Why is my dog's eye red, watery, and squinting? What should I do?

Question

My 7 year old shihtzu has an irritated red eye. She is constantly squinting is and it is watering pretty frequently. It’s been like this for the past 36 hours. What should I do? Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | spayed | 17 years and 10 months old | 12 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Poor Talon! Squinting, redness, and watery discharge can be caused by an eye infection (conjunctivitis), or an injury to the eye such as a corneal scratch or ulcer. Some eye problems need to be treated fairly urgently to avoid permanent damage, so without seeing her, the best advice I can give is to take her to an ER today for an exam, if possible. If you can't do this, then I would take her to your regular vet tomorrow. He/she can use a special stain if needed to check for an ulcer or other problem, and will prescribe eye drops or ointment to treat the problem depending on what is found. In the meantime, you can try gently rinsing her eye with plain saline eye wash, and using a warm washcloth or cotton ball to gently wipe away the discharge as often as needed. This will not treat the underlying problem, but may help to make her a bit more comfortable until you're able to see the vet.

Why is my dog's eye red, watery, and squinting? What should I do?

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