Dog red or swollen eyes – when to see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

This can have a serious cause – contact your vet today if any of the warning signs below apply, or if you are unsure. Red or swollen eyes can have many different causes, and most causes are treatable.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

Your dog seems to be in pain
Anything else is wrong with your dog’s eyes

What you can do now

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

Don't

Don’t give any human medicine.
Don’t wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

Although infection is often suspected, many different conditions can cause red or swollen eyes.^[1] One possibility is exposure keratitis, which is common in flat-faced dogs such as Shih Tzus, Pugs and Bulldogs because their bulging eyes prevent proper blinking.^[1]

Possible causes

Exposure keratitis

What the experts say

“Overview. Most people assumed that redness or swelling in the eyes means infection, however, there are many different conditions that can cause eyes these symptoms. Fortunately, most causes are treatable.”
— 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

Can red or swollen eyes mean an infection?

Infection is often assumed, but many different conditions can cause these symptoms.^[1]

When should I contact the vet?

Contact your vet for an appointment as soon as you notice anything wrong with your dog’s eyes; if your dog seems to be in pain, ask your vet for an urgent appointment.^[1]

Which dogs can be affected by exposure keratitis?

Exposure keratitis is common in flat-faced dogs such as Shih Tzus, Pugs and Bulldogs because their bulging eyes prevent proper blinking.^[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