Have you ever wondered if your dog\u2019s eye\u00a0boogers\u00a0are normal or not? A dog\u2019s eyes can leak and tear for many reasons, some of which are normal and some of which\u00a0are not. Tear stains<\/a> are unsightly, but more importantly, dog eye discharge might indicate a problem that requires vet attention.<\/p>\n According to Beth Kimmitt, DVM, resident of ophthalmology at Purdue University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine<\/a> in West Lafayette, Indiana, a dog\u2019s eye is always producing tears, and these tears typically drain at the corners of the eye. \u201cTechnically, a normal eye should not have any\u00a0ocular discharge, but a\u00a0small amount of clear\u00a0discharge may be OK,\u201d she tells us. Clear dog eye discharge might look brown and slightly crusty when it dries.<\/p>\n That said, some dog eye discharge is not normal. Read on to find out what\u2019s normal and what needs a vet exam when it comes to dog eye discharge:<\/p>\n Sometimes, dog eye discharge requires a vet visit. Photography by fotoedu\/Thinkstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If your dog has colored green eye discharge, yellow eye discharge or another colored eye discharge, schedule a vet appointment immediately. Other signs of problematic dog eye discharge include squinting, a red-looking eye, or if your dog is rubbing or pawing at his eye. If you think something is wrong with your dog\u2019s eye, don\u2019t wait too long to make that vet appointment \u2014 his eyesight could be at risk.<\/p>\n \u201cThe presence of ocular discharge is a non-specific sign,\u201d Dr. Kimmitt says. \u201cThis means that it can be caused by a variety of ocular disorders. Common causes of dog eye discharge include ulcers<\/a>, entropion<\/a>, keratoconjunctivitis sicca and conjunctivitis<\/a> (allergic or bacterial).\u201d A corneal ulcer is damage to the cornea, which is the clear membrane that covers the iris and pupil.<\/p>\n Entropion is a condition in which the eyelid rolls inward, causing eyelashes to rub against the cornea. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (called dry eye) is dryness of the conjunctiva, which is membrane that covers the white part of the eye. Conjunctivitis (sometimes called pink eye) is inflammation of the eye. A vet exam and tests can pinpoint the cause of your dog\u2019s abnormal eye discharge.<\/p>\n Brachycephalic dog breeds<\/a> like Pugs<\/a> and Boxers<\/a> might have slightly more eye leakage than other breeds due to the combination of a short nose and large, round eyes. In these breeds, some dog eye discharge might be normal, especially if it\u2019s clear, but abnormal dog eye boogers deserve a vet visit.<\/p>\n Poodles<\/a> and Cocker Spaniels<\/a> are more prone to blocked tear ducts, too. Usually, these ducts drain the tears from your dog’s eyes out through the nose and back of the throat. With the tear ducts blocked, there’s nowhere for the tears to drain, so they spill over the eye rims and run down the face.<\/p>\n \u201cDogs with white hair coats (like Maltese<\/a>, Poodles, etc.) might show the discharge easier than other colors,\u201d Dr. Kimmitt says. You can help minimize dog tear stains\u00a0by wiping the under-eye area frequently and keeping it as dry as possible. You can also try one of the whitening products sold specifically to help with tear stains.<\/p>\n \u201cA soft, wet cloth can be used to gently\u00a0wipe away the discharge,\u201d Dr. Kimmitt advises. You can also use a veterinary\u00a0eye cleaning product to combat dog eye discharge \u2014 just make sure it doesn\u2019t contain any alcohol.<\/p>\n Thumbnail:\u00a0Photography by Tanantornanutra\/Thinkstock.<\/em><\/p>\n Originally published in 2017.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The post Dog Eye Discharge \u2014 What\u2019s Normal and What\u2019s Not<\/a> by Jackie Brown<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Dog Eye Discharge \u2014 What\u2019s Normal and What\u2019s Not<\/a> by Jackie Brown<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Have you ever wondered if your dog\u2019s eye\u00a0boogers\u00a0are normal or not? A dog\u2019s eyes can leak and tear for many reasons, some of which are normal and some of which\u00a0are not. Tear stains<\/a> are unsightly, but more importantly, dog eye discharge might indicate a problem that requires vet attention.<\/p>\n According to Beth Kimmitt, DVM, resident of ophthalmology at Purdue University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine<\/a> in West Lafayette, Indiana, a dog\u2019s eye is always producing tears, and these tears typically drain at the corners of the eye. \u201cTechnically, a normal eye should not have any\u00a0ocular discharge, but a\u00a0small amount of clear\u00a0discharge may be OK,\u201d she tells us. Clear dog eye discharge might look brown and slightly crusty when it dries.<\/p>\n That said, some dog eye discharge is not normal. Read on to find out what\u2019s normal and what needs a vet exam when it comes to dog eye discharge:<\/p>\n Sometimes, dog eye discharge requires a vet visit. Photography by fotoedu\/Thinkstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If your dog has colored green eye discharge, yellow eye discharge or another colored eye discharge, schedule a vet appointment immediately. Other signs of problematic dog eye discharge include squinting, a red-looking eye, or if your dog is rubbing or pawing at his eye. If you think something is wrong with your dog\u2019s eye, don\u2019t wait too long to make that vet appointment \u2014 his eyesight could be at risk.<\/p>\n \u201cThe presence of ocular discharge is a non-specific sign,\u201d Dr. Kimmitt says. \u201cThis means that it can be caused by a variety of ocular disorders. Common causes of dog eye discharge include ulcers<\/a>, entropion<\/a>, keratoconjunctivitis sicca and conjunctivitis<\/a> (allergic or bacterial).\u201d A corneal ulcer is damage to the cornea, which is the clear membrane that covers the iris and pupil.<\/p>\n Entropion is a condition in which the eyelid rolls inward, causing eyelashes to rub against the cornea. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (called dry eye) is dryness of the conjunctiva, which is membrane that covers the white part of the eye. Conjunctivitis (sometimes called pink eye) is inflammation of the eye. A vet exam and tests can pinpoint the cause of your dog\u2019s abnormal eye discharge.<\/p>\n Brachycephalic dog breeds<\/a> like Pugs<\/a> and Boxers<\/a> might have slightly more eye leakage than other breeds due to the combination of a short nose and large, round eyes. In these breeds, some dog eye discharge might be normal, especially if it\u2019s clear, but abnormal dog eye boogers deserve a vet visit.<\/p>\n Poodles<\/a> and Cocker Spaniels<\/a> are more prone to blocked tear ducts, too. Usually, these ducts drain the tears from your dog’s eyes out through the nose and back of the throat. With the tear ducts blocked, there’s nowhere for the tears to drain, so they spill over the eye rims and run down the face.<\/p>\n \u201cDogs with white hair coats (like Maltese<\/a>, Poodles, etc.) might show the discharge easier than other colors,\u201d Dr. Kimmitt says. You can help minimize dog tear stains\u00a0by wiping the under-eye area frequently and keeping it as dry as possible. You can also try one of the whitening products sold specifically to help with tear stains.<\/p>\n \u201cA soft, wet cloth can be used to gently\u00a0wipe away the discharge,\u201d Dr. Kimmitt advises. You can also use a veterinary\u00a0eye cleaning product to combat dog eye discharge \u2014 just make sure it doesn\u2019t contain any alcohol.<\/p>\n Thumbnail:\u00a0Photography by Tanantornanutra\/Thinkstock.<\/em><\/p>\n Originally published in 2017.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The post Dog Eye Discharge \u2014 What\u2019s Normal and What\u2019s Not<\/a> by Jackie Brown<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/A-dog-getting-his-eyes-examined-at-the-vet-600x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThis type of dog eye discharge means it\u2019s time to visit the vet.<\/h3>\n
Abnormal eye leakage might signal a dog eye infection or other issues.<\/h3>\n
Certain breeds are prone to dog eye discharge.<\/h3>\n
If you see brown tear stains, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean something is wrong.<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s important to keep your dog\u2019s eye area clean.<\/h3>\n
Read Next: Can You Use Human OTC Eye Drops as Eye Drops for Dogs?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nThis type of dog eye discharge means it\u2019s time to visit the vet.<\/h3>\n
Abnormal eye leakage might signal a dog eye infection or other issues.<\/h3>\n
Certain breeds are prone to dog eye discharge.<\/h3>\n
If you see brown tear stains, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean something is wrong.<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s important to keep your dog\u2019s eye area clean.<\/h3>\n
Read Next: Can You Use Human OTC Eye Drops as Eye Drops for Dogs?<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n