Glaucoma in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your dog has this – it can become serious. Glaucoma is high pressure inside the eye.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet today.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.
Keep fresh water available.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Glaucoma is high pressure inside the eye.^[1] It is very painful and often causes blindness, especially if it is left untreated.^[1] There are two main types of glaucoma in dogs: primary and secondary.^[1]

Signs

Squinting
Avoiding bright light
Rubbing their face
Becoming head shy
Weepy eyes
Cloudy or blue eyes
Red or bloodshot eyes
Blindness
Wide or uneven pupils
Bulging eyes

Causes and risk factors

Cocker Spaniel
Springer Spaniel
Basset Hound
Bouvier des Flandres
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Flat-Coated Retriever
Great Dane

How vets treat it

Bringing down the pressure inside the eyes as quickly as possible
Surgery
Pain relief
Hospitalisation
Eye drops or ointment
Medication
Rapid, emergency treatment in a severe case

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“Overview. Glaucoma (high pressure inside the eye) is a very painful condition that often causes blindness, especially if it’s left untreated. There are two main types of glaucoma in dogs; primary and secondary.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What signs can glaucoma cause in dogs?

Signs can include squinting, avoiding bright light, rubbing the face, becoming head shy, weepy eyes, cloudy or blue eyes, red or bloodshot eyes, blindness, wide or uneven pupils, and bulging eyes.^[1]

When should I contact a vet?

Contact your vet immediately if your dog has symptoms of glaucoma or a painful eye.^[1]

Can glaucoma cause blindness?

Glaucoma is very painful and often causes blindness, especially if it is left untreated.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages