Puppy and adult dogs alike often experience the discomfort of an eye discharge. While many forms are harmless, some may pose significant health risks. Do you ever wonder if it’s usual for your dog to get boogers in its eyes? There are a variety of natural and abnormal causes for a dog’s eyes to leak and tear. Discharge from a dog’s eyes is unsightly, but it could indicate a more severe problem that needs veterinary attention.
Reasons Why Your Dog Has Eye Discharge
A dog with clear eye discharge likely has allergies or has been physically injured (dust in the eye, wind in the face, etc.). A foreign body, such as an eyelash, might cause a watery discharge or mucus from one eye, while a yellowish-green or pus-like discharge could signal a severe illness. In that case, look at the most prevalent reasons for eye discharge and the measures you can take to address the issue.
Breed Issues
Because their eye sockets are shallower and protrude further out of their heads, flat-faced dog breeds like pugs, Pekingese, boxers, and bulldogs are more likely to experience eye discharge than other breeds. Dogs with larger, more prominent eyes are referred to as brachycephalic breeds. These dogs may experience issues with tear drainage, entropion, which causes the eyelashes to itch severely, or lids that don’t wholly close over their eyes.
Therefore, for their eyes, these breeds should make regular trips to vets that provide veterinary ophthalmology and eye care for dogs.
Dry Eye
Dogs with persistent, sticky tear fluid may be suffering from dry eyes. It’s caused by not producing enough teardrops to keep their eyes clean. An infection, an injury, a blow to the head in the region of a tear-producing gland, or an immune system attack on the tissue of the tear glands can all cause mucus and inflammation, which can manifest as dry eye symptoms. Infection is a significant concern for dogs with dry eyes since it can cause painful inflammation and vision loss.
Depending on the severity of the condition, dry eye can be treated with antibiotic eye drops to manage secondary infections, immunosuppressant medicines to control the immune system, surgery, or a combination of these methods. In addition, regular wellness exams for your dog might prevent severe eye discharge. You can visit vets that offer pet wellness exams for more details.
Eye Infection
Pink eye affects both humans and dogs. Many things can cause conjunctivitis, or “pink eye,” in canines. A congenital disability, clogged tear ducts, allergies, or an eyelid foreign body are all common causes of conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is an infection of the transparent membrane that lines the eye and causes a yellowish-green discharge. Discharge that looks like green pus is never healthy.
Antibiotic eye ointment, eradication of the irritant, and saline eyewashes or warm compresses are some of the treatments available for this condition of the eye. If you’re at a loss as to what’s causing your dog’s eye infection, the best action is to get them seen by a vet that provides veterinary internal medicine.
The Takeaway
As a dog’s guardian, your job is always to be on the lookout for anything out of the norm. When a dog experiences eye discharge or soreness, it is essential to take them to the vet immediately to rule out more serious issues. You’ll know if those innocent puppy eyes lose their endearing gleam.
