Whether you call it eye gook, gunk, boogers, crust, or tears, dog eye discharge can be unsightly at best and concerning at worst. Just like we often wake up with crust called “sleep” in our eyes, so do dogs often have eye discharge that may concern many pet parents.
When Should I Be Concerned about My Dog’s Eye Discharge?
Although eye discharge isn’t a good look for your dog, it is generally not something to worry about unless there are other signs of a more serious issue.
Pale yellow or white milky dog eye discharge under the eye or in the corner generally doesn’t indicate a health issue and, in the majority of cases, goes away without medication. In these instances, the eyes may also be a bit bloodshot, which should also clear up when the discharge goes away.
However, there are some instances where you should be worried about dog eye discharge:
- The discharge recurs frequently and seems to be chronic
- Dark yellow or green discharge may mean your dog has an infection
- Your dog’s eyes are very red
- Your dog has a lot of crusted discharge over their eyelids
- The discharge has a foul odor
- Your dog also has a nasal discharge
- The condition bothers your dog, and they keep scratching or rubbing the affected eye or eyes
Common Factors That Cause Eye Discharge
Here are some common causes of dog eye discharge to be aware of:
Foreign Bodies in the Eye
If your dog has a mucusy or watery discharge in one eye only, there may be a foreign body or particle in that eye or an eyelash growing in the wrong directions (in toward the eye rather than out).
Allergies
Dogs often have allergic reactions to allergens, including mold or pollen that can irritate the eyes and cause a clear discharge.
Windy Weather
Again, just like us, dogs’ eyes may tear or have a watery discharge if the wind is blowing into their eyes.
Eye Injury
An injury, such as a stick poked in the dog’s eye, can cause eye discharge. This may also lead to an eye infection if left untreated. If your dog sustains this type of injury, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Eye Problems
There are many eye problems that can cause dog eye discharge that are more concerning than the issue above and may need more attention and, ultimately, a trip to the vet.
- Eye infections — Dogs can suffer from fungal and bacterial eye infections that can cause eye discharge.
- Conjunctivitis — Also called dog pink eye, this condition happens when the lining of the eye has inflammation triggered by tear duct issues, allergies, injury, and birth defects. The discharge may be watery, mucusy, and in severe cases, the discharge can be a yellowish-greenish color. Other symptoms of conjunctivitis include red eyes, excess blinking, crusty eyes, and your dog pawing at their eyes.
- Canine Dry Eye — With canine dry eye, the dog cannot produce enough tears to lubricate and cleanse their eyes. It can be caused by issues such as a head injury, canine distemper, and when the dog’s immune system attacks a tear gland. Canine dry eye often causes inflammation of the eye tissues and a persistent, sticky mucus discharge from the eye.
Breed Predilection
There are some breeds that are naturally prone to dog eye discharge and other related problems. For instance, dog breeds that have flat faces and more prominent eyes, known as brachycephalic breeds, are likely to have eye issues.
Brachycephalic breeds include:
- Boxers
- Bulldogs
- Boston Terrier
- Pug
- Shih Tzu
- Chihuahua
- Chow Chow
- Pekingese
- Lhasa Apso
- Bullmastiffs
Because these breeds have bulging eyes and shallower eye sockets, their eyes are prone to gathering foreign particles more easily than other breeds. They are more likely to have eye discharge, eye injuries, other eye issues, and various ophthalmic problems.
There is a chance that their eyelids may not cover their eyes completely, which can leave the eyeball exposed. This condition usually requires surgery. They also often have tear drainage problems. In addition, these breeds are prone to entropion, a condition where the eyelids roll inward, often causing the eyelashes to irritate the eye. All these factors indicate a high risk of eye discharge in these dog breeds.
In addition, dogs breeds with loose facial skin, such as cocker spaniels, Saint-Bernards, bloodhounds, beagles, and some terriers, are more prone to ectropion, a condition where the eyelids roll outward. They may also be prone to cherry eye, a condition when the dog’s third eyelid pops out and resembles a cherry, hence the name. Treatment for cherry eye involves antibiotics, steroids, and in many cases, surgery.
How Do I Get Rid of My Dog’s Eye Discharge?
As pet parents, it is important to know when to worry and when not to. And no matter the cause, many parents ask themselves: “how do I get rid of my dog’s eye discharge?”
Here’s a quick guide to common reasons your dog may have eye discharge, how to identify them, and what to do about them. No matter what condition you think is the cause of your dog’s eye discharge, contact your vet for diagnosis and treatment and the right eye medicine for dogs to keep the infection and other issues at bay.
Little Goop or Crust in Corners of the Eye
Tears are crucial for eye health, as they nourish and provide oxygen to the cornea and help keep the surface of the eye clear of debris. When functioning normally, tears drain through the tear ducts at each eye’s inner corner.
Sometimes you may notice some goop or crust accumulated in the corner of the eyes where the tear duct is located. This goop or crust is a mix of dried tears, mucus, oil, dust, dead cells, and other particles that may have entered the eye. It is usually clear or slightly red-brown in color.
It is normal to find this goop or crust in your dog’s eyes in the mornings. The amount of discharge your dog produces as they sleep at night or during long naps in the daytime should remain pretty much the same.
You should be able to remove this goop or crust by wiping it away with a damp, warm cloth. Your dog’s eyes should not be red, and your dog should not show any evidence of eye discomfort such as blinking, rubbing, squinting, or light sensitivity. They may not necessarily enjoy the process, but it should not cause them any pain.
Wiping this discharge away daily is a good way to keep tabs on your pet’s eye health. If you notice the amount of goop or crust in your dog’s eyes has increased or other troubling symptoms mentioned above, make an appointment to see your vet.
Excessive Eye Watering
While watery eyes, also known as epiphora, are not necessarily concerning, the conditions that cause it can be no big deal or super serious. Below are some common cause of excessive eye-watering in dogs:
- Irritants and allergens that cause a reaction
- Foreign material or small particles in the eye
- Breed-specific characteristics such as bulging eye or anatomical abnormalities such as rolled-in eyelids
- Tear ducts are blocked
- Wounded cornea
- Glaucoma, a condition where pressure increases in the eye and can damage the optic nerve
If you see a small increase in tearing in your dog, but their eyes look normal otherwise, and he doesn’t appear to be in pain or discomfort, you can keep tabs on his eyes for a couple of days.
It is quite possible your dog is reacting to dust or pollen, and the increase in tearing means their body is trying to resolve the issue. If the excessive eye watering continues, or the dog develops painful red eyes, or other the eye discharge changes color, make an appointment to see your vet as soon as possible.
Reddish-Brownish Tear Stains
White or light-colored dogs commonly develop tear stains, a reddish-brownish discoloration of the fur that begins at the inner corner of the eyes and sometimes moves down their cheeks, looking like tears. This happens because their tears contain porphyrin, a pigment that turns a reddish-brown color when exposed to air.
If there are no other symptoms or conditions, tear staining is normal and is a cosmetic issue. If you want to reduce your dog’s tear stains, try some of the following actions:
- Wipe the tear-stained area 2-3 times a day with a damp, warm cloth or solution made specifically to address tear stains in dogs.
- Trim the hair surrounding your dog’s eyes and keep it short, or ask the groomer to make sure they trim that area.
- Give your dog a supplement that reduces tear staining.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get immediate results from these remedies, it can take a couple of months for the stained area to grow and for non-stained fur to be noticeable.
Just like with your dog’s normal eye goop or crust, changes in the amount of tear staining can be of concern. If you see the following, make an appointment for an eye examination with your vet.
- There is more tear staining than usual around your dog’s eyes
- The color of your dog’s tear staining looks different
- Your dog’s eyes are red and painful
White-Gray Mucus Discharge
Dry eye, known also as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), is common in cocker spaniels, bulldogs, westies, Lhasa apsos, and Shih-Tzus. It is characterized by a deficiency of aqueous tear film over the surface of the eye and the lining of the lids. It results in severe drying and inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva.
Because the eyes are so dry, the dog’s body compensates by overproducing mucus to help keep the eyes lubricated. But mucus doesn’t do all the things tears do, so often, the eyes become painful and red. They may develop ulcers or abnormal corneal pigmentation.
When left untreated, dry eye can be very painful and result in blindness.
If you see white-gray mucus around your dog’s eyes, immediately make an appointment to see your vet. Upon examination, they may use a simple procedure known as the “Schirmer Tear Test” to see if your dog has KCS or possibly some other disease is causing your dog to produce more mucus than usual.
Treatment for KCS may involve tacrolimus, cyclosporine, artificial tears, and other medications. Dogs generally do well with this treatment. In some cases, if medical treatment doesn’t provide the expected results, surgery may be considered.
Yellowish or Greenish Discharge
A yellowish or greenish dog eye discharge usually indicates an eye infection, especially if the eye is red and painful. Eye infections in dogs can be a problem on their own or can develop due to another condition, such as wounds or dry eye, that destroys the eye’s defenses against infection.
In some cases, what looks like an eye infection may be a sign that the dog has an issue that affects the respiratory tract, nervous system, or other systemic illness.
If your dog looks like they have an eye infection, take them to your vet as soon as possible.
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