Cat claw injuries in corneas of dogs and cats

Cats have retractable claws which are versatile tools used for climbing, defence, balance, scratching and catching prey. They are also a formidable weapon which can inflict nasty scratches to animals perceived by the cat to be a threat (or a nuisance!). The most frequent victim is a younger dog, which is typically curious and has not yet learned to read hostile signals. They also do not develop a menace response until 8-12 weeks of age, reducing the protection that would otherwise be afforded to their corneas by blinking at the appropriate moment and retracting the third eyelid, globe and head. Brachycephalic dogs have shallow orbits and more exposed eyes, therefore they are even more vulnerable to injury.