Bulldog Endures Sticky Situation

While every pet owner knows that sticky substances and animals just don’t mix, I’m not sure anyone would’ve been prepared for the string of events that left one pup with his eye superglued shut. Craig Rombach of Grand Blanc, Michigan, was opening a container of superglue when the contents shot out of the tube and onto the face of his bulldog Potato. Potato immediately began pawing at his eye and Craig realized that it had been sealed shut. Luckily, Craig acted fast and flushed the eye with saline solution until he was able to gently ease it open.

Although Craig removed enough of the adhesive for Potato to open his eye, a piece of it had already hardened on his eyeball. Craig then contacted the Emergency Pet Hotline, where a representative encouraged him to see his veterinarian immediately. Because it was a Saturday evening, he had to drive Potato 50 miles to the nearest emergency animal hospital.

Paperwork from the vet visit shows that Potato had superglue around his left eye and on his nose, but that the substance was not detected on the cornea itself. His veterinarian prescribed medicated eye drops and an e-collar, and advised Craig to monitor the remaining glue closely. Fortunately, the piece that had remained in Potato’s eye fell off the next day and Potato has since made a full recovery.

“I originally got pet insurance because bulldogs are known to have health issues, but it definitely comes in handy for critical emergency situations like this,” said Craig. In addition to having insurance, pet owners can prepare for the unthinkable by assembling a DIY pet first aid kit and keeping emergency numbers within close reach. If you find your pet in a sticky situation, remember never to pull or pick at the glue and always consult your veterinarian.

“For any incident involving pets and superglue, you’re going to want to take them to see a veterinarian – especially if it gets in your pet’s eye,” said Dr. Silene Young, director of veterinary marketing for VPI. “Potato is incredibly lucky that the glue did not burn his eye or permanently impair his vision.”