Dr Katja Häusler
Practice owner · Ophthalmology, dermatology & gynaecology
Ophthalmology · Dog & Cat
With the eye, every hour often counts.
Eyes are delicately built and react sensitively. A redness that looks harmless can be serious, and some eye problems worsen within hours, so every hour counts. We look closely and treat in a targeted way.
Conjunctiva & cornea
Lens & clouding
Eyelid problems
Eye emergency
Eye examination · live
EyeDog & Cat
< 24 hrs
with acute eye problems your pet should ideally be examined within one day.
Contents of this page
Why examine early
With the eye: better once too early.
The eye is small, delicately built and reacts sensitively to disturbances. A redness that at first looks harmless can be the expression of a condition that needs treatment, and some eye problems worsen within hours. The sooner we know the cause, the better it can be treated.
Many eye problems can be treated well if they are recognised in time. Owner Dr Katja Häusler has ophthalmology as one of her areas of focus.
Chances of treatment
The earlier the treatment, the better the outlook
Early treatmentDelayed treatment
What you can look out for
Six signs you should not overlook.
Animals do not always show eye complaints clearly. Do bring your pet to us if you notice one of these signs in the eye.
01
Tearing & sticky eyes
Increased tearing or sticky eyelids point to an irritation or inflammation.
Common early sign02
Redness of the eye
A reddened conjunctiva or a red eyeball should be checked.
Visible03
Squinting & light sensitivity
Frequent blinking, squinting or sensitivity to light point to pain.
A sign of pain04
Rubbing with the paw
If your pet rubs the eye or scrapes it against objects, something is bothering it.
In everyday life05
Clouding or change in colour
A visible clouding or a changed eye colour belongs in veterinary hands for assessment.
Look closely06
Eyelid swelling & third eyelid
Swollen eyelids or a prolapsed third eyelid are a clear reason to check.
Have it checked
Do not use eye drops without veterinary recommendation, some preparations can be harmful in certain conditions. This overview does not replace an examination.
Acting correctly in an emergency
Eye emergency — please call first.
A suddenly bulging, strongly reddened, clouded or visibly painful eye should be presented quickly. Here every hour can count. Even if your pet can no longer open the eye at all, you should not wait.
1
Call us in advance — so we can attend to you quickly or refer you on.
2
Keep your pet calm and prevent it from rubbing or scratching the eye.
3
Do not treat the eye yourself — no drops whose effect you do not know.
Assess the urgencyEye symptoms
Observe
Slight tearing, brief blinking — if it persists, come and see us.
Promptly
Persistent redness, squinting, rubbing — arrange an appointment.
Call immediately
A bulging, clouded or strongly painful eye.
Assessing in everyday life
Observe or act immediately?
Not every changed eye is an emergency. But some signs allow no delay. This overview helps you make the assessment. If in doubt: better make a quick call.
Rather observe
Mild signs
Mild, unchanging changes without pain. Bring your pet in if they persist longer or increase.
Slight tearing without further complaints
Occasional brief blinking
Slight, unchanging redness in the corner of the eye
Act immediately
Emergency signs
These signs can endanger eyesight. Please call us straight away before you set off.
Suddenly bulging eye
Strong clouding or visible pain
The eye is no longer being opened at all
Important to know
Eye drops from the home medicine cabinet? Please don't.
It is tempting to quickly treat a red eye yourself. But some eye drops, particularly preparations intended for humans, can cause serious harm in certain conditions. With an injured cornea, for example, the wrong product can delay healing or worsen the damage.
Only an examination shows what lies behind a red or watery eye, and which treatment really fits. If in doubt, a quick phone call helps more than reaching for the home medicine cabinet.
How the eye examination works
Four steps — gentle and thorough.
An eye examination is well tolerated by most animals. Special preparation is usually not necessary.
Step 01
History
You describe when the change began and whether your pet is rubbing or showing pain.
Step 02
Examination
We assess the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea and the deeper structures of the eye.
Step 03
Targeted tests
Depending on the question, we check tear production or stain corneal injuries to make them visible.
Step 04
Findings & plan
We discuss the findings with you in plain language and decide on the treatment together.
Treatment & support
Consistently treated, well supported.
The treatment depends on the cause. With conjunctivitis, eye drops or ointments are often used; with other conditions, further measures may be needed. What matters is that the prescribed treatment is carried out consistently, even when the eye already seems to be improving.
Treatment tailored specifically to your pet's findings
We show you how to apply eye drops correctly
Follow-up appointments to safeguard the healing process
Tips for everyday life: keep the eye area clean, protect from draughts
Healing processwith treatment
Applied consistently, the eye usually settles down step by step.
StartDay 3Day 7Completion
Frequently asked questions
What pet owners ask most often.
Do you have a question that is not answered here? Do give us a call, with an acute eye problem, best straight away.
Is a red or watery eye an emergency?
Not every red eye is an emergency, but some eye conditions worsen within hours. Because harmless and serious causes can hardly be told apart from the outside, a changed eye should be looked at promptly. If the eye is suddenly bulging, strongly clouded or visibly painful, please call us in advance.
How can I recognise an eye problem in my pet?
Watch for increased tearing or sticky eyes, redness, squinting, frequent blinking or sensitivity to light, rubbing with the paw, a visible clouding as well as swelling of the eyelids. Animals often show eye pain only briefly, if you look at the eyes regularly, you will notice changes sooner.
May I use eye drops from the home medicine cabinet?
Please do not. Some eye drops, including preparations intended for humans, can cause serious harm in certain conditions, for example with an injured cornea. Only use eye drops on veterinary recommendation. If in doubt, a quick phone call helps.
What happens during an eye examination?
The examination is gentle and well tolerated by most animals. We assess the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea and the deeper structures and, depending on the question, use targeted tests, for example to measure tear production or to stain corneal injuries. Special preparation is usually not necessary.
What do I do in an acute eye emergency?
Keep your pet calm and prevent it from rubbing or scratching the eye. Do not treat the eye yourself and do not use any drops whose effect you do not know. Call us in advance, by phone we will tell you what matters on the way to us.
Are some breeds more prone to eye problems?
Yes. Short-nosed breeds with large, protruding eyes in particular are more prone to irritation and injury. Eyelid malformations are also more common in certain breeds. For these animals it is worth keeping a particularly attentive eye on the eyes.
Can eye conditions be treated well?
Many eye problems can be treated well if they are recognised in time. What is decisive is carrying out the prescribed treatment consistently, even when the eye already seems to be improving. The earlier a condition is recognised, the better the outlook.
Ophthalmology · Cremlingen
A clear view — for your pet.
If your pet's eye looks red, clouded or painful: we take a calm look at it and advise you personally. With an acute eye problem, please call in advance.
Insights
A look inside our practice
Bright rooms, modern technology and a well-coordinated team. That is what the place where your pet is treated looks like.
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Book an appointment
Eye problems with your pet? We are here for you.
Book an appointment online or give us a call, for acute eye complaints if possible on the same day.