It could be nothing. The natural cleansing of the eyes or allergies, infection, or injury may cause a weeping, oozing or crusty discharge in one or both eyes. What symptoms should you look out for?
If your dog blinks, blinks, paws or rubs at his eyes, or if there is excessive or bloody drainage, or if only one of these symptoms occurs, it could be an eye injury, infection or damage that requires veterinary attention.
CRUSTY EYE DICHARGE
The common symptom of crusty discharge is dry tears, natural oils and dead cells. Clear or reddish brown discharges are common and usually appear in the morning after a nap or early morning. It’s best to wipe it away with a damp, warm cloth, sterile gauze or cotton ball.
For most eye problems, a sterile solution of saline from your local pharmacy can be used as a preliminary treatment. Plain warm water is also safe. Dogs should not be given human eyedrops.
Start at the inner corner and work your way outward using soft strokes. Do not rub the eyeball directly. For the other eye, use a separate gauze/cotton ball. You can clean the eyes every day or as often as you need. If you notice a lot of crusty material, please take a photo and call your veterinarian.
WATERY EYES
Epiphora is excessive eye watering. It can be caused by allergies, eye irritations like pollen, entropion, corneal wounds, blockage of tear ducts or increased eye pressure (glaucoma). Mild tear-producing is not considered a medical emergency. It is best to keep your eyes open for several days and dry the eye area with a soft cloth. Your veterinarian should be consulted if the eyes persist in tearing, becoming red, painful, or displaying other symptoms.
MUCUS EYE, GUMMY DISCHARGE
A symptom of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or “dry eyes”, is gummy, sticky mucus in the eyelids. This auto-immune disorder can cause red, painful eyes, or open sores.
To distinguish KCS from other conditions that cause eye mucus, vets use the inexpensive Schirmer Tear Test. This condition is quite common and can cause blindness.
Sometimes artificial tears are prescribed. If these fail, then surgery may be an option. An ongoing gummy, sticky discharge requires medical attention.
COLORED EYE DISACHARGE
Recent injury can cause a pink or reddish-colored discharge from the eyes. Research has found a link between corneal ulcers and Malassezia pachydermatis yeast, which can cause reddish eyes. This is a sign that you should consult your veterinarian.
An eye infection can cause a green or yellow discharge. This is especially true if your dog has a reddened or painful eye. You can cause conjunctivitis by injury, allergies, tears duct problems, dry eyes, birth defects, distemper, tumors, and other causes.
Your veterinarian should be consulted if the dog’s eyes become red, blinks a lot, looks at the water, or blinks a lot. The treatment options include applying pain medication, removing the irritant, administering antibiotics and saline wash to the infection, or administering allergy medicine.
Chihuahuas, and other breeds that have slightly bulgy eyes, often experience excessive tearing and tears stains. This is because their tear ducts must work overtime to keep their eyes lubricated. You can keep track of the normal tearing and stains for your dog and then investigate any increases.
Porphyrin, which is a pigment found in tears, causes reddish brown stains to form at the corners of the eyes. Because they are so evident on small dogs with light coats, tear stains are also known as Poodle stains. Tear stains can be a cosmetic problem, even if the eyes are healthy.
Wipe the eyes with a damp towel or canine eye-cleaning liquid. Dry the area with a tissue or soft cloth. Use a grooming product to reduce tear staining. Keep the hair around the eyes short. If your dog is experiencing reddening, pain, or a worsening of the staining, schedule an eye exam.
Boxers, Pekingese and Pugs with flat-faced Bulldogs, Boxers and Pekingese have lower eye sockets than other breeds. This means that their eyes need more tears to keep them moist. Inwardly rolling eyelids can also cause irritation to the eyes. This may need corrective surgery.
Saint Bernards and Bloodhounds, Cocker Spaniels and Beagles can have loose facial skin, including Saint Bernards, Bloodhounds and Cocker Spaniels. They may also have eyelids that roll outwards or “cherry eyes,” which is when the eyelid glands are out of place. These conditions may require surgery, but antibiotics and steroids can be used as a first treatment.
HOW TO GIVE A DOG EYE DROP
Learn how to apply eye drops and ointments effectively to your dog’s eyes if they require more than a simple wipe with warm water or soap.
To apply eye drops, gently tilt your dog’s head back. To prevent the applicator accidentally hitting your dog’s eyes, place your hand on his head. You can use a pressure wrap, such as the Anxiety Wrap (anxietywrap.com or ThunderShirt (thunderworks.com), to help your dog relax. Also, you can reward your dog with treats or simply brush their fur. “Tricks for Giving Your Dog Eye Medication” WDJ May 2014.
PREVENTING EYE INJURIES IN DOGS
You can catch problems early by checking your dog’s eyes daily. This will allow you to spot unusual symptoms before they become more serious. Make sure to keep the eye area clean and dry. Your veterinarian should be contacted if your dog’s symptoms persist or worsen.
Tear-stain products
Drops, powders and ointments can all be used to treat tears stains. Petpost.us describes a tear-stain brush as a flea comb that has narrower teeth and removes fine hairs near the eyes.
Eyebright, bilberry and dandelion are some of the ingredients in tear-stain products.
First, keep hair away from the eyes and nose. Also, make sure to dry the face. You can use contact lens solution to clean around your eyes, but not to the eyes. Its boric acid oxidizes iron in porphyrins and lightens tear stains.
Although some probiotics may be able to remove tears, it has not been proved. It may still be beneficial to experiment with nutritional supplements or improve the quality of your dog’s diet.
You can search online for tear-stain grooming products. Compare ingredients and read reviews. Talk to your vet or groomer to find the right treatment for your dog.
Dog Eye Discharge Whole Dog Journal.
