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My dog has red, squinting eyes and seems to be in pain. What to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Beagle | Male | neutered | 12 years old | 40 lbs

My dogs eyes are red instead of whit and they are rolling in his eye differently. He tries to keep them closed or squinted

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Ana M, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 3rd, 2018

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Milo. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. Both of his third eyelids appear to be elevated and the squinting can indicate that his eyes are painful. He could have a scratch across the surface of his eye, inflammation within the eye itself or an infection. In other cases the eyes are not making adequate tears making them very dry and painful. Based on his exam findings, eye tests may be necessary to determine the best course of treatment. In the meantime, keep the eyes free of any discharge and do not allow him to paw at them. I hope this information helps!

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on March 3rd, 2018

    Hi there! I'm sorry that Koda is having this problem. It's difficult to tell exactly what's going on in the photo - it looks like his third eyelid may be elevated a bit, and he may also be squinting? These are often signs of irritation due to an eye infection, or an injury to the eye such as a corneal scratch or ulcer. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have this checked - he/she can use a special stain if needed to check for any abnormalities, and will probably prescribe eye drops to treat the problem depending on what is found.

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