A bulldog eye: what an owner sees and what to tell the vet

Record four things

• One eye or both.
• When it began and whether it is worsening over hours.
• Whether the dog squints, rubs the face or avoids light.
• What the discharge looks like: clear, mucoid, yellow, green or bloody.

Urgent warning signs

• The eye is closed or clearly painful.
• Sudden cloudiness, a blue appearance or trauma.
• Unequal pupils, disorientation or suspected vision loss.
• Severe swelling, blood or chemical exposure.

What to do before travelling to the clinic

Prevent rubbing and use a protective collar if needed. Do not reuse old drops: a steroid product can be dangerous when the cornea is damaged. For chemical exposure, call a clinic immediately and follow its rinsing instructions.

Screening is not a substitute for urgent care

An eye examination for a breeding dog helps identify inherited and acquired changes. A previous certificate does not rule out a new injury, ulcer or inflammation today.