Eye Care HICC Pet Dog Eye Care Miracle Care Dog Ear & Eye Care Angels' Eyes Dog Eye Care PetAlive Dog Ear & Eye Care
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored