Proptosis

What is Proptosis?
In proptosis, the eyeball is dislodged from its normal position behind the eyelids so that it is bulging out of the eye socket with the lids behind it.

How does my dog get Proptosis?
Usually it occurs in dogs that have a shallow eye socket and bulging eyes, such as flat-faced breeds.  In most cases, either trauma or overly aggressive restraint around the head lead to proptosis and rarely a tumore behind the eyeball.

How do I know if mydog pet has Proptosis?
The condition comes on suddenly. The eye will be stuck in front of the lids.

What can I do about Proptosis?
This is an emergency. The longer the eye remains out of the socket, the more it is likely to swell, and the greater the chance of permanent blindness. Keep the front surface of the eye lubricated with saline solution or an ophthalmic ointment. Go to the veterinarian immediately. She will probably sedate the dog and perhaps also give him a local anesthetic. She may need to place a small cut in the lid to make it easier to slide the eye back in place. When it's in place, she may place a few sutures in the lids to make them temporarily tighter. Your dog will probably be given antibiotics to combat possible infection, and corticosteroids to reduce swelling. Special eye drops may prevent painful spasms of the muscle around the lens, which can sometimes result from inflammation of the eye.

Is there anything I can do to prevent my dog from getting Proptosis?
As with any dog, take care that your dog doesn't get hit in the head or is not held aggressively or squeezed around the head or neck.

Are there certain breeds that get Proptosis more often?
Flat-faced dogs with large eyes, such as Pekingese, Japanese Chin, and Shih Tzu are predisposed.