You can see the eyes dilated on your dog in many situations. The first thing to know is that we or someone says dilated eyes he or she means on the pupils and not the whole eyes. We are referring to the pupils in the content below. A dog acting weird eyes dilated is not a very common issue but something you need to understand before it happens. Here we will share with you all you have to know.
Normal Situations When Dog’s Pupils Are Dilated
Just to clarify, we have to mention that in some cases his pupils are bigger and this is perfectly normal. There are countless explanations but usually, it means that hormones are acting or your dog needs bigger pupils to see. A dog acting weird eyes dilated probably doesn’t refer to these situations but we have to mention a few of them. Your dog will have large pupils when:
- Playing with other dogs or you
- He is scared
- He is in a dark room without light
Medical Causes For Dilated Pupils In Dogs
If your dog has big pupils all the time and not only in cases from above, it may mean that there is a problem. If we add that he is acting weird, we can almost definitely tell that something is wrong. Anyway, here are common medical causes for pupils that stay big all the time and can cause your pet to behave weirdly.
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Eye Problems
As you can assume the first thing that is possible is one eye problem. These can be glaucoma, iris atrophy, tumors, or blindness. What this means is that there is some problem that makes it impossible for a dog to construct the pupil. As such, they stay big. An issue with the muscle that constructs the pupil is a good example. If your dog has some of these problems he will start by seeing poorly in darker rooms.
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Brain Lesions
At the end of the day, the brain is the organ that controls the pupils and all the rest. The optic nerve, muscles, and all the rest are just tools a brain will use. If pupils on your dog are always big, it may mean that the part of the brain that controls the eyes is in problem. A brain lesion can affect this. This is a huge issue. Because it affects the brain and affects different parts of it, your dog will act strange.
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Head Trauma
Yes, your dog can have head trauma, same as we. You can see that a doctor will check the pupil’s response. If they fail to react to the light, it can mean that there is internal bleeding on the head which is a huge problem. Other neurological problems are common as well.
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Toxins
There are many toxins that can cause big pupils in dogs. A recreational drug or even psycho-therapeutic medication can cause this. You will have a dog who has big pupils and who acts strange. In reality, there are a lot more examples, and a lot more things or even foods that are toxic to dogs can cause this problem. It is possible that your pet eats a pill from the floor and he will end up with the problem.
Try to see if there are any other signs or problems. If there are no and the dog acts normally and the pupils start to decrease in size, he will probably be fine. But, if he acts weird you will want to take him to a vet as soon as possible. You never know what can happen and it is possible that your pet needs proper medical help.
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Seizures
Seizures occur when a dog has neurons that are too active. There are a lot of side effects and issues here. Grand mal seizures are difficult to diagnose despite the fact they can affect the entire body. One of the first signs is dilated pupils! Seizures can be very bad and they can cause all sorts of other issues and brain problems. Some are even fatal!
When You Should Worry About This And Take Him To A Vet?
The best thing you can do when you notice a dog with big pupils who is acting weird or at least shows some other sign is to take him to a vet. You will not have to take him to a vet if the light is low in the room, he is playing with you or he is scared of something. Look at the body language. A dog who is under the table and has his tail between his legs while moving is probably scared. He can become aggressive at that point!
If your pet has big pupils that remain big and he also refuses to drink water, eats, or shows signs of lethargy you will want to take him to a vet. It is always better to rule out any severe complications or anything else that can have a huge, negative effect on your dog.
Even if your dog has one of these medical issues, there are treatments. It is not the end of the world and in many cases, he will be fine. It is mandatory to add that you should start with the treatment as soon as possible. When you catch the disease or condition at the early stage you have better odds of curing it in less time, without any complications.
The Final Word
Your dog can act differently due to so many reasons. A dog acting weird with dilated eyes can be a sign of something bad. It is best to take him to a vet and examine the dog. When pupils are dilated it is almost always a sign of some issue that prevents them from getting back to a normal state. A good thing is that your vet can diagnose the dog within minutes and start treatment if your pet needs one. If he is fine, you two will be back home immediately.