What should I do if my dog has a cut around the eye? | arlo.® Atlas
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Overview
If your dog has a cut around the eye, treat it carefully because the skin there is delicate and the eye itself can be affected too. Small surface cuts can sometimes look worse than they are, but it's sensible to check for swelling, bleeding, pain, or any sign the eye has been scratched.
Clean, shallow cuts may only need gentle first aid and close monitoring, but a cut near the eye can have several possible causes, including a scratch from a paw, a brush with a plant, a knock, or a scratch from another dog.
Things To Check
1. See whether your dog can open the eye normally, or whether they are squinting, blinking a lot, or keeping it shut.
2. Look for blood, swelling, bruising, or a cut that seems to extend close to the eyelid or the eye itself.
3. Check for discharge, cloudiness, or a wet, streaming eye, which can suggest the eye is irritated as well as the skin.
4. Notice whether your dog is rubbing at the face, pawing at the eye, or acting uncomfortable.
5. Look at the cut itself for dirt, grass seeds, or other debris, but don't poke at it if that might upset the eye.
6. Check whether the skin is just lightly broken or whether the edges are gaping, bleeding, or looking deep.
7. Think about what happened just before you noticed it, such as a walk through rough vegetation, play with another dog, or a knock to the face.
Common Causes
The most common causes are minor scratches from play, rough vegetation, or a nail during scratching or grooming. Small knocks and cuts from branches, hedges, or contact with another dog are also common.
Less commonly, the eye itself may be scratched or irritated, or there may be a foreign body trapped under the eyelid. In some cases, a cut near the eye can be part of a more obvious bite, puncture, or deeper facial injury.
What To Do
Keep your dog calm and stop them rubbing the area if you can. If the cut is very small and only on the skin, you can gently rinse around it with clean saline or cooled boiled water, but don't use creams, antiseptics, or anything medicated near the eye unless a vet has told you to.
If there's any debris, swelling, or a scratch that seems close to the eye, avoid trying to remove it yourself. Keep the area as clean and dry as possible, and prevent your dog from pawing at the face until you've had it checked or it starts to settle.
Watch closely over the next few hours for increased redness, swelling, discharge, squinting, or a change in behaviour. If the cut looks deep, is bleeding steadily, or your dog seems at all distressed, seek veterinary advice promptly.
When To Contact A Vet
Contact your vet as soon as possible if the cut is on the eyelid, looks deep, won't stop bleeding, or if your dog is squinting, pawing at the eye, or seems sensitive to light. These signs can suggest the eye itself may also be involved.
You should also get veterinary advice if you can see a foreign body, the eye looks cloudy or unusually red, or the problem isn't clearly improving within a short time.
Products That May Help
If you're dealing with a small cut or general face-care clean-up, the right pet care items can be useful for routine cleaning and day-to-day grooming around sensitive areas.
Related Questions
Can I clean my dog's eye area at home?
How do I tell if my dog has scratched the eye itself?
When is a cut near the eye an emergency?
Atlas is here to support owners with practical, easy-to-understand guidance. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you're concerned about your animal's health, symptoms worsen, or something doesn't feel right, contact your vet.