My dog's eyes are bulging. Is it a side effect of his antibiotics?

I'm so sorry Doug is having all these issues. It is very hard for me to comment on the eyes without at least seeing a photo. Even then, it will likely be difficult to say. My best recommendation would be to just monitor him closely and if you notice any squinting, severe tearing or redness of the eyes then I would get him to your vet for a recheck exam. I am assuming he will be going back for a recheck anyway once he is done with his ear medications??? If so, you can point out the bulginess of the eyes at that time if he shows no other symptoms in the meantime. The only thing I can think of at this time that would causing bulging of the eyes would by hypothyroidism (low thyroid level). That might be something your vet will want to check. A low thyroid can also cause him to be more susceptible to infections so that may be why his eyes and ears have had so many issues. Just a thought. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Oscar needs to be examined by the veterinarian today. That swelling most likely indicates an allergic reaction, a deep skin infection or cellulitis. All of these conditions require treatment. Make sure to protect his eyes from any rubbing by having him wear an Elizabethan collar at all times. Rubbing the eye could make things worse. Have him seen quickly. Best of luck.

It does seem like her eyes are bulging out a bit in your picture. I would recommend having her examined by your veterinarian. Eyes bulging can be a sign of glaucoma (although this is typically painful and the eyes are usually red) or could be related to diseases like extraocular myositis. Tetanus is another disease that can cause both eyes to bulge but you would notice stiffness and difficulty walking as well. If you notice redness or she starts to seem painful you should see a veterinarian right away as glaucoma is an emergency.

I do not recommend giving any medications unless directed by your vet. He could have a corneal ulcer, infection, scratch, or foreign body in his eye. Your vet can do some testing to diagnose and then prescribe the best medication to treat. He may need an antibiotic to treat.

I would perhaps give it a few more days if the discharge is not green or yellow. Wipe the eyes clean several times daily. If the discharge does become green or yellow, if Oakley starts rubbing his eyes or squinting more than usual, if the whites of his eyes are looking red or if his eyes look cloudy then a trip to the vet is in order. If he develops any respiratory signs (nasal discharge, cough, sneeze, trouble breathing), then an exam is needed. Best of luck to you and Oakley!

I would add that I think it's unlikely for a tooth root abscess to cause the eye to actually pop out (Proptose) however without definitive treatment the problem (the bulging and the infection) are going to get worse. Having that pocket of infection in the gum will likely cause the bacteria to translocate to the bloodstream, where it could cause other problems, including with the heart and the liver. I would consider seeking another opinion, perhaps of a veterinary dentist. I have anesthetized many, many older dogs for tooth removal, and my personal opinion is that removing diseased teeth is necessary. If Enzo has blood work prior to surgery, and possibly even a chest x-ray to check his heart and lungs, in the hands of a qualified veterinarian who is confident with anesthesia and dentistry he will likely do fine. If you don't have the tooth removed, your only other alternative is using antibiotics in a "pulse" fashion, such as 3 weeks on antibiotics, followed by 1 week off. Clindamycin is sometimes used in this fashion, but again, results are suboptimal and the infection within the root pocket will never completely resolve - it may improve, but it won't resolve.

Hello there, Thanks for the good photo. Good work with the benadryl and saline eye flush- those are great first steps. She is likely fine to wait to see her regular veterinarian, as long as she still has energy and an appetite. It appears like her face may have some muscular muscle wasting that is allowing her eyes to protrude more. There are a few things that can cause this- your vet will be able to tell you more after a good physical exam. I'd get her in to see someone this week for sure.